A/N: These are actually two chapters in one but they are rather short and I didn't want to bother with the hassle of posting two chapters right after each other. I could have maybe done without these chapters too but they further establish their friendship before all the shenanigans begin... so I left them in.

Some people were confused. Chapter 1 was indeed them in their high school days when they become friends. Now they're in their next-to-last year in college/uni! After this chapter there will be fewer time jumps, I promise!

Fire Alarms

"Ginny, come on, we've got to get further away from the building, this isn't safe," Ron said, tugging on her sleeve. The fire alarm could still be heard coming from the building.

"It's fine, go on ahead, I'll wait for Harry," she told him.

He sighed. "No, if the building explodes and I leave you here, mom will kill me," he responded.

"They said it was right by his dorm, I just want to make sure he is okay," Ginny said, ignoring the people walking past her and onto the grass field across from the building.

"Here or there, it won't make a difference," he tried.

Ginny didn't take her eyes off the exit and shrugged.

Ron gave up. "Okay, but if you die, you owe me!" he said, finally walking off.

It was another five minutes before Harry walked out. Ginny let out a sigh of relief. He came up to her and she hugged him. "You know you're supposed to evacuate as soon as the alarm goes off, right?" She paused as she noticed he smelled different. "Why the hell do you smell like fire right now?" she said, releasing him with a look of concern.

"New deodorant?" he tried as they walked to the field too. "The dude next door left his food on the stove and fell asleep. I pulled the fire alarm and helped put it out."

"Are you hurt?" she asked now, grabbing his hands to look for burns. Harry did tend to walk into trouble rather than run away from it.

"I am not an idiot, Gin. I am fine," Harry reassured her.

Still her fingers ran over his hand to check if he was unscathed. She only stopped when she was able to verify he did not get injured in the protest. "Okay, you're fine." She released his hands as they halted on the field.

"I did tell you that…shouldn't you be checking in on Matthew?"

"No, I broke up with him last Sunday," Ginny said casually.

"What? Why am I only hearing about this now?" Harry said. He was usually the first person to find out when things went awry, often before the other person involved.

"He gave me an ultimatum, say I loved him back or … admit I am not as committed as he was. Don't think he expected me to get up and leave…" Ginny said, looking at Harry.

"His mistake. Honestly if you have to ask to hear it back…" he responded.

"Yes. Of course when I said we were done he begged me to stay but I was so over it by then. I was already having doubts but that was the final straw… you can't coax people into saying that."

"I mean, I know you have trouble saying that but you do try… I think your issue is that you give the impression of being serious but you rarely follow through." As usual Harry offered good insights into her mind, but then he had observed it go wrong more than anyone.

"Well, I don't want to be saying big words if I am not absolutely sure, right?" she defended herself.

"I mean, what do I know? I have never had someone tell me they love me, well except my mom but that doesn't count."

Ginny chuckled. "That's just sad." She shivered in the cold October air.

"You're cold," Harry said, pulling her a little closer so they stood side to side. "Better?"

"Yeah, thanks," she said as she leaned into him a little bit to keep warm.

"Sometimes I think you're too focused on finding the perfect guy."

She opened her mouth to object but he stopped her.

"No, you should not settle for less. You just attract certain guys with that I think, you tend to run into the same issues every time…"

Ginny looked up at him. "Actually, I do think you have a point. Maybe I need to stop pursuing it so much."

"Yes, and you're a catch, I am certain good guys will come to you if you let them."

"Well, that I know," she joked back.

Harry chuckled. "Good."

"If you put the fire out, what's taking so long?" Ginny muttered, she was eager to get back inside and to bed, it was pretty late.

"They needed to air out the place, make sure the ceiling wasn't about to come down," Harry explained.

"Sweet, that doesn't sound concerning at all. I'd invite you to come crash on our couch but Felicia may just kill you in your sleep, so better not."

They walked on and found Ron, Neville and Hermione chatting together. Ron looked up as they approached.

"Oh, good, you two found each other," Ron commented when they joined the group. "So did you two-?"

"Ginny just told me her and Matthew broke up," Harry said.

Ron looked between them, slightly confused. "Yes, I thought you knew."

"I am taking Harry's advice though. I have decided to stop pursuing love so much, maybe it'll come to me. Besides, being single for a while may be good," she said.

Ron let out a laugh.

"What?" Ginny asked.

Ron glanced at Harry. "No, I just thought— nevermind. Yes, love may be right around the corner."

Ginny glanced up at Harry to see if he knew what Ron meant but he shrugged.

"I hope our dorm gets cleared, since it was right next to ours," Harry told Neville.

"Why didn't you wake me up when you smelled fire?" Neville asked.

Harry blinked. "I figured the fire alarm would do, really."

"Seriously, how did you put out the fire?" Ginny wondered.

"Fire blanket?" he said as if it was obvious.

