Harry's hands in her hair. Under her shirt. All over her skin.

Ginny sighed. She rolled over in bed, pulling the covers over her head. Squeezing her eyes shut, she tried to fall back asleep. Sweet oblivion. Not Harry overtaking her mind and common sense.

His lips on her neck. His quick breath. Eyes dark with want.

She groaned, tossing the sheets away and staring at the ceiling. Last night. Merlin. If he hadn't stopped her, she would've thrown caution to the wind. She couldn't forget who he was. Harry Potter. Auror. The specific one tasked with capturing her. What the bloody hell was she thinking?

Last night, she'd been thinking with her libido. What was wrong with her? In her line of work, slips like that could be disastrous.

That got her out of bed. She needed to do something, anything to get her mind off of her temporary insanity into the depths of lust.

Productivity was the plan. There had to be something she could do.

Breakfast first. Maybe some tea.

While the tea brewed, she leaned against the counter. She closed her eyes and exhaled, placing her hands on her hips.

Harry's hair standing on end. Dark eyes begging for more.

Ginny spun around, tightening her hands on the counter. Being alone was not helpful. Outside, with people, that's what she needed. Someone to talk to, to distract her.

Luna!

She smiled just as her kettle sung. Once it was ready, she took a shower and pulled on trousers and a Holyhead Harpies jumper. The quidditch team had offered her a position on the team once she graduated, but she had turned them down. On days she felt nostalgic, she'd go off to an open field and charm a quaffle. Quidditch with a team, especially her family, was something she missed about her old life. It was easy to slip into the picture perfectness of what it would've been like. She would've joined the Holyhead Harpies. Moved out of the Burrow. Married Harry. They would've had five kids. Grow old together. Keep the Potter name alive. But she'd left that any possibility of that behind.

Wand and bag in hand, she was out the door before her mind could think of anything else foolish. With a flick of her wand, the wards were up and once outside in the alley, she apparated to the Scamander house.

Luna knelt in the garden in front of the house. Her hair was pulled back into a messy bun, her wand caught inside it. When Ginny approached, she looked up, a soft smile on her lips. She sat back and wiped at her cheek, leaving a streak of dirt in its place. "Ginny, good morning."

Ginny sighed, sitting down in the dirt beside her. She already felt better. Fresh air and the right company.

Luna tilted her head. "The Nargles haven't gotten to you, have they?" she asked, reaching across and touching her arm. "Rolf said they've been causing mischief in the Ministry."

"The Nargles?" Ginny asked, fighting a grin.

"Something has the Aurors all up in arms," Rolf said, coming out of the house. He smiled at her. "Welcome, Ginny."

"Hi, Rolf." Ginny leaned back in the dirt, her fingers digging into the dirt. The man moved over and offered his wife a glass of water. She took it with a smile. "Is the MACUSA President still here?" she asked a moment later.

"I believe so," Rolf said. He reached a hand out to Luna, who took it and wiped her hands on her trousers. "For the time being. There hasn't been any word to how long he's staying." He held out his hand to Ginny next. "Would you like some breakfast?"

"I'd love some," Ginny said, getting to her feet, then followed them inside.

Rolf gathered their plates and disappeared into the kitchen. Ginny sipped another cup of tea, leaning back in the chair. Breakfast had been wonderful. She didn't get these big meals living alone. She missed eating with others. The company, the conversation. Tonight, she'd have a meal with Harry

Her heart skipped a beat. She pursed her lips. Dinner. A date? Was that what it was? They never dated before. Back then, there had been stolen moments and kisses and pleasure away from the public eye. But dates were never really a thing.

She ran her hands over her face.

The door to the kitchen opened and Neville stepped through. Ginny blinked at him. "What're you doing here?"

"Good morning to you too," he said, taking a sip from the mug he had in his hand. He sat in Rolf's seat. "Oh, I'm starving!" He reached for a sausage. His eyes closed when he took a bite and leaned back in the chair.

"I owled him," Luna admitted a moment later.

"When you went to the kitchen! I thought you took ages in there!" Ginny glared at her then crossed her arms. "That excuse about being distracted by- whatever you called them- in the garden was a total lie, wasn't it?"

Luna shrugged. "You never visit out of the blue."

"You make me sound like such a crummy friend." Ginny frowned.

"That's not it, Ginny." Neville folded his arms on the table. "You've got a life that neither of us really knows about. And that's fine. We're your friends, not your jailors. We're here if you ever need us." He took another sip of his tea.

Ginny was blessed. That was the only way to explain having friends like them.

"Will you tell us what's wrong now?" Luna asked. "My mother always said that when in the company of friends, a burden could be lifted."

