I stood outside in the freezing air as snowflakes nestled into my hair and shoulders. What was wrong with me? Christmas without arguing with Ginny would be like Hogwarts without its ghosts. It could still be enjoyable, but it would be missing a crucial part. We'd always argued, whether it was over wrapping paper, which of us put the fairy on the tree, who won a snowball fight or who got to the gravy jug first – but we'd never argued like this. Ginny had stormed out a fair few times over the years, generally throwing something in my direction first, but it had never been me.

I suppose everything has changed now, though, I thought bitterly. Now, it was awkward between us because we'd been madly in love with one another. Now, I'd messed up all my chances by getting involved with that bimbo and now she had Leo.

As if by magic, the door opened and out walked the boy in question, looking especially scruffy in ripped up jeans and a t-shirt splattered with paint.

"Hey." He said.

"What?" I snapped "Come to gloat? You have her and I don't. Great, now please would you leave me alone."

Leo laughed "Mate, I don't want her."

I stared at him. "What? Why? What's not to want?"

He raised his eyebrows, rocking back on his heels "I can't handle her. Bloody hell, you're the only one who can."

"What do you mean?"

He smiled "I mean, she's like my sister or best friend. I love her to bits, but bloody hell, I wouldn't go out with her. I couldn't cope with her. I'm a laid back guy and Ginny isn't laid back. She's not my type."

"What are you talking about?" I asked looking at him like he was insane "She's perfect."

"For you, yes. For me, bloody hell no."

"Explain."

He leant against the wall, but stood back up as an icicle fell down his back. "She's got the biggest attitude in the world. She's cocky, smart, stubborn fast witted and not afraid to stand up for herself. She needs somebody who can beat her in an argument, throw back better come-backs and understand that she can look after herself. I'm not that person. You, on the other hand, have an even worse attitude; you're clever, nearly as cocky and can always shut her up. You're the only person I've seen who can get to her so much that she ends up in tears. You're perfect for her...If you can't see that, then there's nothing more I can say or do."

"I thought you hated me." I muttered "Because you liked her and want to go out with her."

Leo shook his head his hair messing up "No. She's gorgeous, but she's not my type of girl. If the circumstances were different then...maybe, but I like shy people who I can beat in a fight. Ginny would kill me."

"She likes you though." I mumbled, kicking the snow off my shoes on the brick wall.

Leo laughed "Don't be stupid. She spent all summer talking about you. She was a bit shy at first, but once I got her started she wouldn't shut up. She loves you."

He'd said it like it was the simplest thing in the world, but I couldn't think of anything more complicated.

"I've messed things up."

He looked at me, his grey eyes searching for something "Why did you go out with that Emily girl?"

I shrugged "I'd heard how well you two were getting along from Charlie and I was hurt and desperate and...She was there, I guess. She hated Ginny and so did I at the time, so it just seemed to work. I liked her, but she wasn't Gin."

Leo shrugged "Fair enough. Listen, I know she's stubborn, but you just have to be persistent. I don't know her half as well as you do. You know all the important things about her so you know what's best, just...don't upset her again."

"It was her decision."

"I know." Leo smiled and tapped me on the shoulder before going inside.

X

I didn't get much of a chance to speak to Ginny for a few days for various reasons, the first one being Teddy Lupin. Remus and Tonks had decided they needed to go away for a few days and I offered to look after Teddy so they could have some 'alone time'. They'd happily agreed and handed him over on boxing day with a large bag of supplies.

The first day was spent settling him into his bedroom, painted his favourite colour of turquoise. The bright walls made him laugh hysterically for some reason, causing him to roll around on the floor, his hair varying in shades of blue.

The first night he slept in my room, being slightly nervous. He wondered in with his dummy in his mouth and held up his hands to be picked up.

"You're heavy, aren't you Ted?" I asked, plonking him beside me and closing the book I'd been reading.

"Tired." He mumbled, resting his head on my chest. I felt a huge surge of affection for him as I turned off the lights and sat down with him again.

"You have your own bed!" I sighed.

"Tired." He said simply, once again, rolling off my knee and onto my pillow.

I just rolled my eyes and let him stay there, eventually falling asleep myself.

The second day, I took Teddy with me to go and help decorate Ron and Hermione's bedroom. We arrived and they were having a heated argument over which shade of green would be best. In the end, Ron held up various colour cards in Teddy's direction and his hair turned the same olive green as the top-left square on the second card.

Hermione grinned, picking him up "Good boy, you're a very good boy, do you know that?"

Teddy laughed and spat his dummy out in her face.

On Teddy's final day, I took him for a walk in his red boots and a thick green coat. He laughed as his hair turned snow white and back to blue again. He fell over in the snow, landing face first and shivering comically as I picked him up, carrying him home and giving him a feeding cup filled with hot chocolate.

