Harry thought back over the last few months, noting the changes in his life. He was now Lord Potter-Black, and was taking up his proper place in Wizarding society. It had been three months since he had started his lessons with Lucius and he was beginning to think of the man as a friend, they had many a conversation through letters and he occasionally had lunch with the man outside of his lessons. The other Lord had been a great help to him, guiding him through the political minefield and instructing him on the social niceties that he had to observe. He had also become one of the largest patrons of the orphanage as well, something which the public were beginning to take notice of. people believed that he was just donating money towards books and education for the orphans but Harry knew better.
Having spoken with Mrs Brown he knew of all the little changes that Lucius had been pushing through at the orphanage and he knew that the man was there at least twice a week for the children's lessons. He had wondered at first why he was taking such an interest in the orphans and he had come out and asked him directly at one point why Lucius was going to so much bother.
The man had explained that it made more sense to him to make sure that the children had the best opportunities and education they could have to become productive members of society in the future. He had also explained that they would always look to him for some guidance as well if he was useful to them now. Harry was rather surprised that Lucius had admitted his rather Slytherin goals in the matter, Harry had been wondering if there was an ulterior motive involved, but he hadn't expected Lucius to come out and tell him the truth, that was more a Gryffindor trait.
Harry still hadn't told any of the Weasley's who his lessons were with, Hermione knew, but he had sworn her to secrecy and knowing the contention between the Weasleys and the Malfoys she had agreed to keep her silence. There had been mixed reactions as it was about him claiming his Lordship with the family. Ron thought that he was trying to become someone that he wasn't, especially as he had started to spend almost as much time as Hermione buried in books, and Mr Weasley agreed with him a little, stating that nothing good ever came of being a member of the House of Wizards. Harry wasn't sure but he thought it might be resentment speaking as the Weasley family had been a member of the house at one point and was no longer. Mrs Weasley and Ginny seemed thrilled by him taking up the Lordship and it seemed as if Ginny wanted them to go out places even more often now. She wanted to be seen on the arm of Lord Potter-Black and it was beginning to take its toll on him. He wouldn't be surprised if she started hinting about engagement rings soon enough, Mrs Weasley had already been dropping not so subtle hints about marriage around him.
There was no reason he felt to rock the boat any further, it would eventually come out that Lucius was his teacher in these matters and he would prepare for the inevitable storm when it arrived. For now he intended to try and ignore it completely and enjoy dinner at the Weasley's, something that was becoming harder to do every time that he was there. He could see that it wasn't going to be easy that evening as the group started talking about their plans for the next evening and Ginny began to stare at him. He could tell that she was waiting to ask him something, he just wondered how long it would take her to muster up the courage to ask.
He didn't have to wait too long though, some of the others conversation giving her the perfect platform when Fred asked her what her plans were for the evening. She looked at him for a moment before speaking. "I am not sure yet, I want to go to the party at Vincenzo's, I am not going on my own." She then turned the full weight of her stare on him, "Will you come with me Harry? You did say we would go out somewhere this week."
Harry just sighed, he knew that something like this was coming, Ginny tried it every other week, trying to get him to take her out on a Friday night to whatever party or event was going on. Vincenzo's was a new Italian wine bar in Vertical Alley that was having their grand opening tomorrow night, it was more of an event than a party, but explaining that to Ginny would make no difference. "I have my lesson tomorrow evening you know this Ginny."
Ginny glared at him, "You promised that we would go out this week, I want to go to this party. Cancel your lesson, you have your Lordship now, you don't need lessons anymore."
Harry just glared back, his lessons were about more than just gaining his Lordship, he had to know how to manoeuvre society without offending anyone, and to learn why society functioned the way that it did. It was why he had taken such a keen interest in the history of the wizarding world, he wanted to know why things had occurred the way they had, and what could be done to prevent certain things. If a few changes had been made in the past it would have been very unlikely that Voldemort would have risen as he had, Harry wanted to make those changes now in order to protect their society. Lucius and his lessons were helpful to him, he wasn't just going to cancel on the man, certainly not to attend an event he had no wish to be at.
"I'm not cancelling my lesson Ginny, I still have things to learn. Why don't you go to Vincenzo's if you want to go so much, you don't need me with you for that." Harry told her, although he was pretty sure that she actually did, there was no way that she would be invited into the bar herself, she would need him to get her in. "We have the Charity Ball for the orphanage on Saturday so we are going out, unless of course you don't wish to go."
