A/N: Yes, new chapter!

Next one will probably be another month or so but I'm glad to be able to post this one. But lucky for me there are some things in this chapter that may make you want to reread some earlier things... to occupy you until I update again.

Thanks for the comments, they've been great!

Ginny let herself into Harry's house, carrying the two bags of food. Harry walked into the hallway to greet her and eyed the two bags.

She lifted them up towards him. "I told my mum this morning you were an orphan and while I did insist she couldn't adopt you... There is food for possibly three years in here. "

"Oh." Harry took the bags. "Does she think this is going to help?"

Ginny shrugged as she followed Harry into the kitchen. "She just had a lot of feelings about it, I guess. And making food is kind of her love language. Consider it like a warm, motherly hug."

"Please pass on my extensive thanks," Harry said. He sorted through the food and put in the fridge what needed to be in the fridge and left the rest on the counter. "So..." He turned to her. "Let's go upstairs."

"If you invited me here just to have sex, you are going to have a problem," Ginny told him. "I have been worrying all day."

Harry shook his head. "No." He walked up the stairs and she followed reluctantly. "Just shut up for a little bit."

She grumbled but remained silent. Harry walked into his room and she sat on the edge of the bed, crossing her arms. He went into the drawer of the dresser and took out a small vial. He handed it to her.

She looked at it. It seemed like there was a memory in it. She looked at him warily.

"You asked me to obliviate you about something that happened that evening after your fall. I promised you that I wouldn't bring it back up but..." He sat down beside her. "That was before this whole thing started so I didn't feel okay to keep it from you if this goes on longer."

Ginny looked at him warily. That evening was still fuzzy in her mind. "I assumed my brain was foggy from the concussion, but the Healer said that shouldn't happen."

Harry nodded. "That's because of the spell." He pointed at the vial. "That is the main memory."

"Why did you keep this memory?" she asked, holding it up.

"I have meddled with that spell a lot myself. But if you obliviate yourself you don't remember what you forgot. I ended up putting a broad spell on myself at one time." He looked down. "And then I couldn't get them back. I think there are still memories I am missing, to be honest."

"What did you want to forget?" she asked softly.

He shook his head. "Some things about my parents and their deaths... I thought it would make it better but it didn't." He smiled softly. "Keeping them in a vial meant I could revisit them and it helps reverse the spell. I have had good success with it. Which is why I advised you to do just that. In case you'd ever like it back."

Ginny blinked, looking at the vial as if just looking at it would make the memory come back. "Why have you decided to give it back? What happened?"

"I think it's better if you just see it. If you want it back, it's yours and I'll reverse the spell. With that memory restored, you'll also be able to remember what else happened around that time."

"I want it back; I need to know."

Harry nodded. "Lie down. Putting it back is a little... inconvenient. The quickest way is to pour it into your eye." He took the vial from her and took out his wand. "I'll reverse the spell at the same time. You'll revisit the memory before it's reabsorbed."

Ginny lay down on her back hesitantly. She was wary of the process, but she couldn't not know.

"You look worried, are you sure?" he asked her as he scooted closer to her.

"I find this a little scary," she admitted.

He offered her another reassuring smile. "It's okay. I'll be right here and trust me the memory is not that scary. Frankly, I would say you were being a little dramatic."

She huffed, now more determined. "Give me the memory, Potter."

He nodded and took the stopper off the vial. He tilted the vial and poured it into her eye. The memory flowed out like a liquid but behaved like a fog hitting her face and covering her vision in both eyes. She could see hints of the memory as it rested on her eye.

"Memorio," Harry said.

The fog entered her brain and suddenly she was at The Burrow.

She shook her head. "Don't say such things in the proximity of my mother, she'll have us married by dessert."

Harry snorted into his tea, sending droplets of tea over the rim of the mug. He wiped his chin. "Who knew this season's most eligible Chaser was that easy of a catch? But then I suppose I did catch you."

She hummed softly. "I'd skip dessert if I were you. I'm not kidding my mum–" She stopped as her mum appeared again.

