�Oh, Harry. These books look very interesting. You�ll have to let me borrow them sometime-�

�Hermione! Let the man be in peace and unpacked for a least a week before you start hogging all his stuff. You have a huge library at the Ministry to go through-�

�But I�ve read all those, Ron. And these are from America, written by American witches and wizards. I�d like to see how different they are from our own. I�m sure Harry doesn�t mind-�

Harry tuned out the bickering for a moment and went into the other room. This was going to be his bedroom, he had decided. It had the most sunlight and it had its own small balcony that would be easy to Apparate from. Hermione had done a terrific job on finding the flat for him, he had to admit. Stepping out onto the balcony, Harry looked around and had to concede that even the view was nice. His room faced the inner courtyard of the building and right now, during the summer, it seemed filled with life and greenery.

Thinking of green things reminded him of Neville, which of course reminded him of Ginny.

All in all, he didn�t think their re-meeting had gone that bad. She hadn�t shrieked away in horror when she�d seen him and she hadn�t slapped his face either. Of course, she didn�t mention the letter he had sent and he knew he shouldn�t have expected her to, not with Neville around. But still, he felt disappointed.

What do you expect? For her to shout her undying love and admiration for you after five years of silence?

Somehow, Harry couldn�t quite picture Ginny doing that either.

Of course, Harry didn�t expect this to be easy, nor did he expect Ginny to even care about him at this point, but his heart had leapt when he noticed how quiet she seemed and how she was unable to look him in the eye for long periods of time. Surely if she didn�t have any feelings for him, she�d have been less nervous and shy, right?

Or it could be that your letter made her so angry that she was afraid of turning you into frog spawn with just a look.

Harry sighed and then jumped when Hermione spoke next to him.

�It�s a nice view, isn�t it?�

�Geeze, Hermione, you startled me. I didn�t hear you come out here.�

Hermione smiled. �You looked about a million miles away. What were you thinking of? Or should I ask, who were you thinking of?�

Harry frowned. �I was just... thinking. In general.�

Hermione moved closer to him and smiled kindly at him. �It�s okay, Harry. Ron told me that you�ve been asking about Ginny and Neville and their... er... status. Of course, anyone could tell by the way you looked at her this afternoon that you have... certain feelings regarding her.�

�Anyone could tell?� Harry felt his skin flush in embarrassment.

�Well, I�m sure Neville noticed, but he probably just chalked it up to the two of you getting used to being around each other again. Neville doesn�t have it in him to think badly of you. Or of her. He cares for both of you very much.�

�Yes. I know.�

Hermione looked at him again and Harry turned away from the scrutiny. He didn�t feel like having a heart to heart about all of this with Hermione for some reason.

�Do you know it, Harry? Because while I want you to be happy and I know you deserve to be, I can�t help but wonder where all this feeling was a few years ago, when Ginny needed you. You left and yes, you had good, solid reasons for leaving, but you left in such a way that nobody knew when you would be back. After you told us you had taken care of Draco and had him extradited to Azkaban, some of us thought you�d be back. But you stayed. And guess what, Harry? The world moved on without you. And no-� Hermione paused, when Harry looked at her crossly. �I don�t say this to be mean, but it�s true. Ginny moved on without you. Neville was there for her when she needed him and he�s stuck by her all this time. He has never broken her heart, he has never hurt her in the slightest, and I can�t imagine that he ever would. He loves her in a pure, unconditional way.�

�And I could never do that, is that it?�

�I don�t know, Harry. Can you?�

Harry was about to answer when Ron cleared his throat from the doorway.

�Er... I know you really want to continue riding him about things, my love, but let the man enjoy some of his first day back, okay? And besides, we should let him be so he can get ready for the party.�

Harry looked away from Hermione. Some of what she had said reminded him too much of that inner voice of his, the voice that often told him he was being a git.

�I don�t suppose it would be okay if the guest of honor didn�t show up?�

Hermione reached out and turned him around. She gave him a brief hug.

�I�m sorry, Harry. I didn�t mean to sound so harsh. I care about you, you know that. But I also care about Ginny and I care about Neville. I don�t want to see the three of you pulled down into some messy triangle, where everyone gets hurt.�

�Trust me, Hermione. I don�t want to hurt Neville and I definitely don�t want to hurt Ginny again, either. But I can�t help the feelings I have for her. Not anymore.�

�Well, as a brother, that sounds reassuring,� Ron said as he stood at the door to the balcony. �I�d hate to have kick your arse, Harry. It wouldn�t be pretty.�

Harry and Hermione both raised their eyebrows at him and he looked offended.

�What? I�m not a slouch in defensive magic! I could have been an Auror too! I just thought working with my beloved was a much nobler thing to do, that�s all.�

�Yes, and as your beloved, I thank you, your mere presence in Muggle Affairs is an inspiration. But you were right,� Hermione said as she grabbed Ron�s hand. �We�ll leave Harry for now and let him get some rest. I�m sure he wants to look his best tonight?�

Harry smiled as Hermione led a disgruntled Ron out of the bedroom. Yes, he definitely wanted to be on his toes for the evening�s festivities.

�Oh, he�s so handsome now, just look at him-�

�Oh well, I�ve always fancied him, myself. I mean, just look at everything that he�s done, how could you not find that attractive?�

Ginny was standing by the punch bowl Hermione had put out and was cursing the unfortunate choice of breathing room she�d chosen. It had placed her right next to Pavarti Patil and Lavender Brown. Two of the biggest flirts the wizarding world had ever known. And right now they seemed to have been overcome with �Harry-itis�.