Once he'd fallen asleep I wrapped him up in his 'I'm great in bed – I could sleep for days' pyjamas (bought of course, by his Uncle Sirius) and placed him in his bed in the turquoise room.

It was then that I realised how much I wanted all of this. I wanted to decorate my house, play in the snow with my children and put my own children to bed. I wanted to argue about paint and celebrate about pregnancy. I was watching everyone around me do it, but not myself...not myself, because I was such an idiot and luck would have it that the girl I fell for would be still in school.

I climbed into my own bed and woke the next morning feeling miserable. I kissed Teddy goodbye, swinging him around the room and putting him into his car seat. Lupin and Tonks drove off and so I found myself at Ron and Hermione's, sitting on their sofa waiting for them to get home from work. Hermione was currently working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of magical creatures – she wished to sort out the maltreatment of creatures such as house elves before going onto anything bigger. I suppose, somehow, she had a point. Ron was working half days in Fred and George's shop, keeping it open while they stayed at their parents for the days between boxing day and new year's eve. Apparently this was necessary because, according to Fred, 'There's nothing like a Christmas prank.'

I sat in their front room watching Muggle television for a while, before I heard the front door open and voices.

"Come, on, nobody's expected round, you look gorgeous in a uniform, I've always thought that..." Ron mumbled, before the unmistakable sounds of kissing. I pulled a face and walked out to meet them.

"Come on, let's not do it here, my back still hurts from last time – HARRY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Hermione screeched, seeing me in the doorway and jumping about three meters away from Ron.

"I came to visit, please, do carry on." I said, indicating towards their bedroom.

"Fuck off." said Ron, looking slightly flushed but amused.

I laughed "I'll go, shall I?"

Hermione rolled her eyes "You've kind of spoilt the atmosphere..."

"We could get it back again though..." Said Ron, giving me a severe look.

I waved and walked out of the door "Bye, guys."

When I'd apparated home, I walked over to the Weasley's to see who was in. Leo was sat on the sofa with Fleur and bill was cooking something. The cat, Conroy, was walking around the coffee table.

"Bill, that smells awful." I said, peering into the pan to see fried onions shrinking.

"I know, thank you very much." He snapped, shaking the frying pan in frustration.

I laughed "Sorry mate, do you want a hand."

"Harry, you can't cook." Bill stated, slouching against the side. Fleur laughed.

Leo stood up "I can. What are you making?"

Bill shrugged "Onions."

He winced, pouring them into the bin "Who wants pancakes?"

Fleur smiled "Me, please."

Bill shrugged "Go on then."

"Harry?" Leo asked, rinsing the frying pan and setting it on the stove again.

"No thanks, I'm actually looking for Ginny."

"Tough, she's gone out on a date." Bill said, reassuming his place on the sofa.

I sighed "Who with?"

"I think she said he was called Colin."

I couldn't help it, I laughed "Colin Creevey?"

"I don't know, do I? I'm just the bad cook."

Leo laughed, giving me a meaningful look "They've gone to Diagon Alley."

"Right, see you later...Fleur will you tell my Mum where I am if she comes over?"

Fleur agreed "Of course I will 'Arry."

"Cheers." I shouted over my shoulder.

"Don't upset her." Bill said loudly as I apparated.

I emerged a few seconds later by the Owl Emporium, and spotted Ginny sat with no other than Colin Creevey and Luna Lovegood in the window of Fortescue's ice-cream parlour.

I crossed the icy street and entered the shop, ordering a large hot chocolate sundae and joining them.

"Hello Colin! I haven't seen you in ages! Luna! How are you?"

Colin looked slightly taken aback, but he shook my hand and Luna just looked bemused.

"Hello, Harry. I feel like I've not seen you in about eight months."

"You haven't seen me in about eight months, Luna."

"Oh... I think your Sundae is ready."

I stood up to collect it and Ginny followed me. She tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to face her. I noticed she was wearing a loose red jumper that hung off her shoulder and a pair of tight jeans with black boots.

"What the hell are you doing here?" She snapped.

"I just wanted to see my good friend Colin, make sure he was doing alright in life."

"Make a decision...either speak to me and be pleasant or don't and continue to be moody with me, but stop changing your mind. It's driving me crazy."

"I always drive you crazy." I said, walking straight past her and sitting down "So, good Christmas Colin?"

Ginny drew in a sharp breath and sat there in silence while Colin told me about his job offer.

X

We've always had a party on New Year's Eve, its tradition. The first time I'd been allowed to stay up, I'd been eight, and Ginny had thrown a massive tantrum because she had to go to bed by herself. I'd laughed and teased her for a while, but in the end I had left all the celebrations downstairs, gone up to my own room and opened the window and sat on the sill, talking to her. When New Year finally came around, we'd looked at each other awkwardly before shaking hands in a formerly fashion and going back to our own houses. I'd have never done that for anybody else but she'd always been the exception.