"Do you like treacle tart?" Mrs Weasley asked as she popped her head in again. "Or something else? I could whip something else up…"

"Treacle tart is my favourite actually," he told her and she disappeared again.

Harry looked back at her, meeting her glare. "What?" he said innocently. "It is!"

"You've committed to dessert, and I warned you." She shook her head.

"So, Ginny is it?" he asked casually. "Better be on a first-name basis if you are to be Mrs Pathetic Potter." He grinned and something fluttered in her stomach. Must be the concussion.

She looked him up and down as if she was thinking about it. "Harry," she said huskily. "You couldn't handle me." She leaned to him to tease him.

His face came closer to hers, eyes flitting to her lips before he locked eyes with hers. "Love, I like a challenge."

Her mind was fuzzy and her heart was beating too quickly. She closed the remaining space between them and planted a kiss on his lips. He paused for a moment but then his lips moved with her and his hand came to her cheek. Always steadying her, holding her, strong arms and soft hands–

She was suddenly abruptly reminded they were very much in the kitchen and her mother was likely eavesdropping and the silence would be suspicious. She leaned away and met eyes with him.

Harry looked at her in mild surprise and wonder.

"Can we talk outside?" she said, eyeing the door to the living room so he knew she didn't want to be overheard.

Harry eyed her bare thighs and that's when she remembered she didn't put on any trousers and no one had bothered to point it out until now.

"Sure," he said.

She stood up and he followed her outside. It was chilly outside and she pulled her shirt lower over her thighs. Not that it really helped.

She faced him. "Look, I have a concussion. I am not in my right mind, and I am sorry."

Harry looked at her blankly. "Okay?"

"That's all?" she asked at his mild response.

"I didn't mind it. I don't know what you want me to say. It's okay. It has been a weird day," he told her.

"Thanks," she snapped. She closed her eyes. "Actually can you just obliviate me, I think it's better if I don't remember this. It's already embarrassing enough with my mother hovering around."

"Ginny, it's just a kiss, it's not an issue. We can just move on from it." He shrugged.

"No, I will just wake up embarrassed tomorrow and I will never be able to look at you again," she groaned. "Can you just... please?" She used her saddest look on him; it made most people cave.

"I may," he started. "On one condition."

"What's that?" she asked.

"You take the memory out first and I'll keep it," Harry told her.

"Why?"

He shook his head. "I have experimented with forgetting spells before. Trust me on this one. I'll keep it safe. If you never need it again, I'll throw it away eventually."

"Why the experimenting?" she asked.

"I am an orphan... there are things I want to forget," he admitted.

She nodded. "Fine, you can keep it. But you can't look at it."

"I don't need to look at it," he commented. "I was there." He took out his wand and conjured a vial. "I will put it into a proper vial at home," he explained. He stepped to her, raising his wand. "Are you thinking of the memory?"

"Well, I was trying not to," she muttered. His eyes were such a wonderful green, it wasn't too difficult to think back on the moment right before she leaned in. She shut her eyes, her arms wrapped around herself so she wouldn't be tempted to reach out and lean in again.

"You don't have to look so pained, it doesn't hurt," Harry told her.

"Just do it," she said. She felt the tip of his wand against her temple and then she felt the soft string of the memory as it stuck to his wand.

"All done."

When she opened her eyes, Harry was sticking the memory into the vial. He put the stopper on and put it into his pocket.

"Okay, now obliviate me before my mum comes to check on us," she said, her arms relaxing against her body again now that he wasn't so bloody close.

"Hang on a moment." He held up his hand.

She glared at him, but he didn't seem too impressed by it.

"If you kiss me again, am I allowed to bring it up?" he asked her.

She scoffed. "Why? You think you're that irresistible I'll kiss you again?"

His eyebrows raised, remaining silent as he awaited her reply.

"No, you cannot bring it up again. I can't remember so just pretend you don't either. We can remain acquaintances like we were before."

Harry nodded. "Alright."

