AUTHOR'S NOTE: I finally introduce the problem!! Enjoy!!

The Big Problem

Christmastime came faster than Harry could have guessed. There was only one thing that disrupted the cheery feeling in the castle. Voldemort. He had already struck many families, killing some family members. The majority of student; however, hadn't been hit. But Dumbledore had ordered another ball. Harry suspected that it was a ploy to get the students' minds off of the crisis in the wizarding world. Harry sat in his room with Draco, dreading asking Anya to the dance.

"You are practically a couple, Harry," Draco argued.

"We are a couple, Draco," Harry told him, "But that doesn't make it any easier to ask her."

"C'mon, Harry, go downstairs. I'll even go with you and hold your hand."

"Get off it, Draco, I'm going," Harry commented and took a deep breath. Draco stood up to go. "I told you I don't need your help, Draco," Harry cried and followed him down the stairs.

"The world isn't about you, Harry. I have my own things to do." Draco continued to walk through the common room and out of the common room.

"He's finally going to ask Leslie?" Anya asked Harry. She stood behind him. He whirled around and hugged her. "Hi, Harry," she said surprised. He stood back, embarrassed.

"Sorry," he laughed. "Are you going to the dance?" She pretended to think.

"I don't know, Harry. I was thinking of going with this one guy, but he hasn't asked me yet." Harry laughed, this was easier than he thought.

"He is now," Harry said. She looked at him strangely.

"Are you okay?" she asked. Harry looked around. The world was fine, everything was perfect.

"Of course I'm fine," he told her, looking at her, worried.

"Seriously, Harry. I think you need to go to the nurse." Harry began to get angry.

"No thanks, Anya," he cried angrily. "I don't need a doctor. So are we going to the ball or not?"

"I guess so," she told him softly. His anger increased.

"You guess so? You have to be sure with me, Anya. I don't need you if you're going to be half-hearted with this." People were starting to stare, which made Harry angrier. "What are you looking at?" he yelled at a defenseless first-year.

"Harry, calm down," Anya said, soothingly.

"NO! I won't calm down. I don't think you understand, Anya," Harry yelled, "I don't want you to doubt this. You have to be sure before you go with me." Draco stepped into the common room, a smirk on his face that quickly disappeared when he saw the tears running down Anya's face.

"What's wrong?" he asked. Harry turned on his brother.

"Stay out of this, Draco. This doesn't concern you. Unless you want to take her away from me like you did everyone else," Harry raged. Attracted by the yelling, Snape and Lucius came down from their rooms.

"What's going on here?" Snape demanded. Lucius saw Harry red-faced and Draco next to Anya, terror etched on both their faces.

"Harry, what did you do?" he asked.

"Nothing, Father. Nothing. They are ganging up on me, all of them. They are planning to take me down and Draco is going to take Anya away from me." Harry's anger switched to terror. He backed up against a wall.

"Potter, what are you talking about?" Snape asked.

"Please don't hurt me," Harry whined, pitifully. He slid down the wall, eyes flitting from each person in the room to another.

"Harry, who's going to hurt you?" Anya asked, stepping toward the frightened boy.

"You are. He is. They are," he said and buried his face in his hands. Snape and Lucius looked at each other, realizing the problem.

"We have to get him to Dumbledore," Lucius said. Snape nodded.

"NO!" Harry screamed. "He'll kill me. He will. Don't hurt me, I'll be good." Harry looked at Snape in absolute fear and slumped his head down, unconscious.