I was wearing black jeans and a black t-shirt as I crossed the length of space between the two houses a few days later. My Mum was wearing a white dress that made her hair look like it was on fire and my Dad was wearing jeans and a white shirt.

We walked in and the music was blaring out, Fred and George being in charge of it. Various friends of the family were around, such as Lee Jordan, Angelia Jordan, Katie Bell, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood and Colin Creevey.

Sirius was having an animated conversation with Katie Bell, while George furiously kissed Angelina in a corner. I wondered vaguely if Colin and Ginny would get together tonight, but stopped when I felt a tap on my shoulder.

"Hello, Harry Potter." Said Luna, pulling me over to a seat and pouring herself a glass of something red and fizzy "I brought this, do you want some?"

I shook my head, not even bothering to ask what it was "I'll pass, thanks."

"Something's troubling you, isn't it?"

I shook my head "No, I'm fine."

"Don't lie."

"Fine."

"Ginny?"

"Yes."

"Yes, I thought that could be it." She took a sip of her drink and smiled.

"I just...she hates me again. I spent so long getting her to not hate me and... it was pointless."

"No. She doesn't hate you, she's just upset. She's upset that you got over her so quickly."

"I'm obviously not over her."

Luna rolled her eyes "You talk to her like you are."

I sighed as she tapped me on the arm "It'll work out, somehow, it will work out, it always does."

I spent the evening wondering around speaking to various people. I noticed Ginny talking easily and freely to Colin Creevey, looking gorgeous. I noticed the way his eyes often flickered to the plunging neck-line of her short black dress. I couldn't blame him at all.

When New Year came around, I was stood, again, outside. The air was cool but the snow seemed to have stopped for the year. I leant against the wall and summoned a jumper from my house. I put it on and stood there, listening sulkily to the celebrations in the room behind me.

I heard the door open and felt someone stand beside me.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked me, pulling a hand through her long brown hair.

I shrugged "Not really."

"She'll come around, she's just confused. You can't blame her, really."

"I know, Hermione. Please don't lecture me, I'm not in the mood."

"I'm not lecturing you, I'm simply stating that you've been a bit schizophrenic lately. One minute you're treating her like you used to, before all of this and the next you're arguing with her and storming off in a massive sulk."

I sighed "I know, I know...I just...It's complicated."

"I know that much." She said. "Anyway, happy new year!"

I laughed bitterly "Hardly."

She nudged me "Come on, it's freezing out here and everyone's leaving. At least come and say goodbye to Neville and Luna?"

I sighed, but followed her inside wishing people a happy new year.

Luna threw her arms around me, evidently quite drunk "Happy New Year Harry!" She shouted, as Neville, smiling to himself, pulled her away.

"Bye Luna...Happy New Year Katie." I said, giving her a hug.

Katie Bell smiled "You haven't seen Angelina, have you?"

I shook my head "Not since she went up stairs with George about an hour ago."

She winced "Nice. I'll be going home by myself then."

"You can stay at ours if you want?"

She shook her head "No, it's fine...See you soon Harry, keep in touch, won't you?"

I smiled "I'll do my best."

She left and I collapsed onto the large red sofa, wondering what Ginny and Colin were up to. The thought made me want to be sick.

"I thought you would have hooked up with someone else, by now." Said a sarcastic voice from behind me.

Ginny sat next to me, her head resting on the back of the sofa.

"I thought you'd be with Colin...aren't you two and item?"

She laughed "Don't be stupid. He's not my type."

"You went on a date with him yesterday."

"No, I went for a coffee with him and we bumped into Luna, who he was only too happy to invite along. Not a date."

"Bill said it was." I muttered sulkily.

"Bill would."

"What do you mean by he's not your type?"

"There's a slight difference between you and Colin Creevey, if you haven't noticed."

"So I'm your type."

"You could say that."

I sighed "Why can't you be a year older?"

She shrugged "I don't know, Potter. Because life isn't fair."

"If I asked you out in six months, what would you say?"

Ginny shrugged "After all this? I don't know."

I nodded "Can't say I wasn't expecting that."

"Yeah, well. Friends?"

I nodded, shaking her hand "Friends. Let's go to bed, I'm knackered."

"Friends don't sleep with each other."

I laughed, "Different beds. But we could always be friends with benefits."

She kicked me "Night, Potter."

"Night, Weasel."

"Don't call me a Weasel."

"I'll call you whatever I like thanks." I shouted, walking out of the door.

Maybe it would be better this way, maybe, just maybe, I might get over her.

X

Right, I know you don't want them to end up as friends so all I can say is this...the story isn't over yet.

Please Review, I'm in the mood for writing so once I've posted this up I'll be writing another chapter. Whether that will be finished before the end of today is a different matter.