Two days after Dumbledore had dropped Harry off at the Burrow, he ran into Ginny outside the single bathroom the entire house shared. For the first time in his life, he found himself wishing that the Weasleys could afford a house with more than one bathroom.

Ginny’s hair was wet, the strands dripping water and drenching her Holyhead Harpies t-shirt around her chest. Harry averted his gaze quickly - he didn’t want to stand there and flush with the intense attraction he felt towards the youngest Weasley - and instead looked at her face. Her face split into a genuine grin, which highlighted the sprinkle of freckles on her cheeks. Harry’s stomach ached with longing.

“Good morning, Harry,� Ginny said.

“Morning, Ginny.�

Neither of them knew what else to say so they hovered awkwardly for a bit. Harry wondered if Ginny was also thinking about the last time they had spent time together - their last midnight tryst when the pain of Sirius’s death had been fresh. Harry coloured at the memory. The last time they had been alone together, Ginny had heard Harry sob, his heart breaking for his godfather. In some ways, that last night had also solidified what Harry knew he felt about Ginny. When she’d squeezed his hand with her small gentle fingers, he’d felt an immense wave of gratitude and comfort. And it was the next day, seeing her talking to Dean, that he’d realised that he was falling for her. There was no other way to see it.

Harry Potter fancied Ginny Weasley.

“I’ll just, erm-� Harry gestured towards the bathroom door. Ginny stepped to the side and said, “Oh yes.� They shared a brief look before Harry stepped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He let himself fall back into the door and buried his face into his hands.

It had been easier to avoid the feelings he had for Ginny when he was stuck at the Dursleys’. The grief of losing Sirius and the thought of the prophecy had kept him busy for a month and despite knowing how he felt, he had avoided actively thinking about her. At least the thoughts that he had control over.

Because Ginny Weasley had plagued his unconscious thoughts. In ways that made him glad that he and Ron weren’t sharing a room this summer. The last thing he wanted was for him to share a room with Ginny’s brother when she often visited him in dreams that were too inappropriate to repeat.

And now, being stuck in the same house as her, with only Mrs Weasley, Fleur, Ron, and Hermione to keep them company, was driving Harry crazy. He was torn between wanting to spend more time alone with Ginny and wanting to get away from her.

His conflicting feelings were making him tongue-tied around her and he was sure that she was picking up on it. She had thrown him confused looks more than a few times since he’d arrived. The two times he had been left alone in a room with her, he had found excuses to run away. He couldn’t trust himself around her yet. She was too pretty, too funny, and too comforting for Harry to be around her without him blurting out how he felt about her.

This was nothing like anything he’d felt before. The crush he’d had on Cho now suddenly felt like a slight tremor compared to the earthquake of emotions he was feeling for Ginny. She occupied so much of his thoughts that he suspected his brain was malfunctioning - the knowledge that Voldemort was coming for him, one way or another, had perhaps made Harry stop caring about anything but the fiery redhead whom he wanted with every fabric of his being.

Maybe all Harry wanted now was a taste of what normal life would be like had there never been a prophecy, had he never been marked for a destiny he didn’t ask for. An image came to his mind - Ginny and him spending the summer together, sitting side by side in the Weasley orchard, kissing…

Yes, perhaps the reason he wanted her so much, was because he just didn’t want to be the Chosen One anymore. Maybe what he wanted was to be an almost sixteen-year-old boy who was free to ask his best friend’s sister out on a date.

But Harry knew better.

Harry let his body be scorched under the hot water from the shower, trying very hard not to think about Ginny.

HGHGHGHG

“W ell, it’s your turn now, Ginny,� Hermione was saying when Harry entered the Weasleys’ sitting room that evening. “O.W.L.s are no joke. I advise that you do not ignore your studies like your brother,� she threw Ron a dirty look, “and start well in advance.�

“Hermione, you would have me start revision today if you had it your way,� Ginny snorted, and put down a card that caused a small explosion, making Ron jump back with a yelp.

“Well, it’s never too early to start.� Hermione shot Ginny a look of disapproval and made space for Harry so that he could sit on the sofa next to her. “I have all my notes from my O.W.L. year. Arithmancy is particularly difficult. I can give you my notes to get started.�

“Gee, Hermione, thanks. What would I do without you?�

Hermione looked satisfied. She didn’t hear the little snort that escaped Ron. Harry did not doubt that Ginny had no intention of studying during her summer. But Hermione had entirely missed the sarcasm in Ginny’s voice and was now idly turning the pages of the newest book she was reading.

“Let’s play chess now, since Harry’s here,� Ron said, throwing the cards in his hand to the side. He turned to Harry before he said, “You and Ginny versus me. What say?�

“Me and Ginny on one side?� Harry asked, hoping he was able to mask the thrill in his voice appropriately.

