A Shared Trouble

The days passed by slowly and dully, not even Quidditch could brighten Harry's day. He coached the Gryffindor team and trained them fiercely. Hoping that the grueling practices would help take his mind off other things. His attempts at forgetting the past failed, however, because Ginny, being a great Chaser, had made the team. He now had to deal with watching her, but not being able to talk to her, even more than before and he hated it.

Brock Napier, to Harry's great disappointment, had become Team Captain and Seeker of the Slytherin team and spent most of his time in the weeks leading up to the first match of the season, Slytherin versus Gryffindor, taunting Harry and other Gryffindors.

Napier's insults did nothing, however, to throw Harry's all star team off course. If anything, it made them practice harder to try and prove themselves. And their hard work paid off when they beat Slytherin, 250-40. Harry felt a smug sense of satisfaction when he remembered the look on Brock Napier's face when Harry had snatched the Snitch from right under his nose.

But Gryffindor's victory did not improve Harry's mood at all. It had brought back memories of the last Slytherin match, when Harry had not been allowed to play and a certain red head had filled in for him...

It had become a regular exercise for Harry to turn into bed early and sit, cross-legged, with the Snitch, map, ring, and photo album laid out all around him, on his bed.

Harry felt as though he was always wearing the–now destroyed–Horcrux locket that caused despair and depression to the wearer. He had gone into a now so sustained silence that people who didn't know Harry would of thought him a shy, quiet boy.

Bill Weasley must have been told the whole Ginny/Harry story because he was now smiling at Harry and saying hello to him in the halls. Harry, however, could personally care less whether or not people believed his story. Harry didn't really care about anything anymore. Only his strong desire to become an Auror was what kept him going these days...

After another short lecture from McGonagall about N.E.W.T.s during one Transfiguration class on and early December day, she called for silence.

"Excuse me, Mr. Weasley. Forgive me for interrupting your, very important, I'm sure, conversation with Ms. Granger, but I do have an announcement."

Ron's ears went scarlet as he muttered a sorry.

"Now, as you all well know, four years ago we held a Triwizard Tournament and with that we had the Yule Ball. Now, I realize that very few of you had the chance to go last time due to the fact that you were too young, now you have your chance. The staff has decided that, this year, in light of recent events," she smiled warmly at Harry, "we need a little celebration. Therefore, we will be having a Yule Ball, again, this year."

There was a murmur of excitement and several squeals.

"Ooh! Professor, Professor!" squealed Romilda Vane, "When will it be?"

"December, the twenty-fourth, Christmas Eve."

"Guess I'm not going," Harry said dully to Ron. "I've got to go back to see Teddy."

Ron looked torn. "Mate, d'you want–should I–? But Hermione–might have to–you know her–," he whispered as Hermione talked to Luna.

"It's fine. You stay. You've got a girlfriend."

"You sure?"

Harry nodded.

Professor McGonagall, astonishingly, let them talk excitedly for the rest of the period.

"Harry," Hermione said after he had told her his Christmas plans. "You've got to stay! Please?"

"But–Teddy," he said.

"Maybe you could Floo there after the ball?" she said hopefully.

"Harry," said Luna's dreamy voice. "You of all people need to stay. The ball is taking place because you finished Voldemort."

Harry hesitated, "Al–alright. I'll stay."

"Wonderful!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Harry," said a confident voice, "would you like to go to the ball with me?"

Harry looked up to see Romilda Vane standing above him.

"Oh, er, no thanks."

She looked crushed. "You're–you're sure?"

"Yeah, thanks," Harry smiled awkwardly.

"Oh, okay. Well just remember that I am always here for you," she cast a disgusted look towards Ginny who was talking with Michael Corner.

"Ooooh, Harry!" said Ron in an unusually high voice after had Romilda left. "I'm in love with you! I will always love you! You're my life and soul! Let me lick the dirt off your shoes!"

Harry hadn't laughed for a long while and it felt good. Luna apparently thought it was funny also, because she howled maniacally. "That was funny!" she said through the tears in her eyes.

The were all forced to burst into more laughter at Luna's cackles.

Harry looked through the tears forming in his own eyes and saw Ginny trying to stifle back a laugh with her hand.

The bell rang and Harry received a jolt of courage.

