Broken Hearted
Chapter 7: New Years Shock

For New Years Eve, Harry and Ginny decided to join the Weasleys at the Three Broomsticks. As usual, Percy and Penelope didn't join. They stayed at the Burrow with Molly and Arthur and the kids. The pub was filled with wizards from all over. Even Seamus, Dean, and Neville were there with dates. It felt like a Hogwarts class reunion or something.

Just like any New Years celebration, many of the wizards there were drinking. Fred and George preferred doing shots of firewhiskey to the wine their brothers Bill and Charlie were drinking with their wives. Harry was convinced red-headed twins could out-drink anyone there. Drunk or not drunk, though, Fred and George were always a lot of fun.

The Weird Sisters were playing a live show there that night, making the occasional announcement of how many hours until midnight. Everyone was cheering on the dance floor. The entire pub was packed. Harry and Ginny sat at a table with Ron and Hermione, trying to talk loudly over the music and noise from the crowd. Throughout the night, more and more people were joining the table. Neville introduced his new girlfriend to everyone. His face was beaming. Harry couldn't remember the last time Neville looked that happy. He hoped silently to himself that Neville's parents were doing much better. Many people that Harry saw over Christmas showed up, like Hagrid and Madme Maxime and Lupin with his fiance. Harry couldn't have been happier, being surrounded by so many people that he cared about.

At around nine o'clock walked in two more Hogwarts graduates. No one was expecting them to show up--especially Harry. It was none other than Mr. and Mrs. Draco Malfoy. The place went nearly silent when they walked in.

"Well, well, well," said Malfoy in a nasty voice. "I guess the rumors about Potty's new bird are true! Figures you'd end up with a Weasley." Harry met Malfoy's cold blue eyes.

"I'd say it's quite an improvement to my last girlfriend," said Harry, shooting a darting look at Kaylie. "Have to admit, she's more your type, anyway."

"And what is that supposed to mean, Potter?" Malfoy was getting angry, and people were beginning to fear a fight would break out between the two rivaling wizards.

"Whatever you want it to mean," Harry said cooly.

"You bloody bastard!" muttered Kaylie. "You act like what we had for a year was nothing!"

"And ever since I discovered you were two-timing me, I realized that it was nothing."

"Don't talk to my woman like that!" said Malfoy.

"Or you'll do what, exactly?" Draco threw back a shot of firewhiskey that was sitting on the bar, and then smashed open a butterbeer bottle.

"I suppose your magic must be rusty," Harry said with a smirk. Harry took out his wand, said repairo to fix the mess of broken glass.

"Well, I can't be using magic to hurt you--not now that I've been considered for the Aurors!"

"You've got to be joking. You? What would they want you for?"

"DId you honestly think they would pick you? That's a laugh! They obviously picked the best man for the job. All they have to do is run a few tests and then they'll be sending me to training."

"I suppose the ministry has forgotten who your father was."

"Oh, they told me that they realize that I was just an innocent bystander of a troubled childhood, and that I'm nothing like my father!" he said innocently. The nasty Malfoy grin returned to Draco's face. "Face it, Potter. I am going to be an Auror, and you will be nothing but a useless officer in Misuse of Magic, busting teenagers for turning water into rum. How pathetic!" The entire room was now completely silent, listening to the confrontation. Harry was burning with anger, wanting to hurt Malfoy in any way he could, but just stood there, too paralyzed to do anything.

"This party blows. Let's just go back to the huge mansion that we live in and have the house elves cook up a nice big meal for us!" bragged Malfoy, tugged Kaylie with him out the door. Slowly, noise began to fill the room again.

Ginny could see that Harry was still angry after minutes that the Malfoys left the pub. "Don't let him ruin your night. He's just rubbing it in because he knows you're better than him. He's always been jealous of your talents," she reassured soothingly.

"I'm not so convinced."

"Well, if it's any counselation, Kaylie didn't seem too happy with him."

"Good. She deserves a Malfoy." They paused. Harry looked down at the table miserably.

"Come on, I'll treat you to a butterbeer." Harry shrugged gloomily. "I love you," Ginny whispered in his ear. Harry kissed Ginny gently on her lips. "I love you, too," he said, walking to the bar with her.

It was getting closer and closer to midnight, and everyone at The Three Broomsticks were getting pretty drunk and rowdy. Hermione convinced Ron to dance with her a few times. They tried to cheer up Harry as best as they could, hoping it would help. Fred and George succeeded in cheering him up, when they staggered onto the stage with The Weird Sisters, and did a striptease all the way down to their boxer shorts. The girls in the crowd whistled and screamed for them. Harry and his friends were doubled over laughing. Leave it to the Weasley Twins to make a party more interesting. Harry got over his anger and went back to having a great time with his friends. Ginny was right; letting Draco Malfoy ruin his night just wasn't worth it.

When midnight finally fell upon them, Harry and Ginny kissed passionately, along with the other couples in the crowd. Fred was kissing one of the girls in the crowd that catcalled him while he was stripping, and George was kissing another girl, trying to make a grab for her arse. She slapped him when he finally succeeded. The night began to calm down as people were beginning to go home. "I'm tired," yawned Ginny. "We should get going."

"Can we stay at your place tonight for a change?" asked Harry.

"I suppose so," she said, too tired to care.

They walked into Ginny's small appartment. Harry looked around, wondering why there were only one or two boxes out, and not the huge mess that Ginny described. They made their way into the bedroom and almost instantly, Ginny laid down on the bed. Harry noticed there was an envelope on the dresser, waiting for Ginny to open it. "Hey Ginny, I think your owl brought you something while we were gone." She jumped up from the bed to grab the letter, but Harry had already picked it up. "Oh, I'll take a look at that in the morning," she said.

"Who's Pierre?" Harry asked

"A friend from school," Ginny answered nervously.

"Really?" Harry did not sound at all convinced.

"Harry, it's not what you think, I swear."

"When were planning on telling me about this guy?" Ginny began to cry looking at the anger in Harry's eyes. "I was a bloody fool to fall for this shit again! I can hardly believe this!"

"Harry, I love you! You know that!" cried Ginny. "If you could just let me explain--"

"I think this explains enough!" shouted Harry. "You're just like Kaylie... a whore... just like her!" Ginny cried harder, wanting to say anything to Harry that would make him stay, but it was no use--Harry already disapperated. With tears in her eyes, she opened the letter from Pierre.

Dear Ginny,

I have recieved your letter, and words are hard to explain how I am feeling right now. We've shared two wonderful years, and I'm not sure I'm ready for it to end. We promised when you left we would try and make this work, but I guess the distance is just too much. You're right--we're both busy with our own seperate lives. I guess it was only a matter of time.

But the hardest thing for me to believe is that you are in love with another. You and I were so close, and I could never imagine either one of us with anyone else. I understand that you two have been dating for a few months now. I wish you would have told me sooner. You mentioned how hard it's been to break this to me, and I suppose I can understand that. If there's one thing about you I've always loved is that you would never want to hurt anyone. And I won't lie--I am hurt... but I guess I can understand where you're coming from. You were ready to move on to new and exciting things, and I wanted everything to stay the same. I always knew you couldn't stay here in France forever, and you always knew that I wouldn't be able to leave. I guess it was doomed from the start.

All I can say right now is that whomever you love is a very lucky man, and I hope he makes you happy. I'll never forget you, Ginny. I do hope that we can continue to be friends.

With love,

Pierre

Ginny put her face in her hands and sobbed all night long, not being able to sleep a wink. That night, she lost not one, but two people she loved very dearly. She wished she could go back and do things differently, but the damage was already done. If there were some way she could explain everything to Harry...