"I am sorry about this," she said.

He smiled warmly. "In a minute you won't even remember we had this conversation."

"And thank you," she added.

He neared her again, his eyes dancing over her face. "Hey, that's what acquaintances are for." He bit his lip and nodded. "Okay." He aimed his wand at her head. "Obliviate."

Ginny landed back in Harry's room and inhaled deeply. Her vision was clear again as she looked up at the ceiling. "Bloody hell," she said, refusing to look Harry in the eye. "I am so embarrassed!"

His arm reached out to her and she rolled into him and buried her face in his chest. At least if she leaned her forehead against his shirt, she didn't need to meet his eyes. Harry patted her back. "It's okay."

"No, it isn't! I told you it didn't have to be complicated, and it already was!" She could kick herself; she was so humiliated.

Harry's arms wrapped around her and pulled her further against him. It didn't exactly help her embarrassment, but she did not object.

"Ginny," he said softly. "It's just one more kiss. We have done that tons and much more."

She shook her head. "I gave you such shit for the whole feelings things and to think you were just guarding me!"

"I couldn't tell you but yeah I was considering you too," he admitted, his hand rubbing her back.

"No wonder you kissed me the following day! I keep throwing myself at you every opportunity I got like a cat in heat." Everything was starting to make sense now.

Harry laughed at that, and it caused her head to snap up to glare at him.

He looked at her with far too much sympathy in his eyes. "I mean, it's pretty flattering if a girl is trying that hard to get in your pants. I admired your honesty, to be fair."

"That's why you suggested saying we had been dating... you knew I was attracted to you," Ginny said.

"Fuck buddies is a good bargain though, considering we have to pretend to be dating. It's like the light version of a relationship," he said. "Without all the feelings garbage." He released her. "Are you angry I brought it back up? I know I promised I wouldn't but... if you found out about it later, I think you'd be even angrier."

She sighed and sat up. "No, you did the right thing. We agreed to that before this whole set-up, things have changed." She got up off the bed and turned back around to him. "I am sorry I have been giving you such a hard time."

He smiled. "That's okay. I know you didn't do it on purpose."

She nodded as her fingers fidgeted. "What now?" She looked at him.

He stood up. "We have sex." He took his shirt off slowly.

She stared at him blankly. "What?"

"Look, if we don't have sex now, things will just be awkward, and we do still need to pretend to be together. It's better to break the ice." His hand reached out to her chin, in a way that showed off his muscles all too well. "Clearly you do find me irresistible," he said with a smirk.

She slapped his hand away and turned her back to him again. "I can't believe I said that and then asked you to be fuck buddies the following day! How you didn't run for the hills baffles me." She rubbed her face.

Harry's hands landed on her waist. His lips came to her ear. "Look, you know how to be charming. I was wary of that, of catching feelings for you." His grip tightened. "So I didn't want to run for the hills. I was worried about the opposite. The middle ground you suggested is better." He kissed her neck, but he didn't move, waiting for her response.

She turned back around, and his hands slipped from her. She frowned. "Have sex, to rebreak the ice?"

He nodded. "Just to clear the air."

She sighed. "Fine."

"I adore your enthusiasm," he said with a teasing smile.

"My mum does expect me home," she told him.

He shrugged. "You can go home after."

"You're going to have to take the lead on this one," she told him.

His hands came to her face again and she closed her eyes. Harry kissed her jaw and then her lips. He bent down and kissed her neck as his hands moved further down. She reached out to him without opening her eyes and her hands landed against the skin of his stomach.

"Your hands are cold," he muttered.

"Sorry." Her hands slipped down and her fingers found his belt buckle. She opened her eyes so she could see what she was doing as Harry continued his trail of kisses onto her collarbone.

"This would be easier," she said as her fingers undid the button of his trousers. "If you were making fun of me just a little bit. It would make me feel better." She pulled down the zipper.

"Let me think," Harry said as he lifted her shirt up and over her head. He discarded it. "Ah, I know." He took a big dramatic breath. "Haaave feelings for me yet?" he asked in a sing-song voice.

