Chapter 8: Facing Facts.

I had officially put the conversation off long enough. I had to go see Henry and explain things. My legs felt like led as I trudged up the three flights of stairs to his apartment. A very familiar walk for me, but my bodies protest only stemmed from the inevitable doom that I was about to face. Even the continuing chanting to myself 'I can do this, I can do this, I can do this' wasn't helping me out. The only thing I could boast about in my rather lamentable life was that Ginny Weasley was no coward. I was not going to run away from this, I was going to explain myself and then stand there and take it as Henry killed me.

Overdramatic?

Possibly.

Terrified?

Absolutely.

All too soon I found myself staring at the Number 4 of Henry's apartment contemplating whether I should ring the bell or knock as I usually did. Ringing would seem too stuffy, to expecting of what was to come. I was determined to act as if it was business as usual as I raised my hand to do my customary knock.

Luckily I stopped short or I would have knocked Henry right on the nose.

"Ginny?" I blinked and backtracked slightly, I hadn't even knocked... how did he know I was here? That was when I noticed the large duffle bag slung over one of his shoulders and realized he must have been off to training.

"Henry." My voice was high and shrill tinged with just a bit of surprise at his sudden appearance. He gave me a brilliant smile and I could feel a weight magically lift itself off of my shoulders. One thing was going alright, he wasn't mad.

Yet.

"Do you have a minute? I was wondering if we could talk." The smile seemed etched there as he nodded and motioned me inside his modernly furnished apartment. I had always teased that he had more muggle technology scattered around the place then actual furniture which probably gave the place its quirky charm. He dropped his bag onto the floor and I followed him towards the living room that held a lonely couch and a massive Television. Nerves coursed through me as he threw himself onto the sofa carelessly and I took a seat at the very opposite end.

There was silence then. I couldn't bring myself to look at him, since at this point he had begun to survey me with blatant interest. "Let me guess, this is about Harry Potter?"

My eyebrows shot towards the ceiling and my surprised eyes clashed with his. "How did you know?"

He chuckled lightly before pushing himself so that his elbows were resting on his knees. "I think it was somewhere between the dozens of articles, not being able to get ahold of you, and the fact that Harry Potter is your ex-boyfriend."

Out of all the things that I had expected during this conversation humor was not one of them. "Are you seriously making jokes right now?"

He chuckled again, that boyish laugh that instantly dimpled his cheek and gave him a restless air that I had clung too. "I may be a Quidditch player Ginny, but I'm not dumb." Regret washed over me and I opened my mouth to reply. "No! Stop! I know you don't think I'm dumb. That was another joke."

I was totally out of my element here.

I didn't really know how to handle this.

"So you aren't mad?" I said slowly, as if this was all just a twisted ploy and was about to blow up any second.

Another devilish smile.

"Ginny. You do remember when we broke up the first time we decided we were just going to be casually dating right?" I do remember that. I suggested that. "And we both agreed that we liked each other but we didn't like like each other right?"

I nodded again. This wasn't right, he didn't know what was really going on here. "Henry you don't understand, nothing is going on with Harry. Harry and I are over and done. The press it just blowing it completely out of proportion. They see us together one time…"

I adjusted myself so I angled towards him and started to explain further but his hand clapped lightly over my mouth.

"You don't have to explain." His amused smile turned a might sheepish as he adjusted himself to mirror me. "Maybe it's me who should be explaining."

Me being me immediately went in to hyperactive on what he was going to say next. The only break up experience I had was the man who was directly causing this situation.

He was using me the whole time. It wasn't really using though because we still hung out, went on dates and I had just slightly used him right back.

He hated me and was using me as a joke with his friends! That's not right, I'm friends with all of his friends, that's how we met in the first place.

Merlin! He was using me as a cover because he was secretly gay!

"You see Ginny I think I've met someone." Wait what? Should I be offended here? "Nothing's happened yet but I think that I really like her."

Happiness blossomed inside of me. A smile spread on my face as I looked at the stars shooting across Henry's eyes. We had both agreed that we'd see each other until we wanted to see someone else, and it looks like Henry had finally found someone. "Well…" There was only one thing to do so, crossing one leg over the other I said, "Tell me about her."

It only took him a moment to acquiesce.

"Well I came looking for you the other day when I had read the first couple of articles. It was after your practice and you had run off already and we… kind of just hit it off. I think she's great, funny, and then we ran into each other again at a coffee shop by the Leaky and we got to talking…"

Overload overload.

"It's someone from my team?" I was a little shocked by this; Henry had met, and played against my team a number of times and never expressed interest in anyone there.

