AN: You guys are the best! I got a really good response with reviews, so I wanted to give back by updating as soon as I could!

Chapter 11

"It's actually gotten pretty late." Ginny pointed to the large grandfather clock we kept in the den.

"Right, kids. Get in bed."

There was lots of groaning and "Oh mum" and "We're not kids anymore!", but then they were finally off.

Ginny snuggled up closer to me, and took my hands in hers.

"I think tomorrow I'll sit out from the story," she said.

"Alright." I understood what she didn't want to say. Sitting here listening about my past girlfriend's wasn't her favorite way to spend the day. "In fact, I think I'll sit out until you get to the good stuff."

"'Good stuff'? What exactly would that be?" I asked.

"When I come in of course!"

I chuckled. "Alright. But you'll be gone a while."

"That's fine. I'll visit Hannah tomorrow, go shopping the next day. I'll find ways to keep myself busy."

"We will miss you though." I kissed the top of her head.

"No, you'll miss me. The kids won't care."

"Well they're idiots and don't know what's good for them," I said.

Ginny just laughed.

…

So the next morning after breakfast I continued on with the story without Ginny.

...

"I hope I'm not keeping you from your studies," I said to Vivian as I walked her out of her dorm building.

"Oh no." She shook her head. "I could really use the break actually."

"I know what that's like." I agreed. "It's good to get away. Honestly, I haven't been out with a girl since well... This one girl dumped me over a year ago."

"Oh I remember you mentioning that, what happened?" Vivian asked, then thought better. "Sorry, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

"No, I do." I was amazed to find that was true. "I haven't told any one except Hermione, it'd be nice to share."

Vivian gave me a gentle smile. "I'm happy to listen, but let's wait until we're sitting at dinner."

We went to some local restaurant, that wasn't crowded, so we could get our food fast. Once our menus were whisked away, Vivian stopped talking, and put on her listening face. It made me smile, as did most things about her.

"Her name is Ginny." I decided to start there. And so I told her everything, not in great detail, but I covered all the big things. She listened patiently, only making the occasional comment. When it got hard to talk about, she took my hand, and it was like the whole world with all its pains faded away. She was holding my hand, and I didn't want anything else.

"Wow, I'm really sorry Harry," She said sincerely when I finished.

"It's your turn," I replied, finally getting to my food.

"Oh, great." She looked down, biting her lip. "Well, his name is Leo. We met my first semester of college. We dated until the beginning of January, this year. I guess at the time I thought he was the one, but then he dumped me."

"Why?"

"He said he didn't want to date anyone long term." She scoffed rolling her eyes. "But then why did we date for over a year? It's all so stupid."

"Sorry, some guys can be real jerks."

Vivian smiled at me. "What about you?"

"Well I wish I hadn't been such a jerk to Ginny." I admitted. "But, I promise to be better to you."

She looked at me sweetly. "I really believe that."

We spent the evening just talking, and laughing, and it was just her and me. I didn't spare a thought for work, my friends, Ginny, anyone or anything but Vivian.

It was the best night I'd had in over a year, and it made me realize how truly pathetic that was. We were having such a great time that it came as a shock when the waitress came to inform us that the restaurant was closing. Without thinking I took her hand, and we wandered around the midnight streets until the sky began lightening to blue.

"We'd better get to my dorm before my room mate assumes I've been murdered," Vivian said.

"Oh I completely forgot. You don't have a class or something tomorrow...or I guess it's really today now."

She shook her head. "It's Sunday, no one does. But there is a dance tonight, and it'd be nice to go and not pass out."

I chuckled. "Yeah, I could use some sleep myself." We began heading back to her dorm hands clasped.

"You know Harry, I'd really like if you came to the dance tonight," She offered.

"Oh... I'm not so great at dancing."

"Then you'll fit in." She winked. I smiled back.

"Well then, I'd love to go."

Vivian was so tired then that she stopped talking and just put her head against my shoulder. A position I was quite pleased with. When we got back to her dorm house she reminded me that I couldn't go in.

"I had an amazing time," she said at the door. "Definitely the best time in months. Thank you."

"It was a pleasure." I decided to be bold, and just straightforward. "I like you a lot Vivian."

She looked down smiling. "I like you a lot too."

"I don't want to date anyone else." I waited nervously for a reply to that.

She grinned while biting her lip and looking away shyly. "Me neither."

I felt so much joy then, it's amazing I contained my cool.

"Can I pick you up at seven for the dance?"

"I'd love that." She looked back up to my eyes.

Then came that wonderfully awkward and anxious moment when neither of you wants to go, and you really want to kiss her. But it was the first date, and she was backing away.

"Well..." I wanted to say something meaningful, but was completely brain dead. "Sleep well."

She grinned. "You too... See you later."

"Yeah..."

