Chapter 8: Breaking Up

The next morning Harry was still preoccupied, but he managed to hide it from an excited and apparently oblivious Ron as they queued up to go to Hogsmeade. Upon entering the village, they went straight to the shops, browsing the windows for gift ideas. They were just about to walk past Honeyduke's when Harry stopped.

"Hey Ron, hold on," Harry called. He stared at the candy inside the window for a moment and then entered the store. Now that he thought about it, Harry had never actually bought Ginny a Christmas present before. After all the time they spent together this term, it would be rude not to get her anything, but he couldn't help feeling nervous about it. He just hoped nobody would read too much into it.

Harry scanned the store's various magical sweets until he came upon a display that caught his eye: a huge Christmas tree decorated in white and silver with a variety of fancy boxes of chocolates arranged underneath. This should be safe, Harry thought as he pored over the selections available and chose a big red box of chocolate-covered cherries. "Do you think Ginny would like these?" he asked as he turned around to show the candybox to Ron.

Ron blinked with surprise as he glanced at Harry. He looked at the candy for a moment, then looked back at Harry and smirked. Harry scowled. What's he grinning about? he thought crossly. "Yeah, yeah, she'll like them," Ron answered. Harry threw another annoyed look at Ron as he bought the box of chocolates and tucked them into his backpack.

Harry and Ron browsed a few more stores and grabbed some lunch before they finally came to a quaint little jewelry store at the end of the street. "Tavernier's!" Ron exclaimed. "Perfect!"

"That's where you're getting Hermione's present?" Harry asked. "It looks awfully expensive..."

"Hey, Hermione's my girlfriend now, and for the first time in my life I actually have money," Ron said. "I'm doing this right."

A little bell rang as they entered. A short, plump man and a tall, skinny man stood behind a glass display case that spanned the front of the store with little turning racks on top, all filled with various sparkling accessories and precious gems. On the walls were posters of young witches modeling jewelry with the slogan, "Tavernier's: For a gift as beautiful as the magic of love."

"Well, Hermione doesn't wear a lot of jewelry, so I should probably keep it simple," Ron said as he scanned the displays. He headed toward a rotating display at the end. "Maybe a bracelet?"

"Yeah, that might be good," Harry said as he looked the selection. "Say, how about that gold one with the ruby--"

"Too fancy," Ron quickly said.

Harry blinked for a moment, then shrugged. "Well okay, how about this silver--"

"No."

"Well what about--"

"No."

Harry sighed with frustration and, leaving Ron to pick his gift alone, wandered off and aimlessly gazed at the displays to occupy himself. Then, he saw it.

It was a heartshaped blue gem about an inch across, lined with a band of pale gold and hung on a simple gold chain. Harry stared in awe as he stepped toward the necklace, which was displayed on a prominent white velvet stand, and put his hand on the glass case as if to touch the stone itself.

The tall thin man approached Harry with a large grin on his face. "Ah, an excellent choice, monsieur," he said in a thick French accent.

"Wha--? Oh no, I was just looking..." Harry quickly said. He started to back away, but he couldn't take his eyes off the necklace.

"Oh, but monsieur, you must at least hold it in your hand," the man insisted as he proceeded to open the case. "Zis diamond--"

"It's a diamond?"

"Oui, zis diamond was taken from zee eye of an Indian goddess..." Harry was barely listening to the man's tale of kings and queens as he watched the diamond slip out of the display case. I can't give Ginny that necklace! he thought. I felt strange enough about buying her a present at all, but this? It's too expensive, it's too extravagant, it's... The salesman lifted the necklace up with dramatic flair and held it out for Harry. Harry quickly glanced at Ron, who was still absorbed with finding the right bracelet. And Ron would kill me... He reflexively held out a cupped hand to catch the diamond.

The moment the diamond hit Harry's hand, a curious red spark seemed to flash from its center. He gasped as he heard Ginny's name reverberate in the back of his mind. Then as quickly as it started, it stopped.

Harry blinked. What was that? he wondered. After another cautious glance at Ron, he held the diamond up to the light, trying to see the spark again. It had to be the light playing on it, he thought. I mean, what else could it have been? But what about Ginny's name? Maybe because I happened to be thinking about her right now? Try as he might though, he couldn't come up with a good explanation for that. I still shouldn't get it for her, though. It's too much, it's... He dropped the necklace back into his cupped hand and fingered the diamond. He couldn't explain it, but deep down inside his heart was this overwhelming belief that Ginny had to have this necklace.

"Alright; I'll take it," Harry finally said.

"Très bien!" The salesman exclaimed, clapping his hands. Harry jumped and looked back at Ron again to make sure he didn't notice. He continued to nervously glance at Ron every few seconds as the salesman placed the necklace in a white velvet jewelry box and took his money.

The salesman looked on suspiciously as Harry quickly scooped up the jewelry box and hid it in his pocket. "By any chance, you are not buying gifts for zee same girl, are you?" he asked as he pointed at Ron.

"Hmm? Oh no, no," Harry chuckled, but the salesman didn't seem entirely convinced. He shrugged. "Is none of my business," he said and, after putting away Harry's money, went into the back of the store.

Just then Ron came over. "Check it out!" he said excitedly as he opened a small red jewelry box. Inside was a gold bracelet with a little otter charm on it. "That's her patronus, isn't it?"

"Yeah that's right; she'll love it," Harry agreed as they left the store. They had just walked out to the street when they saw Hermione coming toward them with...Ginny. Harry stopped, unsure of what to do.

"Hello Harry," Hermione said as she gave him an odd look and glanced back at Ginny. Why is she looking at me like that? Harry wondered. Ginny must've told her about yesterday. I should've known she would. He watched as Hermione excitedly turned her attention to Ron. "Ooh, Tavernier's!" she exclaimed. "Did you just buy my Christmas present?"

