The bell chimed above the door as Ginny stepped out of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Her hand tightened on the bag, a grin forming on her lips. This was one hell of a dress. She was going to surprise the hell out of them all and steal the Black Locket.

Someone called and waved at her, and she smiled, hurrying by. Now, the only question was whether to go as herself or use a disguise. It didn't matter what Malfoy said. This was her job. She'd only gone as herself at the Alliance Ball at the Ministry because that wasn't a job. That was personal. If she wanted to keep retrieving items, she couldn't keep showing her true-face if things were going to go missing. She'd been mulling over going in glamour against Malfoy's wishes since this morning when she woke up in Harry's arm.

Her smile grew then fell. Harry. Merlin, what was she doing? She turned down towards the Leaky Cauldron. She needed food, maybe a drink. Was it too early for a drink?

Sighing, she ran a hand over her face. Last night before he had shown up for dinner, she still hadn't come up with any answers to what she was doing. Harry had hurt her. He'd turned his back on them. So what if it was for one of the noblest reasons ever. The world would always need him. She had needed him too. 

And then they slept together. Laying side by side on her bed. Touching. So close. What the hell was she doing? 

The only thing that she was certain about was she wanted him. Last night cemented that. Waking up to him... She never thought she would have that again.

The Leaky Cauldron came into view, and she pushed Harry from her thoughts. Later she would give it a good thought. Settle what she was feeling and what she wanted to do. Later.

Stepping through the entrance to the pub, it took her eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting. She slipped past a few children running around and a couple getting up to leave and sat at the bar, smiling at Hannah when the woman caught her eye. 

Hannah walked over. "Ginny, how are you?" She leaned over the bar to hug her.

"Good, just finished a bit of shopping." Ginny held up her bag. 

"Ooooh, what did you get?" Hannah's eyes lit up. 

"A new dress for a party," Ginny said, leaning forward on the bar. "You know, it's nice to let loose every once in a while."

Hannah nodded. "Yes, that's so important." She smiled. "Let me get you a Butterbeer. And how about a sandwich?"

"Chicken, please," Ginny called as the woman moved away from her.

Ten minutes, she returned with a plate and a Butterbeer. Ginny smiled. "Thank you. I'm starving!"

"Of course." She started to turn away, but Ginny called her back.

"How's Neville? Is he prepared to go back to Hogwarts? Terms almost here." Ginny hadn't seen a lot of children in Diagon Alley, but it was only a handful of weeks away.

Hannah laughed, shaking her head and sending her twin braids dancing around her. "Neville's been ready since the first week off! Though he'll never admit it."

Ginny laughed with her as she watched the other woman. She spoke a bit more about Neville, and Ginny's heart squeezed. This witch loved her best friend. She was happy for them, for Neville. 

"So, when's the wedding?" she teased.

Hannah flushed and covered her cheeks. "Ginny!"

"C'mon. You love him, he loves you. Don't tell me you're waiting for a little Longbottom before you marry?" She tilted her head.

Hannah's blush spread. "Don't say that! Plus, Neville's Gran would never allow that."

Snickering, Ginny took a bite of a chip and chewed. Neville's Gran would lose her bloody mind if Neville brought home a pregnant Hannah. That old bat was too traditional. "Okay, okay, I'll stop." She pointed another chip at Hannah. "But you have to promise to make an honest man of my best friend."

"Ginny! Stop that!" Hannah flushed and hurried away.

"I'll take that as a yes!" 

Hannah hurried away faster, and Ginny chuckled to herself. She ate in silence, listening to the goings-on of the world around her. Life, love, fights, families, the world went on. When was the last time she was here with her family? What were they doing? Where were her brothers and their families? Her parents?

She bit her bottom lip.

Hannah circled back around to refill her Butterbeer. She paused, head tilted, and watched Ginny. 

Ginny waited. Being the youngest taught you patience. Not that she was usually so good about it. Maybe it was just with her brothers and parents that it didn't truly work.

"Can I ask you something?" Hannah rubbed her hands together, eyes meeting hers for a second then looking down at her hands.

Reaching across the bar, Ginny laid her hand over Hannah's. "I like to think we're friends now, Hannah. You can ask me anything." She paused, a small slipping on her lips. "Can't guarantee I'll answer it, though."

Hannah laughed. "Fair enough." She exhaled. "Did something happen?"

Ginny blinked, but before she could say anything, Hannah went on.

"You seem different." She pulled on the end of one of the braids and frowned. "I mean, less troubled than usual." She stopped. "I'm not making any sense, am I?"

Ginny's heart pounded.

"Ginny, I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm talking about," Hannah said quickly.

"No, you're not wrong," she whispered and looked down at her plate. Was she different? She didn't feel any different. No, that wasn't true. She pushed a chip around her plate. She was different. Harry was in her life again. She felt... something for him. She was thinking more about her family. Was it because of Harry?

Hannah leaned on her hand. "Does this have anything to do with - Harry!" She straightened.

Ginny jumped, spinning on her stool to see the man making his way through the tables towards the bar. He sat down beside Ginny and laid his hand on the back of her stool, trapping her in. Heat rolled off him. Something was wrong. Did he know about the ball tonight? There was no way. He couldn't. No.