Her face scrunched up. "You ass!" she said. "Not that one."

Harry chuckled and walked backwards as she came after him. "Oh, did I hit a nerve?" He slapped her hands away. "It's not my fault you have a tendency to fall for me."

"Absolutely pathetic, Potter!" she said.

She pushed him and he tumbled onto the bed. He laughed even more. "I'll stop if you manage to undress me before I undress you." He pushed up on his elbows and cocked an eyebrow. He was enjoying this.

She crawled onto the bed, already tugging off his socks. "You're on, Harry James Potter!"

He tried to get her hands from getting to his trousers. "Hey hey! What are you full-naming me for? Feels so aggressive!"

She paused to look at him. "So you know I am serious."

"I didn't doubt it," he said as he grabbed onto her arm with force. "Those trousers look like they'll slip right off."

His hands came to her jeans and made quick work of both the button and the zipper. Damn those Seeker fingers. She giggled as his fingers tickled her skin and he quickly pulled them down her legs as she kept hold of her underwear. She reached out to his trousers again, attempting to pin him to the bed but he was much stronger than her. She had to use quite some force to get his hands to stop moving.

Two minutes later she sat triumphantly on top of Harry's stomach. He was naked and she had managed to keep her underwear on, but that was it. She grinned at him. "I win."

"So you did," he agreed. "I do feel like I have lost here."

She leaned down, her face inches from his. His hands came to rest on her back. "Thought so." She kissed him. "Did that count as foreplay?"

"Yes?" Harry replied warily.

"What! That was an option this whole time?" she let out.

Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened them again and looked at her. "You don't immediately wrestle a new bed partner to the floor. Doesn't give a good impression." He quickly turned, keeping hold of her so he was on top. "... And there was the concussion."

She looked up at him. "Right."

"Now." He moved down her body. He hooked his thumbs in her underwear. "This has to go."

Ginny pulled on her shirt. "This feels dirty." She turned around to him. "To leave right after. I don't like it."

She walked to the bathroom to check if she looked decent. When she walked back, Harry exited the bedroom, closing his trousers while holding his shirt in his other hand. She stopped.

"You're right, it does feel dirty," he agreed.

She eyed his shirt. "So you're coming with me?"

He smiled. "Only if your mum says yes." He pulled his shirt on.

She laughed. "I bet she does." She took his hand and dragged him down the stairs.

They stepped outside and ignored the clicking sound of cameras, it was a constant thing now if they went outside. Ginny apparated them to the Burrow. She found her parents in the living room listening to the wireless.

"Oh, the Magpies and the Falcons are playing, I forgot!" Ginny commented.

"You're back," her mum noted. "Hi, Harry."

"Hi," he greeted her. "Thank you so much for all the food."

Her mum smiled brightly. "You're welcome."

"Settle in, I was about to make tea," her dad said.

She looked over to Harry and he nodded. He sat down in an armchair. She looked at him with a slight frown. Either she would have to sit on a different couch away from him, or she would have to sit on his lap. He smiled at her and patted his leg for her to sit.

She bit back a comment and settled down in his lap. His arm came around her and she pushed it out of the way. He met her eyes, daring her to do it again as he placed his hand on her waist softly. She was aware her mum was watching so she remained silent.

"Is there a team to root for here...? Of course, when the Harpies aren't playing," Harry said.

"Cannons when Ron's here," Molly said. "We don't really care otherwise. We like to keep up with the ranking to know how the Harpies are doing." She smiled at Harry. "And now also the Phoenixes of course."

Ginny looked over at Harry with a soft smile. Harry nodded in reply to Molly's comment. "Appreciated."

"It will be an issue if both our teams are doing well, I don't want to be up against you several times," Ginny said. "People will say one of us is biased."

Harry nodded. "Even though I know you'd never let me get in the way of your competitiveness." His hand squeezed her waist.

