Chapter nine

The following morning, Harry sent an owl to Ginny asking her to meet him at the Hogshead after training. When Harry was at his desk going over what he had to do today, he's mind kept drifting to what was going to happen later that day, so he found it hard to concentrate. Harry hardly heard what was going on around him and even Ron asked what was wrong. Harry tried to act normally, just telling Ron he had something on his mind but didn't want to talk about it, that he would when he was ready which Ron accepted as he was used to Harry telling him things even if it was a long time after.

When it got late, Harry noticed everyone but Susie had left the office, 'Staying late again Susie?'

'Just finishing up Harry, but you've been so quiet and distracted today, anything you want to talk to?'

'Not just yet, but I better go, I'm meeting Ginny,' Harry sighed as he stood up and grabbed his cloak.

'So it's to do with Ginny.'

'Yeah, but stop asking Susie, I can't go into it. I'll see you tomorrow, if I'm conscious,' Harry said quietly as he left, but he didn't know that Susie heard him.

Harry got to the door of the Hogshead, but just stood there staring at it for a few minutes before he took a couple of deep breathes and opened the door. He saw Aberforth nod towards the back, so Harry nodded then headed to the table where Ginny was sitting.

'Hi, thanks for meeting me here.'

'It's fine Harry, but I admit I'm confused as to why you want to meet here, you can't even eat, we could have gone anywhere.'

'True, but I needed to talk to you without too many people around or overhearing us.'

'Is something wrong, you don't seem yourself?'

'No, I'm not alright because I've figured something out,' Harry blew out a big breathe before he looked back at Ginny, 'I'm sorry about this Ginny and I know this is going to be a shock for you, but I realised I'm not in love with you, I do love you, but not the way I should. If I was I wouldn't have been cheating on you and I have with four different women in the last couple of months.'

Ginny sat there staring at Harry and she could feel the tears in her eyes but also the anger building.

'You bastard,' Ginny yelled, 'we made love, you know I never wanted that until I was married, but I did with you because you said we would get married.'

'I know Ginny and I'm sorry, I never meant for this to happen, it just did. I thought I just needed time, so it's taken me a while to realise the truth,' Harry saw Ginny pull her wand as she stood up, he tensed as he stood up as well, 'Now be careful Ginny, think about this before you do something you'll regret or get in trouble for.'

Aberforth walked over, 'Easy Ginny, you don't want to do this, so just put the wand away.'

Ginny took a step closer to Harry, but put her wand back inside her pocket, then closed her fist and punched Harry in the face before she stormed out.

Harry sat down rubbing his jaw, 'Well at least I'm conscious.'

'And alive, as the old saying goes, if looks could kill, you'd be dead. How's your jaw feel though?'

'Considering, not too bad Ab, but I could use a drink.'

'Come on Harry,' Aberforth took Harry up to the bar then poured him a large drink, 'How do you think the family will take it?'

'Not well at all, so I'm expecting an earful from Ron tomorrow unless he decides to hit me as well,' Harry took a long drink, then another, 'Thanks, I better go.'

Aberforth shook Harry's hand then watched him leave and knew the next few days were going to be hard on Harry, but Aberforth knew it was for the best and Harry would get over all this then he can finally have a life.

Harry realised he needed time, so he blocked entrance to his place, then sat on his couch after making himself something to eat and he kept thinking about the hurt look on Ginny's face, before it turned into anger. But he knew it had to be done, they would have ended up hating each other and they might have had kids when Harry realised they wouldn't work. Harry sighed then went into have a shower then got into bed and his thoughts kept going over what the Weasley's would say and what Ron would do the following day.

The following morning, Harry removed the charms from his home, then left. He walked through the atrium then he stopped before he stepped into the auror offices, took a couple of deep breathes then stepped in.

'What in blazes is going on Harry?' Ron yelled the moment he walked in.

'What did Ginny say?'

'Not much, all she kept doing was crying, but she did take her ring off and reduce it to dust. So are you going to explain what happened?'

Harry noticed everyone was watching and listening, 'I realised I wasn't in love with her Ron, so I broke it off. You can see where she took her anger out on me,' Harry rubbed his jaw. 'It took all Aberforth and I could do to stop her hexing me. I didn't want to hurt her Ron but if we stayed together and got married, it would have made it worse.'

'But you knew what Ginny's beliefs were, she only did because you said you'd get married.'

'I know, I thought we would. If I had any idea I wasn't in love with her I wouldn't have had sex with her, but remember, it was her decision at the time, not mine. I never planned any of this and it's taken me a long time to work it out. That's the reason I never wanted us to live together, I didn't love her, not in the way I should. So the moment I knew I told her. So are you going to hit me as well, you know I won't stop you. But think of this, if we did get married then I realised I didn't love her, it would have been harder on both of us.'

'You promised me you wouldn't hurt her again Harry.'

'How was I to know this was going to happen, I sure didn't. At least now she can find someone that will love her. So did she end up at your place or the Burrow?'

'My place first, we took her to the Burrow after, then she just went outside and started reducing the trees to ash. Mum and dad are really angry right now, they only went along with your relationship because you said you'd get married.'

'What's going on here, why are you yelling Ron?' Michael asked as he stepped out of the office.

'I'm yelling at Harry for hurting my sister by breaking up with her and that's the second time you've done that Harry.'

'Okay enough Ron, any domestics keep it out of the office and wait until you get home. Now because of this, Susie, you head out with Harry today, Ron wouldn't be able to concentrate and might hex him instead of that witch if you find her.'

'Fine and I probably would, but Ginny said you cheated on her Harry, with four women, was Susie one of them?'

'No, don't answer that Harry, Ron I said wait till you get home then you can ask Harry anything you want. In here it's work, nothing personal and I won't say it again.'

'Come on Harry, let's go,' Susie grabbed his arm and pulled Harry out of the auror office, 'Blimey, I've never seen Ron go off like that.'

'I was expecting it and like the rest of the Weasley boys, they've always been protective of Ginny when they don't need to, she can take care of herself. But what if Ron asks me about you again, I've never lied to him Susie but I don't want you pulled into this either. Maybe I can just refuse to answer those types of questions.'

'Look Harry, it doesn't worry me, well it will make it tense for a while. But everyone in that office knows I'm not after you or a serious relationship, I'm out for fun, that's it. So if you have to tell him, then tell him. But now get your head into work and what we're about to do.'

'I knew they'd take it bad, all of them would, but you're right,' Harry took a couple of deep breathes, 'Okay, I'm ready for work, come on boss,' Harry gave her a cheeky smile.

'And don't you forget it Potter, now let's go.'

A few hours later, Harry and Susie came back to the ministry of magic and Harry was instantly surrounded by reporters who found out about Harry Potter breaking off his engagement with Ginny Weasley.

'Why'd you break it off Harry?'

'I have to get to work,' Harry tried to push his way through but couldn't so he thought he better just get it over with, 'Alright,' he said feeling frustrated, 'I realised I wasn't in love with her and thought it was better for both of us to end it now.'

'Are you seeing this woman beside you?'

'No, Miss Shadwell is another auror, we work together. Blimey, you have female work colleagues, are you seeing all of them, I'm not seeing anyone else, now I have to get back to work,' Harry pushed his way through until he came to the lifts then made his way back to the auror offices. The moment he stepped in, Ron glared at him but Harry just went back to his desk and filled out his report, then just kept his head down ignoring Ron for the rest of the day but he knew Ron would want answers and he deserved them, but Harry just wanted some time to himself. So he kept working even when it was getting late, but he also knew Ron was still glaring at him from his desk.