"Where did you find that?" Ron asked.

Now Hermione let out a sigh. "All the kitchens are equipped with one, did none of you read the safety protocols?"

Ron, Neville and Ginny shook their heads.

"Well, good thing I did or who knows what would have happened," Harry said.

"You could just be reasonable and evacuate… " Ginny said, she had been far too worried about him.

"No, I think it's anyone's duty to help if they can," Harry defended his actions. "Especially if there are lives on the line."

"So just a noble idiot then," she said, cocking her head.

"Whatever," he said with a shrug, he was used to her playful insults. "You should be thanking me."

Ginny dramatically wrapped her arms around her best friend. "Oh, our saviour! How can we ever thank you for your valiant actions!"

Harry glanced down at her. "Are you done?"

She released him from her grip and smiled. "Yes. I think I made my point."

"Don't blame her, she's overcompensating,. She was really worried when you didn't come out immediately," Hermione said.

Ginny crossed her arms. "Friends look out for each other, so of course I wanted to make sure he was alright!"

Harry bumped against her shoulder. "Thank you, you're a good friend."

Ron muttered something under his breath.

"What's that, Ron?" Ginny asked, peering at her brother.

"Nothing."

Harry looked up when one of the firefighters waved him over. He turned to leave but looked back at Ginny.

"Do I need to get the phone number of a sexy firefighter?" he teased.

She shook her head. "I am taking your advice."

"Alright." He started walking away.

"You were just testing me, weren't you?" she yelled after him.

He turned back around and grinned. "Yes, you passed! I am sure love is on its way!"

She laughed and turned back to the group. "It's a shame to pass on a firefighter, though."

"Do you find people who put out fires sexy?" Hermione asked.

"Come on," she said. "The uniforms alone. Don't you think?" She wiggled her eyebrows at her friend.

Hermione chuckled. "Okay, yeah. You have a point."

February swung around, which meant it was time to plan their Easter vacation. Ginny was one of the last to join the group. They had agreed to meet in the communal area on the ground floor of the dorms. She slumped in the chair beside Harry.

"You look rather moody," the latter noted as he looked up from his phone.

"My dorm mate was going off about dishes again. They were hers ." She shook her head.

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Felicia is a real delight. You know she tried to hit on me the other day when I was waiting for you to come back?"

"That is not the girl you want to forgo your no-dating rule for, trust me," Ginny assured him.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Harry chuckled, he had a sense of self-preservation after all.

Hermione stood up. "Okay, can we agree on the week we're going on vacation? Put your hands up if you prefer the first week of Spring Break. " She looked around the table. "Okay, so that's Ginny, Harry, Neville, Cho, Dean. Second week?" She counted the hands going up. "So for the second week, we have Seamus, Ron and Luna."

Hermione nodded and noted it down. "Looks like the first week wins by a lot, can you guys still make the first week as well?" she asked those who had preferred the second week.

"I will have to skip a party—Ginny, is that why you chose the first week?" Ron turned to her sister.

She smiled widely. "I am not going to adjust my schedule for their anniversary, in fact, the less I see Fleur the better. I don't think I'll go home at all over break."

"Mom won't be happy," Ron told her.

Ginny shrugged. "I visit enough."

Hermione called the attention back to her. "If we are going the first week, I have a few cottages I found in that area that are for rent during that week." She sent the link to everyone in the group chat. Everyone looked in silence through the listings.

"Ohh this one has a jacuzzi!" Seamus let out excitedly.

Cho came to look over his shoulder. "Look at the fee to use it," she pointed out, scrunching up her nose.

Seamus cleared his throat. "Nevermind."

"This one has quite an amount of rooms, some of us could sleep alone," Luna said, pointing at one of the listings.

"Dibs!" Harry and Ginny called out simultaneously. They high-fived each other.

"Clearly I am the most annoying roommate," Neville commented with a laugh.

"I just like having my space," Harry defended himself.

"This listing says you have to feed the cats," Dean pointed out a third one, "But I believe Seamus is allergic to cats."

Seamus nodded in confirmation.

They ended up agreeing on the one Luna had proposed. They would meet at the dorms on Monday morning and they would drive two cars to the cottage.

Harry walked Ginny back to her dorm. He put an arm around her shoulder amicably.

"So, got a hot date this weekend?" he asked her.

She sighed. "No… I am still off guys for the moment."

"Metaphorically or physically?" Harry asked with a grin. It was hardly a fair comment, Ginny was usually just looking for the one .

Ginny jabbed him in his ribs for his comment. "Both. Good guys are hard to come by."

"Sorry, the joke was too easy not to make, Gin. I am impressed you're sticking with it. And I am sure the perfect guy will come to you," Harry tried to reassure her.

"Well, I have leftover pasta. You can have some if you stop making comments about my failed attempts to find love," Ginny said as they came up to her door.

