A/N: Oh my oh my. Look at the title! Could it be? Well, you'll have to find out. Also I have a terrible flu and had the WORST week so yeah if something doesn't make sense I am so sorry? Thankfully I had like 95% of this chapter already written for a good while so it just needed a little tweaking.
March is going to be really busy for me so I can't make any promises for updates. Just know that yes, I am writing.


Ginny was on her way to her own dorm when she noticed the door to Dean's dorm was open. She stepped in and spotted Dean sitting on the floor with a pile of books.

"So, it's that time of year, huh?" Ginny commented.

"As is tradition, of course I lost a book again so I can't start studying," Dean let out. "What's up?"

"Nothing much. I was just wondering…" Ginny started but she trailed off because she didn't really know what she was about to say.

"How everyone saw it except you two?" Dean spoke, looking at one of the books and then adding it to the pile on his left.

"Not everyone, I don't believe we were that oblivious," Ginny said. She sat across from him on the floor and crossed her arms.

Dean chuckled. "Ginny, please. We all did. Just not you."

"Hmpf," Ginny huffed. "Why?"

"Well, if you allow me to pull some psychology," he started and looked at Ginny to see if he could go on. She nodded. "Because he's important to you, maybe you didn't want to face the feelings because you know what it's like to get your heart broken. So you probably didn't even consider it until he kissed you in that closet." He added two more books to the pile.

Ginny gawked at him. They never said they had kissed in that closet and definitely not that Harry kissed her first. "How did you…?"

Dean smiled. "You literally told us when you came out. People always tell a truth to hide a lie. Harry didn't say anything so he had some qualms about his actions, but you were a willing participant."

Ginny was surprised Dean had caught on to such a degree. "What about Harry?" she asked.

"Can't go and reveal Harry's secrets now, can I?" Dean teased her.

"Oh, come on, Dean."

"Fine. He's less of an open book but if I had to guess… he's never had a serious relationship. He has never had to work to identify his feelings like that, so he likely didn't pick up on them until they were so strong they hit him square in the face when presented with the possibility."

Ginny was quite baffled but she guessed Dean was probably right.

"Is the book you're looking for purple by chance?"

"Yes, I think so?" Dean replied.

"Seamus hid it in the top cupboard in the kitchen," Ginny told him.

Dean looked at her in shock and then stood up to check the cupboard. He took the book out. "That bastard."

Ginny grinned. "He has a pool going how long it would take you to find. Don't tell him I told you."

"Right. So you know we're all good, right?" Dean said.

Ginny stood back up. "Yeah. Thanks for the insights."

"Anytime," he said, throwing his book with the rest of them.

Ginny made it to the door. "You're a good friend, Dean."

"I know."


Ginny could hear Harry enter the dorm. She was on her bed leaning against the headboard while she worked on her laptop.

"You again," Felicia said to Harry, apparently she thought it was an appropriate greeting. "Do I need earplugs?"

"Most definitely," Harry replied.

Ginny smiled to herself. Felicia was complaining about anything these days so it had turned into a bit of a game.

"Hi babe," Harry said when he entered the room and closed the door behind him.

She smiled at him. She shifted to make room for him on the bed.

He sat beside her and kissed her. "Almost done?"

"Yeah, I just need to write the conclusion," she replied.

"Cool. Hang on, before I forget," he said, then continued louder. "Oh, yes, Ginny. Right there!"

Ginny couldn't contain her laughter. "I think she hates us."

"She brought up earplugs this time," Harry defended himself. "If she wasn't so insufferable all the time…"

"Now I have to lock my room if I'm with you, I swear she keeps coming in here just rummaging about. I wonder what goes on in that brain of hers," Ginny said as she finished the last sentence and clicked save. "I talked to Dean today."

"What did he say?" Harry asked.

Ginny smiled and closed her laptop. "That everyone except us was aware we had feelings for each other."

"Apparently that's the general consensus, yes." Harry nodded.

"I tattled on the book pool," Ginny admitted. "My time frame had already passed anyway."

Harry gasped. "You could have waited until mine! I could have won."

She chuckled. "He was going through all his books trying to find it, I felt bad."

"Do you think that's Seamus' way of flirting with Dean?" Harry wondered out loud.

"For sure. I am not sure he is aware of it though." Their eyes met. "Oh. I see how that reflects on us."

"What? Flirting without knowing?" Harry asked with a frown.

She put her arms around him. "Some things you did were really just for me, if you think about it."

