✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

It was a good thing it was Sunday today and they didn't have any work. Amanda was grateful for that because she wanted to be there for Ginny and give her what she wanted. Ginny was grateful because she didn't want to be at Quidditch practice yet, the memories of yesterday were still fresh in her mind, and the Quidditch pitch would only remind her of the amazing Seeker of the Gryffindor team.

Though they did have the weekly meeting at the Burrow, Amanda thought she would just send a letter to the Weasleys about how she and Ginny wanted to spend some time alone together. She did think that Harry would be there, and Ginny wasn't ready yet to see the boy, especially since he might bring Jason to the Burrow. That would break Ginny, and Amanda did not want that to happen.

Amanda's entire body was aching since they slept on the couch and Ginny was on top of her for the whole night. She sighed and opened her eyes to see Ginny already awake and staring at her.

"Good morning, Gin. Did I wake you up? I'm sorry," said Amanda with concern in her tone.

Ginny shook her head. "No. I've been awake for a few minutes already." Amanda simply nodded, and Ginny blushed slightly when she realized their position and thought about how the Ravenclaw might have been feeling uncomfortable. "Sorry."

"Don't worry, it's fine. You don't have to apologize." Amanda let out a yawn and stretched herself on the couch. She looked up at Ginny and smiled before standing up and ruffling the younger girl's hair. "Go wash up. I'll cook us food."

Ginny let Amanda push her to the bathroom and washed up. Amanda wrote a letter quickly to the Weasleys before she went to the kitchen and looked around for what she could cook. She decided to cook Ginny's favorite sausages and treacle tarts for dessert. She hoped the meal would cheer up the girl a little bit. Amanda was so immersed in her thoughts and in cooking her meal that she did not see Ginny come out from the bathroom with a little smile on her face. She walked slowly to the cooking girl and wrapped her arms around her waist.

"Wha-" Amanda almost dropped the pan. She turned around slightly and saw Ginny looking up from her shoulder. The younger girl was all freshened up and she looked better than she had yesterday. She smiled at Ginny gently. "I'm almost finished, all right? Just a few minutes more."

"Thank you." Ginny did not let go of the older girl and continued hugging her.

Amanda thought she was talking about breakfast and laughed slightly. "Sausages aren't that hard to make, darling."

"I'm not talking about the sausages, you fool." Ginny tightened her hold on the older girl and nuzzled her face into Amanda's back.

Amanda turned off the stove before turning around to face the Chaser, now understanding what she was saying. "I'd do everything and anything, Gin. You have me every step of the way. I know you're starving so go and eat first. I'll wash up quickly." She smiled softly at her roommate before bringing her to the table. She set down the plate for Ginny and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

Ginny watched Amanda go with a soft smile on her face. She glanced at the food Amanda set for her before putting down the utensils the older girl fixed up for her. Then, she heard Amanda shout from the bathroom.

"Start eating, Gin! Don't wait up for me." And those words caused Ginny to smile widely before she started eating. She was thankful she had Amanda, and she knew she had the girl every step of the way.

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

It was 1 in the afternoon. Amanda sent the letter through Errol who came with a letter from Molly, asking where they were. When Ginny noticed what the older girl had done, she felt her heart soften at Amanda's actions, but she did not tell Amanda that she saw what the Ravenclaw had done. Now, the two of them were staying in the living room. Amanda was lying on the floor and reading her book while Ginny was on the couch and watching another romantic comedy.

"Can we do anything for the day?" Ginny suddenly asked. "I'm feeling bored."

Amanda glanced at Ginny before turning back to her book. "Watch me, my face is interesting enough- Ow!" Her comment made Ginny smack her on the arm.

"Arrogant git." Ginny muttered under her breath.

Amanda laughed loudly and put a bookmark in her book before sitting up. "Why? What happened with your movie?"

"I've watched it countless times already," said Ginny.