"I don't know, is Felicia going to make me do the dishes?" he said.

Ginny grinned. "Guess you'll have to find out."

"I have another conspiracy theory for you. Avril Lavigne," Harry said after he finished the pasta.

Ginny shook her head with a grin. "I already know that one! Are you even trying? That's another point for me."

"How many does that make?" Harry said.

"234 for me and 228 for you," Ginny counted.

"Alright, how about this one: The death of Nero," Harry said.

"The emperor?"

"Aha!" Harry said excitedly. "So you don't know it. That's at least two points for me."

They moved to the couch. Ginny plopped down beside Harry and shook her head. "How is it worth two?"

"Well, some people thought he faked his own death and was preparing to come back and return to power. Then other people thought his dead body would come back alive to reign again."

Ginny looked at him. "Alright. Two points for you."

"Yes!"

"What about Jack The Ripper?" Ginny asked.

"No, no. You did that PowerPoint for ten points but you were never allowed to bring it up again," Harry said.

"Damnit!"

"Sounds like 231 points for me," Harry said happily. He was catching up.

Onion Rings

"Are you ready?" Harry heard Ginny call into his dorm. He stood up and grabbed his phone and walked out.

"Yes… " He looked at Ginny wearing a rather short dress that was also low-cut, the thin straps showing off her toned shoulders. "It's still winter, are you trying to freeze to death?"

"It's not far, it's fine. It's always warm in there anyway," she responded.

"Okay, if you lose any toes, don't say I didn't warn you," he commented, it was senseless to argue.

"Sure, Harry… Let's go. I saw Dean and Seamus were going downstairs already and Cho and Luna should already be there," she said.

They met the other two right outside the dorms and started walking to the club.

"What took you so long?" Dean asked.

"Harry was worried I'd freeze to death," Ginny commented.

"Sure, he was," Dean responded.

Seamus looked at her. "In a dress like that, I am sure you'll find a guy willing to keep you warm."

"I am sure that's not what Harry meant when he said I should let guys come to me," she said as they started walking towards the club.

Harry chuckled. "Not sure if the dress screams 'looking for the one', Gin, but who knows."

"Well, so far I have only attracted the creeps anyway. I haven't been on a date in four months, can you believe it? I spent Valentine's Day alone for fuck's sake!"

"I am not forcing you to keep it up! It was just a suggestion. I just think true love needs time to … marinate. You're not going to find it with the Tinder date who groped you on the first date," He looked at her, because he knew she'd have to agree.

"Who made you the authority on true love anyway?" Ginny retorted, but she was smiling.

"I have an outsider's perspective," he responded with a shrug.

"You get some proper dating experience and then we'll talk again," she said.

Dean looked at the both of them. "Yeah, Harry, dip your toes in the dating pool. There's bound to be some great, single, short-skirted girls here tonight that will be to your liking."

Seamus chuckled. "I am sure of that."

Harry ignored them. From the corner of his eye he could see Ginny shiver but before he had the time to open his mouth to comment, she had muttered 'shut up'. He nodded with a smile and kept his mouth shut.

"Can you watch my drink?" Ginny asked him.

"Yes, off you go," he said, pulling her drink closer to him so he could keep a good eye on it while Ginny went off to dance. Harry was taking it a little slower tonight.

Seamus and him watched her go.

"Found anyone to your liking yet?" Seamus teased.

Harry shrugged with a chuckle. "I wasn't really looking."

"Yes, you were," Seamus said.

"No, I'm happy to be out with friends," Harry responded, he wasn't here to pick up a girl

Luna came back to their table, waving herself for some fresh air. She sipped her drink. "Cho is on fire tonight! Not sure if she's going home with us," she said with a telling look.

The song was barely over or Ginny came back. "I have to leave, now. There's a guy…" She took off before they had the time to respond and pushed through the crowd.

Harry looked at Seamus and Luna. "Well, then I am off too, make sure she gets home safe."

"Okay, see you!" Seamus said.

Harry quickly followed her and only managed to catch up with her as when she was almost at the exit. He grabbed her hand. "Gin, wait up! You can't go walking the streets by yourself at night."

"I kind of assumed you'd catch up actually," she responded as she let him lead her outside.

He let go of her hand. "Right. So what's up with this guy?" Harry said, moving away from the exit a little and leaning against a pole.

"Nothing major, I keep blocking him but he keeps making alternative accounts to find me. Major stalker alert, I didn't feel safe in there with him around…" Her lip pulled up in disgust.

"Yikes, well we can head back then," Harry told her.

Ginny shook her head. "Sorry your night got cut short."

"See, this is why I can never pick up girls, I always have to make sure you don't get abducted on the way back," he joked, though it did not bother him at all. Ginny always made things fun, in the club and out.

"Well, you can take it up with the male population," she responded.