"This is about me?" Harry scoffed. "Like you never did anything!" He raised his eyebrows with a smile.

"Like what?" she replied innocently.

"I— Well, you— I can't come up with anything right now! But you still did." He crossed his arms and looked away.

Ginny laughed and kissed his shoulder. "Let me know if you come up with something."

"I will."

The following silence indicated he was coming up blank.


Ginny had to admit this class was utterly boring, the Professor droned on and on, never looking up from his paper and this week he seemed to have made it extra boring. Yet it was unusual for Harry to doze off in class like that. He was barely keeping his eyes open.

Ginny bumped her knee against his. He shifted in his seat and looked at her.

"Are you okay?" she whispered. "What did you get up to this weekend?"

"I-uh, I ended up helping my parents with their … job," he said, which was enough for her to understand. "Short night."

"You do that?" Ginny asked, it was the first time she heard about it.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, sometimes."

When the class was done, Ginny dragged Harry back to his dorm. She got onto the couch and put her arms out, Harry happily snuggled between her arms, his face buried in her hair. Ginny started editing her notes from the last class on her phone. Harry was asleep before she got past the first paragraph. She made sure to add some extra explanations because she knew Harry had missed at least a part and then sent him the notes.

"Hi, guys!" Neville greeted. He had quickly become used to seeing them together in the dorm and as long as he didn't find them in a state of undress, he did not complain.

"Sh!" Ginny said but Harry hadn't even moved.

Neville walked around the table to get a view. He nodded in understanding then cocked his head.

"What are you looking at?" Ginny asked.

"Nothing, just trying to discern your position… nevermind, got it," Neville said.

Ginny tried not to laugh because she was worried it would wake Harry up, but he was sleeping like a log. "Go on, say how we are too clingy."

"No, you guys are like sea otters."

Ginny frowned. "You're going to have to explain that one."

"Sea otters hold hands so they don't float away from each other, especially when they sleep. You two are always attached somewhere," Neville said.

"Huh. That sounds cute." Neville was right, more often than not she was either on his lap, holding his hand or was otherwise touching him.

"Sure. I'm back off to the library, just came to pick up a book." He picked it off the counter and made his way back out.

"Bye, Neville."

Ginny took her phone again and googled sea otters.

Harry started waking up and sleepily lifted his head. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"Looking up sea otters. Neville said we reminded him of them," she said.

"Because they hold hands?" Harry replied.

Ginny nodded.

"He left out the part where males without a territory move together in large groups in search for females," Harry said.

"Oh, so like a fraternity?" she quipped.

Harry smiled. "And they only bond for three days, which is the average span of your relationships."

"You are such an asshat," she said with a scowl.

"They also put their pups on their chest as they float to keep them safe and have a little rock they keep in a pouch to open shells."

"Shut up, that's so cute," Ginny said, "Wait, how do you know so much about it?"

"I helped Neville prepare a presentation once." He held out his hand. "Come on my little sea otter, I could go for another nap."

Ginny took his hand and Harry tucked his head back into the crook of her neck. She wasn't sleepy but she did not mind lying here a bit longer with him.


Ginny came back from her parents and went to see Harry in his dorm right away. She kissed him in greeting and his arms came around her.

"Oh, hey, you look tired, are you okay?" Ginny asked with slight worry.

Harry sat down on his bed and Ginny settled on his lap, her arms around his neck.

"I didn't sleep well."

"How come?" Ginny asked softly

"No, it's nothing," Harry insisted, avoiding eye contact.

"Tell me," she said, wondering why he didn't want to say anything.

"You're going to think it's stupid or that I'm pathetic," Harry said, a blush ghosting his cheeks.

"Try me," Ginny encouraged him. They could be candid with each other about most things.

"Fine," Harry gave in. "I know we've been together less than a month, but I've gotten so used to having you with me. Not being able to touch you or pull you close, it took me forever to fall asleep. Go ahead, laugh." He sounded defeated.

Ginny wasn't laughing because it was so sweet. "That's the most endearing thing I have ever heard," she said softly. "Not to worry, I am here now. I was thinking of keeping you up late but we can cuddle instead."

Harry smiled. "I think we can do both, it's not that late," he said as he pulled her down on the bed.

He had been toying with her pants for a while, her back flush against his chest. His fingers finally slipped under the fabric.

"What are you doing?" she asked amused.

"Finding wonderland," he responded as his fingers moved further down.

Ginny snorted. "You can't stick your hand in my pants and then make me laugh."

"Just trying to find out if I can make you laugh and moan at the same time," he said, pressing down.