Amanda chuckled before standing up and ruffling the younger girl's hair. "I've got something then. Wait up." Amanda ran to her room and came out with a box in hand. Ginny saw her take out some cards and a board from the box and she watched Amanda with curiosity.

"What is that?" Ginny sat up from the couch.

"You poor doughnut," said Amanda, shaking her head. Ginny glared at her and threw a pillow at Amanda, who simply laughed at her.

"Dear Ginny, this is what you call a board game," explained Amanda. "And this particular game is called Cluedo." She started explaining to Ginny how to play Cluedo, and when the younger girl looked like she understood how to play the game, she started the needed preparations for their game.

"So, you get it, right? Are you okay to start?" asked Amanda. When Ginny nodded, Amanda smiled at her. "So, who's your character?"

"I'll take Miss Scarlet," said Ginny as she took the red playing piece.

"As expected." Amanda chuckled before picking up the blue one. "I'll be Mrs. Peacock then. Ready your Galleons because the loser will buy dinner."

"Are you making a wager with me?" Ginny raised an eyebrow at her before she smirked. "You'll be buying dinner tonight."

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

"What the hell?"

"Louder please. I can't hear."

"What the hell?" Amanda stared at the board game with an open mouth. She lost five games at Cluedo. Five consecutive games at the game she was usually so good at. What on bloody hell happened? Amanda lifted her head to see Ginny grinning at her victoriously.

"What was that? Ready your Galleons?" Ginny said teasingly to the older girl.

"That's not possible. You cheated!" Amanda crossed her arms and pouted at the younger girl. "You must have seen my cards or... or my notepad! Or maybe you lied with your cards."

Ginny simply laughed at the sore loser. "Shut it. You know I didn't. So, another game?"

"I don't want to play with a cheat." Cluedo was Amanda's childhood game and her favorite, and she lost five consecutive times to Ginny. Ginny who hated games that weren't Quidditch. How on bloody hell did that happen?

"Oh, come on, Ada." Ginny rolled her eyes. "Let's play another game, eh?" Amanda stared at the girl for a few moments before jumping on her and reaching for the younger girl's notepad. It must have been her notepad. She must have done something with it. That was why she won.

"Ada! Stop it." Though Amanda was taller than her, Ginny stretched her left arm up out of Amanda's reach and used her right arm to try stopping Amanda from moving, but Amanda was determined to get the notepad from her, and in their scuffle for the notepad, Amanda fell on top of Ginny.

Ginny's eyes turned worried as she looked up at Amanda, who groaned and rubbed her head that hit the couch hard. Amanda opened her eyes to look into Ginny's chocolate brown orbs. Amanda's face softened when she saw the feelings Ginny's eyes conveyed. There was worry for her, but there was also the pain from the events of yesterday.

Lost in her eyes, Amanda couldn't help but lean in for a kiss. Just as she was an inch away, Amanda stopped and looked into Ginny's eyes. The two of them stared at each other for a second and let their breaths hit each other's faces before Amanda closed her eyes and leaned in slowly, tilting her head for better access. Ginny did the same, and their lips met in a kiss, but this kiss was not like the ones they had yesterday. It did not hold the feelings of heartbreak and bitterness. It held all the feelings Amanda had been holding back, all the love she had for Ginny Weasley, and with those emotions, she couldn't stop herself from getting carried away.

Ginny let herself relax into the kiss and she closed her eyes. A strange feeling came over her. This feeling of kissing her best friend suddenly felt so normal to her. Kissing Amanda made Ginny feel like she was doing something good. She felt Amanda's kiss grow deeper, but she didn't know why. She thought of a possible reason for this change, but she couldn't think of one. Unknowingly, she wrapped her arms around Amanda's neck, and Amanda smiled softly in their kiss.

Amanda felt the notepad brush against her nape, and she took that as her opportunity to take it. She surprised Ginny by swiping her tongue across the younger girl's lips before grabbing the notepad from behind her. Amanda pulled away from the kiss and compared Ginny's notepad with hers.