“Yeah, that way, you at least have a small chance of winning.�

At this, Ginny threw one of her Exploding Snap cards right at Ron’s face, making his face singe with a small explosion.

Ginny winked at Harry and said, “Now we have to show this prat his place.� Harry nodded, trying not to think about the way his stomach was somersaulting when she’d winked at him. Harry pulled a chair and sat next to Ginny as Ron set up the wizard’s chess set. The afternoon sun was streaming in through the window next to Ginny, illuminating her hair, making it look sunkissed. Harry fought the urge to run his fingers through her locks.

The game began, taking his thoughts away from Ginny to their moves against Ron. It was no secret that Ron was the best at the game, but Ginny was good and Harry was not entirely hopeless. So with their combined strategies, which they discussed every now and then by whispering into each other’s ears (Harry tried not to think about what Ginny’s hot breath felt like against his ear), they had a decent chance at winning.

“Come for dinner, kids!� Mrs Weasley called from the kitchen.

Hermione immediately closed her book and got up, ready to join Mrs Weasley in the kitchen for dinner. But when she noticed the look of strain on Ron’s face, she paused to observe the ongoing game, which was nearing an end.

Ginny made her final move and Ron hid his face in his hands with a groan. There was a beat of silence and then Ginny screamed with glee. Harry’s face broke into a smile and he turned to Ginny, feeling way too much pride at what was just one game they had won. But he saw that Ginny looked equally happy. He pushed off from his chair at the same time as Ginny pushed off the sofa. And before Harry knew it, Ginny threw her arms around him with a squeal.

The buzz of victory fled Harry’s mind very quickly when he realised that Ginny was embracing him. He put his arms around her and squeezed back, taking a deep breath, filling his senses with her distinct flowery smell.

“Faaaaiine,� Ron groaned. “You two win once. Just because you were two against one. And I was too hungry to be in my top form.�

Hermione laughed a bit and said, “Oh, Ronald.�

“I’m serious, Hermione,� Ron protested. “I need food to think straight.�

“You’re just a spoilsport, Ron.� Ginny pulled back from Harry, but only partly, to look at Ron with a smug look on her face. Harry’s arm was still draped around her waist and he didn’t feel like pulling back. “And remind me, what did you say before we started? Oh yes. ‘I’ll wipe the floor with your and Harry’s faces even if you play two against one’. That was all talk, was it?� Ginny pulled back entirely now and Harry reluctantly removed his hands from her body. Ron simply held up his finger in response.

“The truth is, Harry and I make a great team.� Ginny threw a smile at Harry and said, “You’re now mine if I ever want to beat Ron at chess again.� Harry hummed his consent, holding back from saying that he wanted to be hers, period.

Mrs Weasley gave another shout from the kitchen and the kids made their way to dinner. Harry followed, internally counting the various benefits of spending his summer at the Burrow. He had a feeling that there would be many more opportunities to enjoy beating Ron at various chess games with Ginny as his partner. And maybe, she would hug him again?

Merlin, he sounded so pathetic. Like a love-sick puppy.

When Mrs Weasley brought out pudding, there was a tapping at the window. An unknown owl was pecking furiously at the glass pane. Ron got up to take the letter from the owl and frowned at the envelope.

“It’s for you, Ginny,� Ron said and held it out to her. “Who’s writing to you?�

“You’re the one with your entire friend circle sitting right here, Ron,� Ginny said and gestured towards Harry and Hermione. “It could be any of my friends writing to me.�

“What, you mean, your one friend, Looney Lovegood?�

Ginny’s eyes flashed with anger. “I’ve told you not to call her that, Ron.�

“Ron, lay off your sister’s friends,� Mrs Weasley said, throwing her son a look of warning. Harry peered curiously towards the letter Ginny had received. He knew that Michael and Ginny had broken up a couple of months ago. He wondered if it was Luna who had sent the letter.

“It’s him,� Ginny whispered towards Hermione. It was barely loud enough for Harry to catch what she had said. Ginny excused herself from the table and ran up the stairs, presumably to her room, to read the letter in private. Harry felt a surge of annoyance.

Him?

Was Ginny back with Michael? Wasn’t he dating Cho now? Or was this someone new? Had Ginny already started dating someone new? A thousand thoughts flew through Harry’s brain as he tried to recount every possible man that Ginny knew. It took Ron two tries to get Harry to pay attention to what he was saying.