Ginny gasped, her hand grabbing onto his arm.

"Looks like I can," he murmured.

"Don't play games, Potter." She met eyes with him.

"Do you want me to stop?" He pressed a kiss against her neck.

"...No."


"Okay, I still got that assignment to do for Perkins so I'm going to go back to my dorm." Harry let Ginny drop off his lap.

"That's due next week, you got time," Ginny replied, not getting up with him.

"I'd rather get it done early. I read the research yesterday so it's still fresh in my brain," he stood up and walked to her bedroom door.

"Alright, Harry. Bye. Love you," Ginny said casually.

Harry's hand froze on the door handle as the words registered in his brain. He looked at her, his heart felt like it was going to jump out of his chest. Ginny blinked at him, not aware of what she had said.

"Harry?" she asked because he had not moved or said anything for a while.

"What did you say?" he said softly.

She took a second to recall. Then her eyes flew back up at him. "I love you. I said it out loud this time, didn't I?" she told him, seemingly unbothered by her confession.

"This time?" he asked softly. He let go of the door handle and walked back to her. "This time? … No, you—" He looked at her, overcome with emotion. She had that blazing look on her face. "You don't say it easily, you don't…"

"What does that tell you, then?" she said, her eyes never leaving him.

Harry breathed out and blinked. "Ginny—!" he let out in disbelief, but his heart was soaring. He ran a hand through his hair.

"Harry?" Ginny asked as her eyes followed him. "Are you going to cry?"

"No," he replied, but he wasn't entirely sure of it either. Not only did she love him, she had said it so easily, as if it had been the hundredth time.

"Get up," he told her.

Ginny got off the bed and stood up.

Harry took her hands in his, his heart beating fast. He cleared his throat. "Hang on a moment, I've never done this before."

"I hadn't either, but you don't need—"

"Yes, I do. I want to," Harry cut her off. He knew what she was going to say. She did not need him to say it back, but he wanted to. He needed her to know, he loved her, too.

She waited patiently for him, her hazel eyes focused on him.

He wondered how he had gotten so lucky to fall in love with his best friend. He righted his shoulders and took another breath. "I feel strangely nervous," he admitted. He had never expected it to be like this.

Ginny clearly thought it was a little amusing. She lifted an eyebrow while smiling but said nothing, allowing him the time he needed.

Harry swallowed his nerves, this shouldn't be scary. He locked eyes with her. "I love you."

He watched eagerly as her face broke into a big grin. She released his hands and wrapped her arms around his neck instead. She kissed him slowly, took her time. He picked her up into his arms. Harry held her more tightly as her legs came around him. He wanted to hold her like this forever. Every one of her limbs wrapped around him.

"What about your assignment?" Ginny asked, parting just enough to speak.

"Oh, fuck that," he said, his lips already connecting back to hers, he had long forgotten about his assignment and the research he had read.

Ginny's forehead rested against his. "I usually feel anxious when someone tells me they love me but this time… I was ready."

"I wasn't… You really never told any of your boyfriends before?" he asked carefully, his heart squeezing almost painfully.

She shook her head. "You know I don't say it unless I really mean it and I never would have. Now I was quite sure."

Harry hoisted her further up his waist and kissed her. "I thought at least if you were going to say it at all, that it would take months."

Her eyes shone so brightly right now, sparkling with emotion. "So you were not going to say it to me until then?"

"As a keen Ginny observer, I thought better of it." He grinned.

She smiled softly. "I think you understand me a little too well sometimes."

"Just the right amount I think." Harry walked to the bed and sat down on it.

Ginny unwrapped her legs from him as he lay down. She rested her head on his chest. His arms came around her waist.

"I am so happy right now," she said, grinning widely at him.

Harry squeezed her closer. "Me too." He was over-the-moon, ridiculously happy right now.

"Is that phase four or phase five you think?" Ginny said after a moment.

Harry thought about it. "How many phases are there?"

"Fifteen…" she replied.

He was pretty sure she was just making these up as she went. "What's fifteen?"

"Growing old together."

Harry smiled. "Evidently."

There were interrupted when he felt Ginny's phone buzz against his hand. He fished it out of her back pocket for her.

Ginny took it from him. "Oh, it's my mom… Hi, mom!" she cheerily said after she picked up as if nothing special was going on.

"Hi, dear. Just calling to check if you are coming for dinner on Sunday?"

"Yes, of course I am coming," she said, she sat up.

Harry carefully watched her, listening to the conversation.