"I'll meet up with you at lunch, alright?" he said to the four as he followed the crowd out of the room.

Ginny was going back up to the common room before lunch, so Harry followed.

When they came down a deserted corridor Harry called out her name. She jumped.

"Sorry," Harry said, "but can I talk–?"

"I'm actually sort of busy," she said as she noticed who was there.

"No–it'll be quick."

She stayed put, grudgingly.

"So, uh, I was wondering, do you–do you have a date to the ball?"

"Yes."

"Gr–what?"

"Yes, Harry, I do have a date."

He gaped at her, "Already?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"Michael."

"Corner?" he said disbelievingly.

She nodded stiffly.

"Ginny–you can't be serious–he's a git!"

"Harry," she said coldly, "we've been through this before and I do not care to do it again. Goodbye."

She turned on her heel and walked briskly down the hallway.

Harry stood stunned for a few moments then turned and went down to the Great Hall.

"Harry, where'd you go? Here," Ron handed him a plate, "have some turkey."

Harry filled his plate and busied himself with shoving spoonfuls of anything in his mouth.

"Harry," Hermione said knowingly. "The ball's going to be great," she beamed at Ron.

An hour later Ron, Hermione, Harry and Neville were sitting, slouched in their chairs with their chins resting upon their hands, listening to tiny Professor Flitwick lecture them once again on their N.E.W.T.s.

When the bell rang they were the first ones out the door.

"I'm meeting Luna," Neville said. "See you."

"And I'm headed down to Muggle Studies," Hermione said grumpily. "Fleur is nearly unbearable! You should hear her! If Ginny were–"

Hermione looked nervously at Harry.

"Remind me again," Ron hurried on, "why you study Muggles when you were raised by them," Ron said in a disbelieving tone.

"I find it fascinating learning a wizard's take on the subject. Fleur sure has a marvelous thought about it all, very enlightening," she rolled her eyes. "Why don't you two go visit Hagrid? We've hardly had time at all to see him yet."

Ron and Harry took opposite directions as Hermione. They headed outside and braced themselves against the wind.

"So've you asked her yet?" Harry said stuffing his hands in his pocket.

"Er, yeah, I have."

"You have? When?"

"When you ran off after Transfiguration," Ron said.

"What'd you say?"

"Dunno. Just asked her, I guess."

"What'd she say?"

"Yes, of course. The she went all red and teary eyed," Ron rolled his eyes.

Harry smirked.

"Oi!" Ron yelled as a bewitched snowball hit him in the back of the head. "Watch it!" he glared at a second year, who cowered. "So anyway, Harry," he said brushing the snow off his head, "what about you?"

Just then a fourth year girl Harry had never met before ran up and tapped him on the shoulder. "Ex–excuse me–Mr. Potter? I mean–I mean–Harry–could I–would you–?" she turned beat red and stared at her toes. "Wangoballwimme?"

"Er, sorry?"

She looked up at him and took a deep breath, "Would you like to go to the ball with me?"

"Oh, uh–no, no thanks," Harry said walking away, pulling a chortling Ron with him.

"D'you even know her?"

"Nope," Harry shook his head in amazement.

Once Ron had controlled himself, Harry knocked on the door.

"Who's there?" came a muffled voice from inside, along with barking. "Back, Fang! Ge' back!"

The door opened and a giant nearly two times taller than a normal man and three times as wide stood in the doorway.

"Harry! Ron!" Hagrid beamed, "Alright?"

"Hi, Hagrid," Harry grinned and followed Ron in.

"Bin' wonderin' when yeh'd be stoppin' by. Where's Hermione?"

"She's got Muggle Studies. But she says hi."

"Muggle Studies," Hagrid laughed, shaking his head. "She's ruddy brilliant, our Hermione!"

He set three bucket sized mugs on the table, "Cocoa?"

Ron and Harry drank heartily, the warm mugs warming their freezing hands.

"So, how's yer classes?"

"Great," Harry said. "Slughorn is always a little..."

"He's obsessed with Harry," Ron finished bluntly.

"Oh yeah. Don' know 'im much meself. McGonagall had a hard time findin' teachers this year. Dunno why. People too busy celerbratin' to teach, I s'ppose. She was so happy when Bill and Fleur came along," Hagrid nodded at Ron, taking a massive gulp of his cocoa.