She tucked against him, giving in to the situation and getting comfortable to listen to the rest of the game. "Indeed, I wouldn't. And neither would you. It's Quidditch, it's serious business."

He grimaced. "I think we have established that I do."

"It's not always a life-or-death situation," Ginny told him.

Her dad stood up. "Tea, Ginny?" he asked.

She nodded. "Yes, please."

"Harry, do you want tea and which one?" Arthur asked.

"Thank you, yes," Harry said. "Whatever she's having is fine."

Arthur nodded and walked off to the kitchen.

Ginny eyed him. "You are way too good at this," she whispered.

His hand moved to her hair and rubbed against her scalp. He whispered back. "You should be happy I am willing to keep this up."

"I know." She closed her eyes as Harry continued massaging her head. The conversation stopped as they listened to the game while her dad put the kettle on.

Ginny helped her dad put the mugs back in the kitchen. He charmed them to wash themselves. She paused to look at the Daily Prophet. In the photo, Harry held up the flower crown and then planted it on her head. There was another photo of them kissing and one where she was asleep on his legs. They appeared to have the whole country fooled.

"Does it bother you?" her dad asked as he stood beside her.

She shrugged. "The pressure from management isn't nice. Moments like that we know we are in the public eye. It bothers me more when it's more private moments you don't expect."

Her dad smiled sympathetically. "I can imagine so. I am sure it'll quiet down after a while."

"True, I—" She paused as she heard her mum talk to Harry.

"Do you want kids, Harry?" she asked, seemingly casual.

"Mum, leave him alone!" she said from the kitchen, shooting a knowing glance at her dad.

He patted her shoulder.

She paused in the doorway to the living room to watch the conversation. Her mum had her back turned to her and she tried to throw a glance at Harry, but he didn't look at her.

"Sure," he replied. "In a few years perhaps. Currently, I'm too much in the public eye, I wouldn't want kids to be under constant scrutiny like that. And if I retire from Quidditch I'd get to spend so much more time with them. I think that would be nice."

Ginny walked past her mum and grabbed Harry's hand. "We're going to bed."

"Goodnight, dears."

She dragged him up the stairs. "Good answer," she said as she closed her door.

"Thanks?" he replied warily.

She looked at him. "I realise you didn't bring any stuff."

"It's fine, I can sleep in my underwear and go home in the morning to change." He folded his arms. "Why does your mum asking worry you so much?"

She sighed. "I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"It's not real, it doesn't matter if I give the 'right' answer." He released his arms again. "If anything I don't think there is a right answer, she just wants to know. You can't blame her for wanting grandkids."

"She has seven children, and she already has two grandkids." She sat down on her bed. "She can be a little nosy."

He settled down beside her. "We get worse questions from reporters." His hands folded in his lap. "I think she just wants you to be happy."

She looked towards the window. "I'm sure she does."

"And I suppose mom to daughter it may be more special?" he wondered out loud. "I don't know, I don't have a dad-son thing to look forward to."

Immediately she felt bad about complaining about it at all. It's something Harry probably wished he could have. A mum with prying questions, a dad who'd help him navigate adulthood and parenthood. She turned to look at him, her brows furrowing of their own accord. "I'm sorry."

Harry looked at her. "I'm just saying that she doesn't mean it to be malicious. And she's a great mum."

"I know she's a great mum," she shot back.

"Have you told her lately?" he asked softly. "I don't mean to be pessimistic but I always wished I told my parents more..."

Her heart felt heavy. She sighed. "You make a good point. I'm going to talk to her right now." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Downstairs she found her mum finishing up some knitwear. She paused, and thought about what Harry had said. "I am sorry I reacted so harshly... it's just a little personal, is all."

Her mum wound the wool around the needle. "I know I pry."

Ginny smiled and sat down beside her. "We haven't been together long, and we have so many other things going on. It's not the type of thing we have discussed yet."

"And now you have your answer, and it didn't even need to be an awkward conversation," Molly said with a knowing look as she continued her row. She shifted her needles.

Ginny stared at her mum in surprise.