"Hi, Hannah, how are you?" he asked, but his eyes were on Ginny.

"I- I'm great. I'll just- Oh, someone's calling me. See you both later!" Hannah ran away.

"Han-" Ginny started but the woman was out of earshot. She peeked at Harry, eyes set on her. He wasn't even blinking. Was he even human? What was the-

"Oh, thank you, Merlin," he whispered. Ginny frowned. He dropped his head slightly and exhaled. "I'm so glad I found you. We need to talk." He got to his feet and looked around. "C'mon."

Pulling her off the stool, she managed to grab her bag as he made his way to the entrance to Diagon Alley. "I need to pay-"

He stopped and threw some coins down on the bar, and then he was off. As they passed Hannah, Ginny called out. "Bye, Hannah. Money's on the bar. Talk later." She didn't even hear Hannah's response, Harry was ushering her into the back room and through the entrance with a few taps of his wand.

"What's the hurry?" 

He dragged her into the first empty side alley. "I don't know if you saw my note, but you need to stay away-" He stopped when he caught sight of the bag in her hand. "Madam Malkin's?" His eyes narrowed and his voice lowered. "Did you buy a gown for a special occasion?" 

She licked her lips. "Job interview."

His hands tightened into fists. "Don't go to the ball tonight."

"How do you know about the ball?" She frowned. Was he spying on her?

"Don't go," he said instead. "Stay away."

She exhaled. "Not this again."

"You don't understand!" He grabbed her shoulders. "There will be a dozen Aurors there. Glamoured. Undercover. This is way too dangerous this time, Ginny. Stay away. I'm serious." His eyes were wide, cheeks slightly paled. He was worried. Desperate. 

Gulping, she laid a hand over his. "It's just a ball," she lied.

"Please, don't go. I love you, Ginny, and the thought of you getting caught and arrested and thrown in Azkaban kills me! Please, promise me."

The world seized to exist around her. Only just Harry. And his words. Love. Harry loved her. He still loved her. She couldn't breathe. The words consumed her. Loved her. He loved her.

"Ginny-"

"Say it again," she whispered.

"What?"

She grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Say it again."

He blinked. "Is it so hard to believe that I'd be upset if you were locked in Azkaban?"

"No! The other thing!"

His forehead furrowed. "What other thing?"

He didn't even realize that he said-

"I love you."

She looked at him. His cheeks were flushed, even the tips of his ears, but his eyes were wide. He pushed up his glasses. "I love you," he said again.

That was what she kept seeing when she looked at him. He loved her. It was all there. In his eyes, in his touch, in his words.

She pulled off his glasses and slipped them into his pocket.

"What're you doing?" he asked, but she was blushing so unattractively right now, she didn't want him to see. Plus, they'd only get in the way when she snogged him senseless.

"Ginny?" he tried.

And his voice and words were like a match.  Emotion exploded inside of her. This was what she felt. She could hide it, bury it deep in the darkest, torn pieces of her soul, but it wouldn't stop it from being true. Everyone had known. Had tried to tell her. She felt tears in her throat. If she opened her mouth right now, only Merlin knew what came out.

His fingers brushed against her cheek.

Her eyes met his. 

"I love you" spilled from her lips then she kissed him.

Harry pulled back a few moments later to breathe, forehead against hers. "Ginny."

"My flat," she told him through breaths. They side-apparated, stumbling against each other in the alley beside her building. The bag dropped to the floor beside her. He kissed her again, hands slipping under her shirt as he leaned her against the wall. Her arms wrapped around his neck.

His lips moved down to her neck. "We should go upstairs." 

"Yeah." She grabbed her bag and his arm and ran inside. They made it as far as her empty corridor when she was against the wall again. "Wait."

"Merlin, those trousers are just-" He kissed her again, hands moving over her bum. She laughed into his kiss and pushed his back.

"Almost there." The door was opened, and the stumbled inside. Clothes were tossed as they made their way to the bedroom. In the dining room, Harry's shirt went flying towards the table and something tumbled over. Over his shoulder, she spotted water spilling onto the floor just before he kissed her again.

She laughed. "I love you," she said against his lips, and those words were like electricity against his skin. She was off the floor and on her bed within breaths. 

He leaned over her. "God, I love you too." 

The way he looked at her. How had she never figured it out? It was right there. She reached for him.

And later, as they lay spent in her bed, catching their breaths, skin heated, Ginny wrapped in his arms and his eyes closed, deciding on a short nap before preparing for the night, Harry didn't realize that Ginny never promised a thing.

*

Well, Harry's in for quite a surprise later! XD He really should know better by now, but that's okay. We love him anyway. Writing-wise, I hope to get more chapters to you sooner considering the way the world is right now. While everyone should be quarantined, I still have things to do, still have to go into work even though we're closed to the public. So, let's pray for more Ginny and Harry and BAD shenanigans! XD

I'll close this with a tremendous thank you for all your love and support and patience. It means so much to me.

Oh, for those who didn't know, the BAD universe will go on, after this novel is finished. There are 5 scheduled additional stories to follow: A FEW BAD MEN, ALL IN BAD COMPANY, BAD FAMILY, BAD LUCK, and BAD LILY! So, yaaaaay! More BAD <3