"Ugh, men! They're all the same!" Harry said, making Ginny snort.

"Hey!" a guy shouted, coming out of the club.

They both looked up.

"Is that him?" Harry asked.

"Yeah."

"Good thing I got outside first then," Harry said. He didn't want to think about what would have happened if he hadn't been here. He watched as the guy approached them.

"Hey, Ginny, it's you I am talking to," the guy said, her eyes landing on her. He did not even try to hide the fact that he was ogling her.

"Go away. Was me blocking you five times not getting the message across?" she spat, crossing her arms.

"I don't know what I ever did to you, at least you could give me a chance!" the guy argued.

"Take a hint, dude," Harry said, continuing to lean against the pole, but ready to move if the guy decided to swing at him. "She's clearly not interested."

"I wasn't talking to you," the guy said, looking back at Ginny.

"He's got poor communication skills too," Harry commented to Ginny, determining the guy would not be a real threat or he'd already tried to take a jab at Harry.

A smile danced around her lips.

"So what's it going to be?" the guy asked Ginny.

"Fuck off!" Ginny said.

"Please leave," Harry told him, starting to lose his patience.

"Hey, stay out of it, creepo!" he said.

Considering the guy's predicament, calling Harry a 'creepo' was hypocritical to say the least. Harry pushed off the pole, making him taller than the guy and approached him. He said nothing but it was enough to make the guy back up.

"Just go," Ginny insisted.

The guy took another few steps back. "Fine, you're a slut anyway! I was only showing interest in your ugly ass because I felt pity. Cunt!" He started walking away.

Harry's posture deflated as he checked on Ginny.

"Do you think his mother didn't love him enough?" Ginny mused, keeping her eyes on the guy to make sure he was taking his leave.

"Whore!"

"Something went wrong, that's for sure," Harry replied, trying to lift the mood again.

"You want to go back inside or…?" Harry asked her.

She shook her head. "No, now I am not in the mood anymore."

They waited until he was gone before they moved. They'd rather not walk into him again.

"Where did you meet this delightful guy?" Harry asked as they started walking back to the dorms.

"Nowhere! I think he graduated last year, he added me on Facebook for no reason and then just… kept trying."

"Dang, he is persistent… let's hope he got the message now."

"Yeah." She glanced at the time on her phone. "It's still pretty early, want to grab a bite instead?"

"Sure."

They settled down with their food at a table.

"Luna said Cho was really going for it," Harry said.

"Cho likes to play around." She smiled and reached for one of Harry's onion rings.

"Gin, we have been through this. If you want something, order it yourself instead of stealing mine," he told her off, slapping her hand away.

"But that's no fun," she argued. "Besides I know for a fact you ordered more for me."

Harry shook his head, pretending to be annoyed but she was correct. She just always stole his food for no particular reason other than that it amused her. He kept up the facade this was terribly annoying, that was part of the unspoken game. "Yes, because I know you. I save you from a psychopath and as thanks you steal my onion rings."

Ginny grinned, digging into her own chips. "You're a good friend."

"Yes. That is why I am the best friend. Not sure what I am getting out of this friendship, though," he joked.

She crossed her arms with a frown. "That hurt." Her lip pulled into a pout with intention.

"Aw, Gin. You know I love hanging out with you." He watched as her pout disappeared and she unfolded her arms.

"You're going to have to repay in onion rings for your comment," she said, taking another one.

"I assumed as much." He smiled back at her.

They lost track of time while chatting long after their food was gone, conversation just always flowed between them. She glanced down at her phone to see Ron was calling her.

"Hi, Ronniekins," she greeted him. Harry chuckled.

"Please don't call me that. I saw Dean and Seamus come back from the club and they said you left a while ago"

"I am fine, stop keeping tabs on me." She rolled her eyes at Harry.

"Are you with a guy?" he asked her shamelessly.

Ginny glanced at Harry. "Yes."

"Do you think that's smart?"

Ginny groaned. "Ron, I am with Harry."

There was a small pause. "In his dorm?"

"No, we went to get food, we will be heading back soon. There was a thing in the club with a guy so we left."

" Oh. Well at least you're fine. "

"Bye Ron." She didn't wait for his reply and put down her phone. She shook her head.

"Was he worried?" Harry asked.

"Yes, Dean and Seamus said I left a while ago so of course he thought I had died somewhere. They were probably too drunk to explain to Ron that I left with you."

Harry glanced at the time. "We should get back too."

She nodded and started cleaning up their stuff. "He thought I was with a guy, so then I had to specify it was you. I mean you are technically a guy ."

"I am not technically a guy, Gin, I am a guy, " Harry said, throwing their stuff in the trash.

Ginny smiled. "You know what I mean."

Harry pretended to think hard. "I don't know, I got you away from your friend group and am taking you back to my place, sounds like a major creeper alert to me."

"You are my friend group."