"Oh, good, good. And what about that new boyfriend of yours?"

Harry smiled as he heard it.

"What about him?" Ginny asked with a light tone.

"Well, are you bringing him …? You are strangely quiet about this one. I thought you said it was serious?" her mum said.

Ginny glanced at him and he winked. She ignored him. "Yeah, like I said he's a friend so I already knew him pretty well to start with."

"So you will bring him, then?"

"Hang on, I will ask him." Ginny covered the microphone and looked at him. "Sunday, dinner with the majority of my family, are you free?"

"Sure," Harry said. At least they had already met him, so it wasn't completely daunting.

"Yes, he will come," she replied. His hand squeezed her waist and she had to cover her mouth, so she didn't yelp. She shook her head at him.

"Lovely! See you sunday, dear. Bye."

"Bye, mom." She put her phone down on the bed.

"So… are you planning on telling them it is me before we go?" Harry wondered. He did pick up on the fact that her mother had no clue it was him she was dating.

"Haha… no," she said. She took his face between her hands.

"Why?" he asked her.

"Because it amuses me," she replied with a smile, she kissed his cheek.

"You're just putting me on the spot," Harry said, catching her eye.

"No, don't worry about it. They like you, it'll be fine," she reassured him. "I am just having a little fun with my family. Now where were we?"

"I have no clue, I'm pretty sure we had nothing major going on." He beamed at her.

"Oh, right." Her eyes locked with him. "I was going to make love to you."

Harry grinned, trying to ignore the swoop in his stomach. "Oh, you're just saying it like that to get my heart rate up."


They found themselves undressed yet again, Ginny against his chest in his arms.

"I love you," he said again because he could. "Was that your heart?"

"No." She did not sound very convincing.

Harry put a hand on her chest. She looked unamused.

"I love you," he said again, feeling her heartbeat pick up again.

"Stop it," she said with a smile, her cheeks glowing and avoiding eye contact.

"Are you getting embarrassed?" he teased her, pulling her closer again.

"No," she muttered, her smile growing wider. Her hand came to his chest. "I love you too."

Harry felt his cheeks heat up. "I'm so in love with you it isn't funny."

"God, you're so corny," Ginny complained, "I can't take that from my best friend."

"Oh, I thought I had passed on that title since I received an upgrade," he said with a wink.

"Absolutely not," she responded. "What am I supposed to do, find a new best friend? No thanks." She pretended to be appalled by the thought.

"So I hold both titles," Harry said.

She nodded and got up and stepped into her underwear.

"Need something from the fridge?" she said, looking around for her shirt. Her eyes landed on Harry's and she put it on instead. That would do for a trip to the fridge and back.

"Sprite."

He heard her walk to the fridge, but she did not return.

"Hey, Ron," she said, two seconds later she popped her head in. "Better put trousers on, Ron's here."

"I figured."

"You know, I have seen him naked," Ron answered.

Harry walked out of Ginny's room, buttoning his jeans, frowning at Ron for his comment. "Thanks for making it weird."

"It was already weird," Ron said, looking unamused. "I didn't want to suffer by myself."

Ginny handed Harry his Sprite, he popped it open and took a sip.

"But look, between the two of you, you have one whole outfit." Ron pointed at the two of them.

"In my defence, that is my shirt," he said, pointing at Ginny.

"What brings you here?" Ginny asked her brother.

"Your library card, please?" he said.

"Oh, right, I forgot about that." She walked to the cabinet, standing on her tiptoes to look on the top shelf. Harry watched as she reached onto the shelf and his shirt hitched higher on her thighs. Ron bumped him and when Harry looked, he mouthed 'no' soundlessly. Harry blushed.

Ginny turned back around and handed her card to Ron, oblivious to the exchange. "You get late fees, you pay them."

"Of course. Thanks," he said. "Please tell me why you haven't told the rest of the family you're dating Harry?"

Ginny shrugged. "I think it is funny. Mom has been pestering me about Harry for years, she will be over the moon anyway."

"Well, you better be on your best behaviour on Sunday," Ron told Harry before he left.

"Aren't I always?" he shouted after him. He turned to Ginny. "What does he need your library card for?"

"He wants to lend even more books for his thesis so he can get it all done at once," Ginny said, her arms snaking around his waist.

"He is really dedicated lately," Harry said, he was impressed.

"Hermione made him a schedule, and he is actually sticking to it," Ginny said. "He wants to impress her so bad."

"That's going to happen sooner rather than later, right?"

Ginny nodded. "Totally."