"Yeah…" He trailed off his right hand coming up to massage the back of his neck. "It's Gwen."

Merlin, Morgana, and Circe! Gwen! My Gwen! My Best Friend and Co Captain Gwen?!

"I AM SO EXCITED! HAVE YOU TOLD HER! DOES SHE KNOW! HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ASK HER OUT!? GWEN'S AMAZING! YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO BE SO CUTE TOGETHER!" Henry looked as if I had just announced that I slaughtered pigmy puffs for a living.

"You're cool with it?"

Cool with it?

COOL WITH IT?

"I am beyond cool with it! Gwen is an unbelievable person and one of my best friends! Why did I never think of this before! If you were going to say Gigi then I was going to be, 'like really' but Gwen!"

I had somehow managed to move so that my knees and feet were now on the coach and I was squeezing like a girl at Hogwarts. Henry laughed disbelievingly at my blatant excitement.

"So then we can still be friends?"

I rolled my eyes at that before sticking out my hand to shake his.

"Duh."

While we talked and chatted, mostly about Gwen, Henry grabbed his bag and we started back down the stairs. I was consumed with happiness for my friends, how their joy was infectious and made everything a little brighter. Whatever was going on in my life, how selfishly I had been moping about because of my own problems, I had to remember that not everything in life had to be complicated. Sometimes it could just be as simple as two friends parting ways.

I gave Henry a hug as we parted ways. "I'll see you around Henry."

"See you Ginny."

Two weeks Later

There had been article after article after article about Ginny's split with Henry Lewis, the man that I had yet to meet and possibly murder. Yet, since Ginny and I had met again to confirm the cake order and to start working on the registry you wouldn't be able to tell that she had just gone through a break up at all. It was like she was glowing, she was happy, content. It confused the hell out of me.

I knew better than anyone that you couldn't believe hardly anything you read in the prophet, but other than when Ron asked her if she had really broken up with the guy and she replied only with a simple "Yep." She hadn't said a word about it. I didn't want to be pushy and straight out ask her… "Hey Gin, what's up with you and this Lewis character?" I knew that it wasn't my place but with all the speculations running around it had me curious.

Had it really been a Heartbroken Henry thrown over for me?

Or was it a nasty split as a jealous Henry screamed that he wouldn't share?

Listen to me right now. I sound like a bird.

Whatever it had been, Ginny seemed almost serene when I had seen her, the usual cold distance that she placed between us was gone. We weren't taking afternoon tea together or making elaborate dinner plans but we had reached a place of kind civility.

I was enjoying every moment of it. The opportunity to see her and to be with her was a blessing in itself, but having her laugh and smile at me. That was like feeling sunshine peek through the clouds. I wasn't about to broach any subject on 'us' yet. Mainly because I was too ecstatic on the current situation and I knew that my opening my gob would just ruin it. Her happiness, whatever it stemmed from was enough to make me happy.

I just wanted to tell her. I wanted to tell her so badly. Everything. What she didn't know…

"You ready?" I whipped my head to see Ginny equipped with two massive file folders come out of the spare bedroom at Ron and Hermione's place.

"Oh umm…. Yeah." I grabbed my jumper and dragged my arms through the open holes. She had dressed casually today. I didn't know if she had had practice or not this morning but she didn't look it. Her hair was wound up artfully at the nape of her neck and the light makeup dusting her face and darkening her eyes made her look graceful and elegant. Like she could dance across water.

I was struck as I was every time I saw her how beautiful she was. She deserved to be told that every single day, morning and night. But more so she deserved someone that made her feel beautiful, and even I can admit that I hadn't done that. Even when she was mine.

We both apparated into an Alleyway not far from the Bridal Shop. Hermione had been caught up with a repeal on the Equalization of Magical Creatures act and had to miss her appointment for her fitting. Ginny being near the same height as the bride to be was elected into the spot of standing in her place. I was elected into accompanying her, something that wasn't necessary but I didn't mind in the least bit.

The only requirement was that I wasn't allowed to see the dress. Hermione actually believed that I would cave and tell Ron. He might be my best friend, but so was she, and I like every other person in the world believed that a man shouldn't see his bride until she was walking down the aisle towards him. We turned the familiar corner that I had trekked towards Juliet's with Ron and though I was slightly intimidated by the shocking shades of pink décor I shuffled in right behind Ginny into the door.

"Fitting Granger-Weasley." She said as the woman behind the desk scanned over her list.

"Yes, you are right on time. I'll have you go back to the fitting room with Amy and then we can get started. " The lady motioned to a woman who was hovering a few yards away who scurried to the desk.