"How was your holiday, Hagrid?"

"Oh fine, fine. Same ol' same ol'. You bin' staying at the Burrow, I presume?"

"Yeah."

"That was a right well speech you gave at the funerals," Hagrid sniffled. "Ginny's too."

Harry nodded. Ron had gone silent as he usually did when the subject of Fred was brought up.

"Speakin' o' Ginny," Hagrid said, "last I heard you couldn' break you two up."

Now Ron looked up and watched for Harry's reaction.

"Er, yeah," Harry said trying to keep a casual tone that collided oppositely with how he felt. "Yeah, we are–or were–yeah were."

"What d'yeh mean?" Hagrid furrowed his brow.

"Er, well, we've kind just–gone our separate ways."

"No!" Hagrid exclaimed.

"Er, yeah."

"Bu' why?" Hagrid asked the question that Harry was yearning to have the answer for.

"I–I don't know."

"So, yeh mean she–she ended it?"

"Well–yeah."

Ron looked more awkward still as Hagrid looked outraged.

"Bu' she musta given you a reason!"

"Well, no, but, Hagrid, it's fine–really."

"It ruddy well is not!" Hagrid said. "Ron," he said suddenly turning in his seat, "you're her brother, you talk to her!"

"I've–I've tried," Ron said hopelessly. "But she doesn't talk to any of us anymore–not even Hermione."

Hagrid looked disconcerted, "Well is she alright?"

They both shrugged.

"Well, yeh two had better get goin'," Hagrid said standing up.

Ron and Harry did also.

"See you, Hagrid," Harry said, trying his best to sound cheerful.

"We'll bring Hermione next time," Ron said and they walked down the steps.

"G'bye," Hagrid said, waving.

They walked in silence for a while until Ron said, "Well that was depressing."

Harry nodded and they went to find Hermione.

Harry spent the rest of December skulking around doing nothing more than homework, eating, and sleeping.

Students fourth year and above were starting to get excited. They could be seen in the corridors whispering frantically about what they were wearing and who they were going with. Ron and Hermione, Harry was glad, had refrained from this. They had settled to only holding hands in front of Harry, for which he was relieved.

It made him sick to his stomach to see Michael Corner opening doors for Ginny, walking with Ginny, talking with Ginny and doing who knows what else with Ginny.

Harry was sitting at the breakfast table five days before Christmas when he spotted Earwig flying through the high windows, she landed gracefully in front on him.

He took the letter and gave her a piece of bacon before she flew off, back to the Owlry.

"Who's it from?"

"Dunno," Harry said, untying the message. He unfolded the letter.

Dear Harry, I hope you're well and having a great year at Hogwarts. I just wanted you to know that Teddy asks for you all the time. I've been trying to teach him "Harry" and he seems to be catching on, but I have news. Teddy has been taken to St. Mungo's for some sort of illness. The Healers are certain they will be able to help him, they say it has something to do with Remus' werewolf genes mixing with 'Dora's Metamorphmagusing. As of now, there is nothing serious with the issue and I wish you to stay at Hogwarts for the Yule Ball. I will keep in touch.

Andromeda

"Harry," Hermione said, leaning over her plate of eggs, "Harry, what does it say?"

He couldn't say anything, but just handed her the parchment.

"Harry," Hermione said gently after reading it, "I'm sure it'll be fine."

Ron ripped the parchment from her hands. "She said it's nothing, mate. He'll be alright."

Harry said nothing but took the letter back from Ron and stood up. He walked over to what used to be the Ravenclaw table and right up to a certain red head who was sitting with her new friends.

Michael Corner stopped mid-sentence and looked up at Harry with great dislike. Ginny turned around. Harry handed her the letter. She took it questioningly and read it. When she finished Harry took it back.

"Thought you'd like to know," he said and turned to walk away.

"Harry," Ginny said suddenly, he turned around, she was standing. "He'll–he'll be okay."

i realize i've said the phrase "a certain red head" a few too many times so far. i will have to refrain from that.
oh, and i just had to use J.K Rowling's amazing phrase, "Wangoballwimme?"
thanks for reading :)
SLGunn