"Guys like Harry... are the guys you stay with all your life." Molly glanced at her. "It's good to know those types of things early on. You both want kids but not right now, you're aligned."

Ginny wondered if he had done that on purpose or if he had answered truthfully as she suggested. "Suppose we'd make cute kids," she commented and then paused. She shook her head. "When I have kids, with or without Harry, just know you'll be the first person I'll want to ask all my questions to."

Her mum paused knitting and smiled warmly at her. "I'd like that."

"I'd want to be a good mum like you," she told her honestly.

Her mum looked back down, and Ginny wondered if she was hiding she was getting teary-eyed. After a moment her mother spoke again. "You also have to consider, having children is all he'll have for family."

Ginny took a deep breath. "Harry said that too just now. He'll never have those father-son moments raising his kids."

"I am sure your dad would gladly help him, he's had seven kids of practice," Molly said. She sighed. "Of course that is not the same, but it's the best we can do."

Ginny felt bad for the way her family was embracing him this way, but he would never get to fully experience it. How her parents would be sad to see him go. She felt her throat close up and she wanted to make her escape. She smiled towards her mother. "Thank you. Love you, mum. Goodnight." She kissed her mother's cheek. She stood up. "Night dad, love you."

Both her parents mumbled goodnight and love you too back as she rushed up the stairs. She closed the door and leaned against it as tears began streaming down her cheeks. Harry shot off the bed immediately. He put a silencing charm on the door.

"What's going on?" he said. "Did something happen?"

She shook her head. "No! Everything is fine!" she forced the words out of her throat.

He bent down to meet her eyes. "Looks like it," he said, concern clear on his face.

"It's been a really long day," she clarified. She had already felt tired from the whole memory ordeal. "And I'm just sad for things you'll never get to experience... and how my parents are trying to make it easier on you. Not trying to replace your parents but trying to be there for you regardless." A sob left her throat and she wiped at her eyes, upset she was crying.

"Do you need a hug?" he asked softly.

Instead of replying, she slumped against him. His arms wrapped around her. One hand patted her back. "There there."

"When it's time for you to leave, they're going to be devastated," she told him, willing herself to breathe slower. "My mum thinks you're the one for me." She looked up at him. "I feel bad for lying to them."

"Then tell them the truth," Harry suggested as if it was that simple.

"I can't just do that," she replied, she dried her tears. "Dear mum and dad, the half-naked man upstairs in my childhood bedroom is not really my boyfriend."

"Maybe don't say it like that," he replied with a frown.

She shook her head. "I don't know, I have to think about it."

"I am only keeping up this lie for your sake, if it were me, I would have already told them. Like you said, they like me." He bit his lip. "If they're going to be upset anyway, isn't honesty best?"

Ginny chuckled. "That's not what my brothers taught me."

Harry released her again. "Just think about it."

She nodded. "Okay." She looked at him. "I'm sorry, I'm a lot today, aren't I?"

He shrugged. "I feel like most of that is my fault." He walked to the bed and got under the covers.

She looked at him. "No sex anymore?"

He laughed. "I am tired too. If you're horny you can deal with that by yourself," he commented. His head landed on the pillow resolutely.

She grabbed her pyjamas off the chair and got changed, not bothered if Harry was watching or not. She got onto the bed beside him and turned the lights down with a wave of her wand.

After a few seconds, she could just barely see Harry lift his head off the pillow in the dim light. "Are you actually touching yourself?" His hand went under the covers until it found hers. "You think you're funny, do you?"

She let out a snort. "My sense of humour takes a dive when I'm this tired."

"I can tell." He pulled her to him so they could both lie comfortably, but close, on the bed. "... I would have helped, you know."

Ginny moved her arm, but he held it down.

"Go to sleep."

She allowed her body to relax now. "After we break up, I think we should remain friends."

"Alright. Goodnight, Ginny."

A/N: There are no feelings in this chapter. Absolutely no one is having feelings. (Mumbles something about a river in Egypt)