She gave a lingering look before turning to unlock the door. She swung it open, then paused. I stared at her curiously, and was surprised when she abruptly flung around and planted a quick kiss on me before rushing into the building.

I stood there, dazed and blinking rapidly. With a grin, I turned away. I could've quickly apparated to my flat, but instead I felt like skipping down the streets.

...

Before I had time to realize what was happening, I was spending all my time with Vivian.

Just sitting quietly while she studied or going out to watch a show. We did everything, and it felt strange, yet nice to be part of the muggle world again. There, I didn't have to worry about being pestered, or expected to be extraordinary. I could just be me.

With Vivian I never felt pressure, or like I had to do or be anything. I could just be Harry. It was very refreshing.

Even more surprising though, was when I realized I was in love with Vivian.

"Vivian is pretty cool," Ron spoke up one afternoon as we played wizard's chess in our shared office. We often did that on days when there was nothing to do but procrastinate on paperwork.

It was a small room without a window and, although we'd often complain about it, I know that we've both missed it as the years have passed.

Our desks stood on either end piled with bits of parchment and old newspapers. The wall between us was burned because when we were bored we'd sometimes shoot sparks at each other. The rubbish bin was always overflowing, and we kept a bookshelf packed with bottled potions that we had to repair frequently.

"She's great," I agreed. Then I thought to do something I almost never did with Ron: actually talk with him about our feelings. At the time it just felt like too much to keep in. I had to tell someone. "I'm actually in love with her."

He glanced up in surprise, and then quickly went back to the chess board. "Hmm." He continued with his move, and then glanced up at me anxiously. "I'm thinking of asking Hermione to marry me."

"What? ... Are you? ... Brilliant!" I could hardly believe it.

"Yeah." Ron smiled. "I figured it was about time."

"Absolutely," I agreed. "Look at us, both in wonderful relationships."

"Yes, check mate."

…

"I thought Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione didn't get married until after you and mum," Lily said.

"Well there's a whole other side to that story," I replied.

"Does it include them breaking up and Uncle Ron becoming a pathetic loser afterward?" James asked sarcastically.

"James, shut up."

...

"I'm really happy," I told Hermione one late morning a month later in June as we got cups of tea.

"That's good," She said. "Ron and I really like her, a lot."

"I'm thinking of asking her to move in."

"What?" Hermione was shocked. "Are you serious? Don't you think it's a bit early for that?"

"Well, it's been five months." I thought about it. "And it's not like she doesn't stay over most nights any ways."

"Harry, even Ron and I haven't moved in together yet."

"Well that's you two, and frankly you guys are taking it way too slow."

"Hey!" She protested. "We're trying to be smart about this."

"Right, well you have the right to do that. And I have the right to do what I want," I argued.

"Fine." She looked irritated. "Do what you want. But I'm just saying, rushing things won't help you."

I didn't want to think about what she was saying. Hermione could be annoying like that.

"What about Ginny?" She asked after minutes of silence.

"What about her?" I glared at her. She knew that subject was off limits.

"Well, are you completely over her?"

There she went, pestering me again. "Yes Hermione." I sighed. "Really, I don't even think about her any more."

That wasn't entirely true. Yes, being with Vivian made everything better, but I honestly still thought about Ginny sometimes. I felt bad that I did, but there was still a soft spot for her. Vivian knew this though, and she confessed to still thinking of Leo as well.

Hermione was giving me her skeptical look. "Oh come on Harry, don't lie to me."

"Hermione, leave me alone."

"Fine." She got up, and huffed out of the shop.

AN: Thanks again to all of you guys that wrote reviews! It was much better than usual, but still a little more would be nice. I really need the reviews to help the story to be better!

Any who, please continue to write reviews!
And I want to talk to the Guest reviewer thats apparently my number 1 fan. I really wish I had a name for you or something because i can't even tell which of my guest reviewers is you. But one of them has posted a review for all of my Harry Potter stories. Thank you so much! You actually reminded me of a story, and so I'll try to keep writing it :)
You're the bomb, and I love you!

I also want to reply to all my anonymous reviewers here. Not sure if you're the special guest that's my #1 fan or not, but whatever.

For the first guest that wrote for chapter 10, "Why I married my stalker"? Haha what? I don't know what you mean

For the next guest that actually wrote for chapter 9, yeah that's the scene I was talking about. I love that episode, and that scene is one of my favorites. Cracks me up :)

Then the guest that wrote for chapter 10 (same one?) I'm happy that some of this story comes as a surprise, I can never tell how people will take it.

And to the most recent anonymous: thank you so much :) Yeah there's definitely a whole other side to this story. Ginny's side. Because she too had to grow up more and learn a few more lessons.

So the moral of this story is, if you want to review anonymously, couldn't you at least leave something I can call you by so it's less confusing? Haha but really, thanks to my anonymous reviewers!