Surprised by the sudden separation, Ginny stayed in her position for a second before she snapped back to reality and looked at Amanda to see her comparing their notepads. Ginny sighed in frustration. "I'm not cheating, you bloody idiot!" She glared at Amanda.

Amanda laughed loudly and handed Ginny her notepad. She smiled softly at her roommate. "I know you aren't a cheater, Gin. I just needed a kiss." She started setting up for another game and felt a stare on her. She looked up to see Ginny still looking at her.

"What is it?" Amanda smiled in amusement.

Ginny bit her tongue to hold back a sigh and smiled slightly. "Nothing, just thinking about how you're going to be a sore loser again after this round." That was what she said when in reality, she was thinking about how Amanda was going to be so hurt after this deal of theirs.

"Don't worry." Amanda rolled her eyes. "I may be the one who lost the wager, but I'm sure I'll win this one." And they played Cluedo until the time for dinner came because even if Amanda wouldn't admit it, it took her another seven games before finally winning over Ginny.

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

When it was past 4, the two of them stopped playing Cluedo and since she lost the bet, Amanda decided that it was time for her to buy dinner for them. Ginny offered to go with her, but Amanda told her that she should just stay there and clean up the mess they made.

When Amanda left, Ginny cleaned up and sat down at the couch as she waited. She let herself think about the things she had not yet thought of since yesterday. She was just about to confess to Harry. She had already made up her mind when she suddenly learned that Harry has a boyfriend. And Jason MacCabe of all people. It would have been better if it was someone like Romilda Vane or anyone else, but Jason was a friend of theirs, and he was kind. Ginny couldn't find it in her to hate him for falling in love, but nothing could stop her from still feeling heartbroken.

But Ginny was thinking hard about her deal with Amanda. Amanda would be broken after this deal and she didn't want to cause pain to the Ravenclaw who had already gone through so much. She knew how it felt to be heartbroken, and she was worried about Amanda. Was she feeling the same hurt Ginny was feeling right now? She probably was, and she probably experienced more pain than Ginny did, and it hurt Ginny more that she was the reason for Amanda's pain.

Ginny made a decision then. It was time to stop their deal. The door then opened to reveal a smiling Amanda, who had two boxes of fried chicken in hand. Amanda set down the food on the table and Ginny smiled softly at how Amanda was so excited to eat dinner.

"All that losing made you hungry, Ada?" Ginny chuckled and sat down beside her.

"Julie had a long line today," Amanda said quickly while opening the boxes. "And it was the winning that made me hungry, Gin."

"Whatever." Ginny rolled her eyes.

Amanda grinned at her before finishing setting up. "So, I got you your favorite Buffalo wings and Parmesan wings." Ginny smiled at how thoughtful Amanda was before staring at Amanda, who was already eating. Amanda stopped eating and looked up at Ginny questioningly.

"Cah won, Gee." Amanda said with food still in her mouth. She swallowed the food and repeated her words while frowning at her roommate. "Eat up, Gin or I'll eat it all up." She moved the box of Buffalo Wings closer to Ginny.

Ginny grinned at her before nodding. "Fine, fine. I'm eating already, see?" When Ginny placed the chicken wings on her plate, Amanda smiled proudly at her before continuing eating her own. Ginny stared at Amanda with the thoughts that had ran through her mind just a few minutes ago rushing back to her.

Amanda was always there for her. She comforted the girl and held her in her arms even when Ginny had hurt her with that kiss. Amanda always gave her advice on how to approach Harry despite having feelings for Ginny, and she always treated Harry with kindness and respect.

Ginny had seen so much worry in Amanda when the older girl saw her crying her heart out the previous day. Ginny expected Amanda to be happy when Ginny told her about Harry and Jason. Of course, Jason was her best friend as well, and there was the chance with Ginny, but all Ginny saw in her eyes was pure concern for Ginny. It was only love and comfort that Ginny felt when Amanda comforted her. She realized that Amanda really did love her that much, and she was lucky to be that person Amanda loved.