Ginny glanced in the direction the girls were giggling at and had to admit that Harry painted quite a picture. He had chosen a dark green dress robe, something that always made his eyes stand out all the clearer. His new glasses fit well with his older, more mature face. He looked confident and at ease with himself as he stood at the front door with Ron, greeting everyone as they came in. Ginny remembered what he had written in his letter, about how he was able to now enjoy just being himself.

It definitely showed.

Feeling the old familiar twinge that Harry always produced in her, Ginny looked away with a scowl on her face. Let Pavarti and Lavender gush over him. She was too sensible to be taken in by such superficial charms. Wasn�t she?

�What�s a matter, Weasley? Not in the partying mood?�

Dexter had sidled up beside her, a smirk on his face. Usually he was the one the girls whispered and giggled about. Usually he enjoyed it too, being the shameless flirt that he was. But tonight he had been watching Ginny watch Harry and apparently he found it funny.

�What do you want, Dex?�

Putting on a mock look of innocence, Dexter reached around her and picked up a cup of punch.

�Just a little something to drink, Weasley. Honest. But I can�t help it if I noticed you�re not exactly... dancing it up out there.�

Dex nodded toward the makeshift dance floor Hermione had conjured. In one corner were three members of the Weird Sisters, trying their hardest to sound like a full size band, and in the other corner, people were dancing. Or at least trying to. In the case of Neville and Susan, it was anyone�s guess what they were doing. It looked like a complicated ritual to Ginny.

�Neville can dance with anyone he wants to. I trust him.�

Dex raised his eyebrow. � Aye. Indeed. It�s especially easy to do so since you don�t like getting your feet stamped on. Let the fair Ms. Bones suffer that fate, eh?� Dexter paused and looked again. �Of course, it doesn�t look as though she minds it too much.�

Ginny felt her skin flush. It was true, Susan and Neville looked as though they were having a very good time together. Ginny let her eyes wander back over to Harry and noticed that he too had been watching Neville and Susan. When his eyes met hers, she felt the heat of it and felt herself pulled forward. She watched as Harry said something to Ron and started to make his way over to her. Grabbing Dexter�s hand, she pulled him over to the dance floor with her.

�Ginny, what�s the-�

�Just dance with me, Dex. And pretend you love it.�

Dexter blinked down at her, his eyes wide and blue behind the small wire glasses he wore. �That definitely won�t be a problem, Ginny.�

Ginny didn�t get a chance to see Harry�s face as Dexter twirled her around to the dance floor. She hadn�t danced with anyone but Neville in so long that she forgot what it felt like to have a partner who knew what he was doing. She felt light and graceful in his arms and as he smiled down at her she could almost imagine what it would feel like to be dating him, instead of Neville. How wonderful it would be to have a partner that excited you down to your toes. Dexter was handsome, no doubt about it, and Ginny knew she responded to his teasing because she honestly liked him as a person. He was fun, full of life and he kept her on her toes. She caught her breath as he twirled her around again and she had a vague realization that the dance floor had cleared for them. Everyone, including Neville and Harry were watching them. Ginny barely had time to consider it before Dexter winked at her. He whispered something as he pulled his wand out and before she knew it, they were floating over the dance floor instead of on it and she felt exhilarated as the lightness filled her. The band played louder still and she felt the music in every part of her being. She laughed and felt herself be swept away by it, letting Dex guide her higher until they were almost touching the roof of the flat. She had a momentary image of the two of them hitting their heads and bursting through the roof into the cool night air when Dex waved his wand again and she felt herself begin to float downwards. They landed as the band finished their song. Applause broke out from everywhere. Ginny knew she was red in the face from both the excitement and the embarrassment.

Dex winked at her, slyly. �Now now, Weasley, don�t let them think you enjoyed it too much.� He nodded behind him and Ginny turned to see Neville frowning and Harry scowling. Oh, dear.

As Dex led her over to Neville, Ginny caught Ron�s eye and he rolled his eyes at her. Ginny again felt her face sting, but this time it was with pure embarrassment.

�That�s quite a dance trick, Dex,� Neville said as they approached. �Maybe you can teach it to me? Ginny always says I dance just fine, but I know I�m not graceful enough. You made it look really easy.�

�Aye. It�s easy enough to do Neville, just a simple Levitating spell. Of course it helps if your partner is willing to trust you,� Dex said as he winked at her. Ginny felt absolutely scarlet.

�Hi, I don�t believe we�ve met yet? I�m Harry.� Ginny watched as Harry narrowed his eyes at Dexter and sized him up.

Dex smiled warmly at Harry and shook his hand. �Of course, no need to introduce yourself. You are the man of the hour, after all. My father spoke a great deal about you and the ideas you implemented in the American Auror Program. He was quite fond of your practical application of Defensive Spells.�

Ginny and Harry both looked at Dexter with questions on their face. Dexter smiled again and laughed. �My father was at the Jones school, of course. I believe you taught a few courses at the Academy? Professor Eoghan. He was the Charms Professor there. He retired not too long ago. Now he�s back living in Scotland with my mother.�

�Eoghan... yes, I think I remember him. But you didn�t go to school at Hogwarts, I know that.�

�Nope. You�re looking at a Jones Academy alumni, born and raised. Well, technically, I was born in Scotland, but my father wanted me to be trained in America for some reason and-�

�Ahem,� said Ron as he interrupted. �I�m sure that�s fascinating, Dex, but the rest of us would like some cake, so, if you don�t mind, I�m stealing the guest honor for a moment while we embarrass him to death and sing a song for him. Come on, Harry. Before Hermione snaps at Seamus again for trying to steal a piece.�

Neville reached forward and took Ginny�s hand, disentangling her from Dexter�s. Dexter smiled warmly and shrugged. She didn�t miss the dark look that Harry threw at them before turning around. She blinked innocently back at him and pulled Neville closer. It was going to be a very long night.