“Harry, Harry,� Ron said until Harry looked up. “You want to help me with Quidditch practice tomorrow morning? I thought we could run some drills. I want to make sure I make the team in the tryouts.�

“Yes, of course,� Harry said and glanced at where Ginny had disappeared up the stairs. “Do you want to ask Ginny as well? Isn’t she trying for Chaser this year? I could help you both out.�

“Yeah, good idea.�

It was only when Mrs Weasley wandered away to finish some chores and Ron was too busy fiddling with the wireless to listen in on a Chudley Cannons match that Harry felt it was safe to ask Hermione, “Who wrote Ginny that letter?�

Hermione looked up from her pudding. “Oh, it’s Dean.�

“Dean? Why would Dean be writing to Ginny?� Harry knew that Dean and Ginny knew each other in passing but he could never have guessed that they knew each other well enough for Dean to be writing to her during the summer.

“Well, she told me that he sort of asked her out before the term ended,� Hermione said, curiously narrowing her eyes at Harry. “He told her that he had fancied her for a while and wanted to get to know her better. So he’s been writing to her. I think this is his third letter this summer.�

Harry felt like he’d been punched.

“And? Is she writing back?�

“Yes,� Hermione confirmed. “She said he seems like a fun guy. And he’s very fit, isn’t he? I suppose Ginny likes that.�

Fit? Ginny thought Dean Thomas was fit? Harry had a sudden urge to chuck his leftover treacle tart into the wall.

“And so, they’re dating now?� Harry tried to sound as nonchalant as possible, but it was fairly obvious that Hermione was eyeing him with suspicion. He wasn’t being subtle in any way. He was too desperate to find out more.

“No.� Hermione had a little smile tugging at her lips. “She said she isn’t ready to jump back into a relationship so soon after Michael. So she’s just getting to know Dean for now. Testing the waters, shall we say?�

“Oh,� Harry nodded at Hermione. “Good for her.�

“It is good for her.�

Harry cleared his throat and began to shovel the rest of his treacle tart into his mouth, avoiding Hermione’s piercing stare as he ate.

So this was it. He was too late, yet again. Ginny was too desirable, too popular. He had spent the entire summer moping, trying to bury what he knew he felt about her. Even now, with a few weeks of summer that he still had left, he had been trying to avoid spending time with her.

And Dean had beat him to the punch. He’d asked Ginny out. He’d put himself in a vulnerable position and admitted to Ginny that he fancied her. And he had been writing to Ginny all summer, to get to know her better. Dean wasn’t a coward like Harry.

Suddenly, the treacle tart tasted bitter in Harry’s mouth and he headed up to bed early.

HGHGHGHG

The next few days, Harry helped Ron train for the tryouts. Ginny flew with them as well, while Hermione mostly sat next to the pond and observed them from a distance, reading whatever new book she had picked out for that week. On some days, Ron forced Hermione to join them for two-a-side Quidditch, which Hermione begrudgingly accepted.

However, even the happy Quidditch practices couldn’t keep Harry from feeling a pit of resignation forming in his stomach. He had hesitated for too long. Ginny was now being pursued by someone who was far braver and far more fit, as Hermione had put it. Harry knew he couldn’t compare to the tall, dark, and handsome Dean Thomas. Wasn’t he the kind of guy all women wanted?

What did Harry have to offer in comparison? An ugly scar and a frightful destiny? Yeah, Ginny would have to be an idiot to choose Harry over Dean.

But Harry couldn’t help but longingly stare at Ginny during their summer days together. He thought he caught Hermione looking at him a couple of times, but he usually very quickly turned away from Ginny whenever that happened. The last thing he wanted was to be called a creep.

But it became more and more difficult to avert his eyes, especially on a particularly hot morning, when Ron suggested that they skip Quidditch practice and go swimming in the pond to cool off instead. Harry and Ron were already in the pond in their trunks when Hermione and Ginny walked out of the house, dressed in swimwear.

Harry took one look at Ginny and stopped dead in his tracks. She was wearing a modest swimsuit. But the way the green fabric hugged her body, Harry could see more than enough. When he saw the freckles on her shoulders, her arms, her thighs - places he had only imagined in the privacy of his room before, he was grateful that he was well hidden inside the pond.

Harry found it difficult to focus on cooling off when he saw Ginny swim across the pond, her strong legs propelling her through the water. She was graceful and at total ease, both with herself as well as with her surroundings. Harry, on the other hand, having only learnt how to swim in his fourth year with Mr Weasley, could only swim well enough that he wouldn’t drown.

Yes, the more he thought about it, the more he knew for sure that Dean was a far better match for Ginny than he was.

He was sulking, walking up the stairs towards his room. A flurry of emotions - inadequacy, envy, and so much regret - was making Harry’s insides squirm in painful ways. He opened his bedroom door and was surprised when Hermione pulled him in.