"Your mum was a brilliant woman," Ginny muttered than covered her face. She exhaled then dropped her hands. "I need some advice."

"Does this have anything to do with Harry?" Neville asked.

"Neville!" Luna turned towards him.

Ginny gaped. How could he possibly know?

He held his hands up. "It is, isn't it?"

Her mouth opened then closed. She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear and looked down at her teacup. "How did you know?" she asked her tea.

There was silence in the room, and when no one spoke up, she looked up. Luna and Neville stared at each other, caught up in their own silent conversation. She frowned.

"What?" she asked.

They both turned to her.

"What was that look?" she asked, pointing between them.

"Nothing," Neville said and took another sip of his tea.

"Ginny," Luna started. "What do you need advice about?"

She rubbed her lips, remember Harry's against them. His body under hers. Her hands in his hair. She swallowed. She didn't even know what she wanted to ask.

"Have you seen Harry?" Neville pipped up. "I thought it's been years since you last spoke."

"At the ball the other night," she said then paused. She couldn't tell them all of it. They didn't know she was Fyrefox and most of their encounters were because of that fact. But she did add, "And he came to my flat."

Neville's eyes widened. "Your flat? How does he know where it is?" He looked between them then frowned. "I thought no one but us knew where you lived."

She shrugged, but the underlining tension of the truth still smarted. "Turns out the Ministry has unorthodox ways of finding people. Maybe he used a spell."

"Maybe he followed you," Luna pointed out.

"Luna, be serious. This is Harry we're talking about. He doesn't stalk people." Neville crossed his arms.

Ginny snorted. "Because the famous Harry Potter never does anything wrong."

Neville glanced at her, a wrinkle between his eyes, and she felt like a student, her professor disappointed in her. She turned away, breaking eye contact. She picked at a loose thread on the tablecloth.

"He's my friend, Ginny," he said a moment later.

She licked her lips and closed her eyes then shook her head. "I know, I'm sorry."

"Something has changed, then?" Luna asked.

Ginny nodded. "You could say that."

"I mean, we're having a civil conversation about him and you're not running away," Neville said. "Something's certainly changed."

She glared at him.

He held his hands up. "As you were saying."

Where did she even begin? At a young age, she'd learned the best way to lie was to stick close to the truth. The twins taught her that. Loss gripped her chest and it took her a moment to breathe through it.

"Since the ball, I've seen him a couple of times." She drummed her fingers on the table. "When I'm with him..." She paused. Merlin, how did she explain it? He makes her want to scream and yell and curse the world then fall into his arms. To kiss him. To open up wounds that were just better left badly scarred.

"When you're with him what?" Neville asked.

Luna tilted her head and watched her.

Ginny gulped. Maybe she wasn't ready for this conversation. "Harry wants to cook for me," she finally said.

"How lovely," Luna said, smiling.

"Well, how about that." Neville grinned. "Dinner. A date."

A date.

She shook her head.

"Ginny-" One of them started, but her mind spiraled. She didn't know if she could ever forgive him for what he'd done. Turning his back on her. The anger was still there, hand in hand with the fear. She knew it, she felt it in every heartbeat.

Almost losing control could happen to anyone, and even though she probably shouldn't, she wanted to do it again but no interruptions.

But dinner was different. Having him in her flat, cooking for her, it seemed almost permanent. It didn't make sense. But there was always the possibility that dinner could lead to acknowledging the return of feelings she buried deep down long ago.

That was terrifying.

"What are you thinking about?" Neville whispered.

"I don't know if I'm ready for dinner," she told them, leaning back in the chair. "I don't know if I'm ready to do this with him again."

"You'll only know if you try," Luna said.

She shook her head. It wasn't that simple. She ran her hands over her face then got to her feet. She needed to get back. There was a lot to think about before Harry showed up tonight.

They stared at her. "I need to go."

"Ginny-" Neville started.

"Come by for tea again," Luna cut him off, getting to her feet too. She came around and hugged Ginny. When she pulled back, she squeezed Ginny's arms. "Sometimes it's best not to think too much about something."

Ginny pursed her lips and nodded. She hugged Neville next then left the house. Just before she apparated to her flat, she glanced back at them where they stood at the door. Neville said something to Luna, but she was watching Ginny. She waved.

Ginny waved back then apparated with a loud crack.

*

And there we go! Finally, it's up. What did you think? Ginny needs the comfort of friends to get her mind off of one Harry James Potter ;) Please share your thoughts. Next chapter up on Monday. As always, thank you so much for all your patience and love and support. You all keep me writing. So, a biiiiiiig thank you. I appreciate ya'll sooo much! <3