We followed to the very back wall passing row after row of satin and taffeta. We passed through a series of doors where I was deposited into a sitting room and Ginny was taken behind another door that led to the fitting room. The room was wide and circular with a pedestal in the center and several full length mirrors lining one side. I grabbed a cup of tea from a sidebar and settled myself for a nice comfortable wait.

That was of course, until my mobile rang and Hermione's name flashed across my id.

I answered with a smile. "Yes, we're here."

I could practically see the sigh of relief as she began to rattle on about measurements. It lasted for a few minutes until she exclaimed! "I forgot what I was calling you for! I asked Ginny to grab one of the file folders for the band and I thought she could run it over there later, but I just got a call from the guy and he's got to have it there by five o'clock. Do you think you can run it over there for me? I'm stuck here until I get the majority of the Wizengamot to pull their heads out of their you know where's." I flicked a glance at my watch to see much time I had, forty five minutes. I rubbed my thumb and forefinger against the bridge of my nose as I agreed and flipped my phone shut.

I sauntered forward rapping one knuckle against the door to the fitting room where Ginny had disappeared. "Gin?" I didn't catch myself in time and I winced as the words left my lips.

"Ummmm… Yeah Harry?" her voice was muffled but she sounded fairly close.

"I need to get the file folder for the band. Hermione wants me to run it over to the band guy now."

Her voice was laced with blatant annoyance. "Right now?"

"Yeah, she said she needed it there by five." I couldn't see her but I could practically hear her rolling her eyes on the other side of the door.

"Alright I'm going to come out." I nodded and took a step away from the door towards my cup. I crossed back to the side board before topping it off and adding some more sugar. The door creaked open and I looked back to see the door open but a crack with Ginny's head popped out. "You promise you won't laugh?"

I didn't really know what to say to that. "Ummm… Sure." I turned back to my cup to give the contents a quick stir before I turned back to see what was in front of me.

I assure you my friends. It was no laughing matter. Hermione's dress tumbled down Ginny's body in beautiful waves. The one shoulder cutting across her skin and the strap of the other making a beautiful line. I set my cup down instinctively as I took a step forward. I didn't notice the file in Ginny's hand or that she had nervously cast her gaze down to the ground. I had to close the distance between us. Finally I stood directly in front of her, maybe even a fraction of an inch to close. And my hands snaked their way up to tilt her chin up. It was the look in her eyes that made me do it, the unmasked self-consciousness that made me loose whatever senses I had left and lean a little closer. My hand still on her chin her eyelashes fluttered down until her gaze landed directly on my mouth and without any other thought I closed the distance between us and set my lips to hers.

Fireworks exploded behind my eyelids, electricity ran through my fingertips and my mouth tangled with hers in a searingly tender kiss. Fire burned around my heart as I felt her small hands skate up my chest and tangle themselves into my hair urging me closer. I complied, not knowing what I was doing anymore just getting lost in the sensation. Memorizing the taste, smell, and feel of her as if I'd never see her again. I broke away for a minute; trying to get some semblance of control of thought process over myself. I locked onto her heavy lidded gaze, passion sparking inside of her stunning brown eyes and the words I love you reverberated inside of me. This time it was Ginny who closed the distance between the two of us, her hand reaching up to force my head back to hers. This kiss was different, gone was the tender, adoring mating that had been and consumed with the furious desperate tangle of lips and tongues. The small facade of trying to think was gone as her fingers clawed at the back of my neck and I threaded my hands around her waist to yank her closer. It was too much and not enough at the same time but I knew that I didn't want it to stop. One of my hands skimmed up to cup her neck as my mouth devoured hers.

I had been so consumed by heat that it was like shell shock when it was suddenly gone.

Ginny stood a few feet away from me, her breath coming out if rough pants that matched my own.

I love you Ginny.

I love you.

Realization dawned across her features. "You ruin everything." She whispered harshly before practically running back into the fitting room.

The file folder lay open at my feet, my fingers felt numb as they twitched at my side and I made the observation that I could still smell her perfume surrounding me. I finally grabbed the discarded book from the floor before shuffling out towards the entrance. With one last look at the sitting room I whispered. "I'm sorry."

A/N: Dummmmm dum dum dah!

Again with a quick update! I've been super motivated on this story lately which is a good thing!

Finally some Harry/Ginny action. I know there have been some concerns about the story going a little slow I'm just trying to make it as good as I can for you!

Let me know what you think guys? Characters? Concerns? The kiss?

I love you!

-Nurse Holliday