“It’s physically hurting me to see you moping around,� Hermione said, closing the door. “She’s not dating him yet. You haven’t missed your chance.�

Harry knew exactly what she was talking about, but he chose to say, “What are you on about?�

“Can you stop insulting my intelligence? I’m not Ron, you know.� Hermione crossed her arms in front of her chest. “But the way you’ve been wistfully staring at Ginny all week, I think at this point, even Ron might figure it out soon.�

Harry opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to come up with an explanation that would sound believable, but he failed. Finally, he said, “You said she’s testing the waters with Dean.�

“Yes, because she has no clue that you fancy her.�

“I don’t-�

“Harry, this would be a lot faster if we pretend that you’ve already gone through the denial phase.�

“Hermione, I don’t know how to do this, okay?� Harry pulled at his hair in frustration. “She’s so popular, and funny, and pretty, and cool. And I’m just me,� he added, lamely.

“Yeah, and she’s just had a crush on you her whole life.�

“No, I ruined that the day of the Yule Ball.� Harry shook his head. Hermione didn’t know. She hadn’t heard what he’d said. And he’d been so, so stupid. If he’d only known how head over heels he’d be for Ginny in the future, he would have spent the entire Yule Ball on the dance floor with her. He wanted to travel back in time and kick fourth-year Harry repeatedly until he saw sense. “I broke her heart and she’s given up on me. She told me. She said that whatever feelings she had for me were gone.� Harry’s voice broke a little at the last word.

“Oh, Harry,� Hermione said sympathetically. “Listen, I know Ginny. She liked you very much. And I know you hurt her, but it’s not that simple to get rid of feelings that deep overnight. I’m sure if she just knows that you could have feelings for her-.�

Right at that moment, the door opened and Ginny stepped into the room, carrying what looked like a bundle of Harry’s fresh laundry.

“Who has feelings for whom?�

“Er-.�

Saying that Harry was panicking would be an understatement. Who could he say he had feelings for? He couldn’t say the truth and he definitely couldn’t say that he had feelings for someone else, because the last thing he wanted was for Ginny to think that he was unavailable.

“Erm, Ron. I think he has feelings for Hermione.�

The lie, or rather the truth (just not his truth), was out before he could stop it. Hermione couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her mouth. That should teach Hermione to meddle in other people’s lives, Harry thought smugly.

Ginny laughed, passing between Harry and Hermione to deposit his pile of laundry on the bed. Hermione glared at Harry but didn’t correct him.

“My brother get his head out of his arse, finally?� Ginny asked, turning to smirk at Harry and Hermione. Hermione was getting more flushed by the minute and looked about ready to run away from the room.

“I don’t think he knows though,� Harry said, squirming a bit uncomfortably. He hadn’t thought about the repercussions of this line of enquiry. Would Ginny tell Ron? Would this irrevocably ruin whatever relationship had been slowly brewing between Ron and Hermione over the years? Or worse, if Hermione and Ron got together, would he be left out forever?

“Well then, what’s new?� Ginny pointedly looked at Hermione, who looked up at Ginny’s comment.

“Do you really think that Ron has feelings for me?� Hermione asked, biting her lower lip, looking much less confident than she’d been before Ginny had entered the room.

“Hermione, I’ve been telling you for years. Didn’t you see him annoyingly jealous of Viktor Krum at the Yule Ball?�

Hermione blushed again but didn’t look fully convinced.

“My question is,� Ginny asked, quickly closing the bedroom door again. “Do you have feelings for my idiot brother?�

Harry’s eyes widened. Everything was escalating rather quickly. He hadn’t imagined that Hermione would ever catch up on how he felt, and he had no clue that he would force her feelings out in the open as well.

But Harry was surprised to see that Hermione moved her head in the slightest, most imperceptible nod, making a small squeaking sound that could have been a “yes�. Ginny clapped her hands in glee and hugged her friend.

“Then, you leave it to me,� Ginny said, pulling back from Hermione, who looked just as panicked as Harry felt. This wasn’t what Harry had intended. What was Ginny planning to do?

But it was too late because Ginny was dragging Hermione out the door. She threw Harry one last look before exiting.

“I’ll take it from here. Thanks for the help, Harry.�

And then they were gone.

None of that had gone the way Harry had wanted to. He was left feeling more miserable than ever. Hermione knew how he felt about Ginny, but the last thing he wanted was for her to meddle. And now, he might have pushed Ginny to help Ron and Hermione get together. If Ginny was to set her mind to it, she could have Ron and Hermione together before Christmas, or maybe even sooner.

Harry thought about what Hogsmeade weekends would look like then - Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Dean on a double date and Harry, the unwanted fifth wheel, sulking in the streets alone. He could always hang out with Luna and Neville, he thought bitterly.

Harry groaned loudly and let himself fall back in his bed.

Not for the first time that summer, Harry missed his godfather intensely. Sirius would have known just how to win over Ginny. But he was gone and Harry had missed out on any fatherly wisdom that Sirius would have had to offer.

Harry punched his pillow in frustration and forced himself to sleep.