Harry watched to see her reaction, noting that the whole family were staring between them a bit like a tennis match, watching to see who would win this conversation. Harry knew that he would get his way in this situation, after all he wasn't going to allow his emotions to rule him, whereas Ginny would just get angry and mad, making it harder for her to get her way.
Ginny glared at him before moving away from the table with her plate dropping it loudly into the sink. Harry winced in sympathy for the dish and waited to hear her response.
"Of course I still want to go to the ball, I just don't see why we can't go to Vincenzo's as well, we never go out on a Friday night anymore, people are beginning to talk and ask questions." Ginny responded.
"I have commitments on a Friday Ginny, I made arrangements for my lessons I am not going to cancel something important to go out on the town to appease the gossips in Diagon Alley." Harry explained, watching Ginny warily to make sure that she wasn't about to start throwing things at him, it wouldn't be the first time after all.
Hermione seemed to take the lull in conversation where Ginny was making up her mind what to say to usher everyone out of the kitchen, insisting that they give Harry and Ginny some privacy. Harry loved that woman, he really did, she was the best friend he could have ever asked for, she always had his back when he needed it.
"So, I am not as important as your lessons Harry, I just have to sit at home and wait for you like the little wife do I." Ginny replied, hoping to guilt him into taking her out, not that it would work.
"I didn't say that Ginny, don't put words in my mouth, and at no point have I said that you can't go out without me. You would have more fun at some of the places you want to go without me anyway, they aren't really my sort of thing. You are hardly waiting at home for me like the little wife either, it's not like we live together Ginny, you are my girlfriend, certainly not my wife, or my mother for that matter. What I do and when I do it is not up for discussion, I am not cancelling my lesson, this week or any week." Harry spoke, telling her the things he thought she needed to hear.
Ginny just glared at him, obviously hoping that it would make him change his mind, but that wasn't going to happen. Harry decided that it was time to leave and he told her that he would see her on Saturday before the ball before heading into the living room to say his goodbyes to the rest of the family before leaving for home. He could tell that Mrs Weasley wanted to question him and push him into doing what Ginny wanted but he just made his excuses and left. He had spoken quietly with Hermione before he left arranging lunch for the next day, he was hoping that she would be able to help him sort out some of the things that were going on in his life.
Leaving the Burrow for home was a relief, one that was occurring after every family dinner, it used to be the other way around, dinner was the relief, not escaping from it. It felt that every time he went to the Burrow there was something new, something Ginny wanted them to do, Ron wanting him to just ignore his books and his new responsibilities and just play chess or quiddich or Mrs Weasley making hints about how lovely a wedding in the garden would be, with Ginny looking all starry and dreamy eyed.
Frankly Harry was sick of it, he had been used for years to destroy Voldemort, he now had his own life, he wanted a chance to do with it what he wanted. He was too young for marriage, and he wasn't really sure that he wanted to marry Ginny even if he wasn't, she was too interested in his name and where he could take her. Harry wasn't interested in going out to parties or events, he didn't like being in the spotlight, unlike Ginny who seemed to thrive when there were a dozen reporters in range. Things like the charity ball for the orphanage he didn't mind, it was for a good cause, but wine bar openings didn't hold any appeal to him, he would rather be at home with a bottle of wine and some close friends than in a room full of people getting steadily drunker.
There wasn't much that he felt that he and Ginny actually had in common, other than their love of quiddich, they had completely different ideas of what they liked to do in their free time other than Quiddich. Especially since Harry had decided to take up further study, most of his spare time was used pouring over books, trying to read as many history books as he could. It had shocked the Weasley family completely when he had told them that he intended to pursue a Mastery in history, but he hadn't cared too much, it was his decision. Hermione had agreed with him, finding that he really had become quite passionate about making sure that history wasn't repeated, especially in terms of Dark Lords popping up, and that the only way to stop repeating the mistakes of the past was to learn of and from them.
As well as his duties in the House of Wizards and his time spent at Gringotts learning about his family's finances he didn't really have a lot of spare time, and when he did have spare time he just wanted to relax, not be dragged all over London to the most happening places. He really needed to speak with Hermione, if there was anyone who could help him make sense of his jumbled thoughts and feelings towards Ginny it would be her. He didn't think that there was any real romantic feelings left in him for Ginny though, he loved her sure, but he didn't think that he was in love with her, not anymore at least. He'd wait and speak with Hermione before deciding anything, his big sister always gave the best advice.