She may be lucky to be on the receiving end of Amanda's love, but that made Ginny feel even worse because she knew that she would never love Amanda the way Amanda loved her. Ginny knew she couldn't bear living without Amanda, and she knew this deal would hurt Amanda and their friendship. If the only way she could have Amanda as her friend was to stop this deal, Ginny would do it.

"Gin, are you all right?" Amanda's worried voice broke Ginny out of her thoughts. She saw the worried look in the Auror's eyes, and Ginny saw the love in her eyes. She wished Amanda would not look at her like that because it just made Ginny feel more guilty.

Amanda frowned at the chicken. "Does the chicken taste bad? Maybe, I should've ordered somewhere else –"

"It's fine, the chicken's fine." Ginny cut her off and put down her fork. She cleared her throat and looked at Amanda seriously. "Amanda, we need to talk. I need to tell you something."

Amanda put down her fork immediately at the sudden change of atmosphere and looked back at Ginny with a nervous look in her eyes. "Is there a problem?"

"Remember what happened yesterday? Remember how hurt I was? How broken I felt?" Amanda nodded to all three questions, but she broke the eye contact, getting an idea on where this conversation was going. She didn't want it.

"Amanda, we have to clear things up between us." Ginny paused slightly and glanced at Amanda who was still not looking at her. She sighed and continued speaking. "We have to stop with this de –"

Ginny's eyes widened because Amanda suddenly leaned in and cut her off with a kiss. She saw how Amanda's eyes were shut tight and she had her hands on Ginny's shoulders. Amanda gave Ginny's shoulders a squeeze, and Ginny did not move an inch. She just let Amanda do what she was doing. It was a simple kiss. There was no passion like their past kisses or bitterness in it. But Ginny felt it. Ginny felt what Amanda was trying to tell her in the kiss. Amanda was pleading with her, pleading with everything she had, and Ginny knew what she was pleading for.

Amanda pulled away and stood up without a glance at Ginny. She didn't have to look at Ginny to know that the younger girl had a face of surprise. She set her eyes on the floor and walked to her room. "I'm done eating. Kindly fix up the mess and put the rest in the fridge. Thank you."

Amanda quickly left the living room and entered her own room. Ginny stayed where she was before the sound of Amanda's door closing made her eyes widen once more. She looked at Amanda's door before letting out a sigh and standing up as well. She fixed up the living room and put their leftovers in the refrigerator.

Ginny made her way back to her room when she saw a note outside Amanda's room. She was about to knock on the older girl's door and tell her about it when she saw her name on the front of the note. She stared at the door for a few moments before bending down and picking up the note.

Good night, Ginevra. I love you.

She stared at Amanda's door for a long time with mixed emotions before she finally decided to go back to her room and turn in for the night.

As she heard the soft sound of the closing of Ginny's door, Amanda slid down the wall and let her tears fall silently. She muffled her cries with the sleeve of her sweater. She didn't want to hear what Ginny was about to say. She knew what Ginny was offering, and Amanda didn't want it even if she herself knew ending that deal at that moment would spare her from even more pain than she had already been feeling right now. Amanda knew Ginny would never fall in love with her, but these moments Amanda had in their deal were all she needed.

People may call her an idiot for what she proposed, but they wouldn't understand unless they have been in her position before. They wouldn't understand her feelings, her love and everything she felt for Ginny. They might know how much she loved Ginny, but they didn't know what she was willing to do for Ginny because what Amanda said was true. She would do anything and everything for Ginny.

They might have known that Amanda was in pain,but they didn't know how much hurt she was feeling. She had already accepted her loss. The deal was not over yet, but she already lost the war. She chose to fought a battle she didn't have a chance in. She decided to risk everything for nothing. Her heart was slowly breaking in this game of love, but Amanda accepted it. And Amanda welcomed the darkness and the peace that came with it because as long as she was asleep, she would not feel pain.

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