Ron grinned mischievously. "Wouldn't you like to know!" he said as he took her hands.

"Oh come on! Tell me!"

"No, no..."

Harry always felt a little embarrassed when Ron and Hermione started teasing and flirting like this. He grinned and turned away...to face Ginny. Harry gulped. Well, he couldn't turn away from her now; that would be rude. "Hi," he said weakly.

"Hi," Ginny said back. They both seemed to be at a loss for words.

"Oh fine, don't tell me then," Hermione finally said, pretending to pout. "Chances are, you went there to buy your gift for your mother."

Ron's grin suddenly disappeared. "Mum! I haven't got a present for her yet!" Hermione stared at him in disbelief and rolled her eyes.

"We'll see you two later!" Hermione called hastily as she followed Ron back to the jewelry store. Harry nodded absently for a moment before suddenly realizing what just happened: he and Ginny were now alone.

Harry nervously shuffled his feet. "So..." he said as casually as he could.

"So," Ginny echoed.

Harry looked around, trying hard to find something to say to break the tension. Then, he spotted the Three Broomsticks. "Want a butterbeer?" he asked.

Ginny looked just as relieved. "Yes, I'd love one!" she answered.

They quickly walked over to the Three Broomsticks and, upon entering, headed straight for the bar. As Harry ordered and paid for the drinks, Ginny scanned the pub for a place to sit.

"Oh look, there's Dean! We can sit with him!" she finally said.

Harry was just about to grab their tankards of butterbeer when he froze. Dean. She was dating Dean. How could he have forgotten that? Harry glanced down at the pocket with the jewelry box in it. He felt like a complete idiot now.

Harry sighed. Well, there's nothing I can do about it right now, he thought resolutely. He picked up the mugs and turned to Ginny, who was looking at him with concern. He forced a that's-okay smile on his face. "Alright; let's go," he said and followed as Ginny headed over to Dean's table.

He was so busy making sure their brimming tankards didn't spill that he didn't realize Ginny had suddenly stopped until he nearly ran into her. "Ginny what--?" Harry looked up to see an expression of complete shock on her face. Puzzled, he followed her gaze. His jaw dropped.

Dean was sitting in a booth tucked away in a corner of the pub. Next to him, holding his hands, was Parvati Patel. They were in a deep conversation, their faces just a few inches apart. Then they leaned toward each other and kissed.

Harry turned to Ginny, who by now had turned very pale. "Ginny?" he called weakly. She didn't even look like she heard him. He looked back at Dean, and then again to Ginny. What do you say to a girl who is watching her boyfriend cheat on her?

Slowly, the shock wore off and anger took over Ginny's features as her hands balled into fists. She marched over to Dean's table and Harry, not sure what else to do, followed her. She stopped right in front of Dean's table and crossed her arms over her chest. "Dean Thomas, what do you think you're doing?" she shouted. It was obvious that she was trying not to cry.

Dean jumped up, mid-smooch, the moment he heard his name. "Ginny!" he exclaimed. He looked like a trapped animal as he cowered in the booth. Parvati's eyes flew open the moment Dean jumped up and looked very confused.

Ginny put her hands on her hips. "Well?"

Dean's eyes darted all over the pub as he searched desperately for something to save himself. Then he saw Harry, who was quietly standing behind Ginny, and a look of defiance lit his eyes. "I could ask you the same thing," he sneered.

"What are you talking about?"

"Dean, what's going on?" Parvati finally asked.

Dean ignored Parvati and pointed angrily at Harry, who stared back in surprise. "Well look who you're with!"

Ginny whirled around to look at Harry and turned back to Dean. "We aren't the ones making out in a dark booth!"

"No, that's what the Quidditch pitch is for, isn't it?"

Ginny faltered a little, but managed to hold her ground. "What do you mean?"

"Oh please, Ginny, don't even try to deny it! I heard you telling Hermione at Zonko's!" Ginny's grew wide as Dean clasped his hands together and began talking in a mock female voice. "He was so strong...I felt so safe in his arms...we could've flown for hours and I wouldn't have cared..." Harry's eyebrows raised as he looked at Ginny. He would've been flattered if the situation wasn't so serious.

Dean dropped the act and glared. "You fancied him for years and he never thought twice about you before. Now The Boy Who Lived has finally decided to give you the time of day and all of a sudden no one else matters, does it?" Ginny looked a little panicky as she stared at Dean.

Parvati stepped slowly toward Dean, her hands on her hips. "Do you mean to say," she said, her anger rising, "that you never actually broke up with Ginny?"

At the sound of Parvati's voice, Ginny regained her control and glared back at Dean, who was beginning to look a little uncomfortable, though he was still trying to focus on Ginny. "Nothing happened yesterday. We were only flying his Firebolt." Dean snorted in disbelief. Ginny was getting angrier. "But even if you insist that something did happen, you were doing a lot more here." She pointed angrily at Parvati, who was practically seething as well. "So how long has this been going on? Were you bored with just one girlfriend? Or were you just having trouble making up your mind? Well, here, let me help you!"

She snatched one of the butterbeers out of Harry's hand, threw the drink in Dean's face, and slammed the tankard on the table. Dean sputtered for a moment and stared at her. "I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN AS LONG AS I LIVE!" she screamed and marched out.

"Ginny! Ginny wait!" Harry suddenly called out. He sloshed half of the other drink on the floor as he put it on a nearby table and ran after her. As he headed out the door he heard Parvati scream "AND THAT GOES FOR ME TOO!" followed by a second splash.

Ginny didn't even slow down as she marched all the way to Hogwarts, up to Gryffindor tower, and into the common room. She headed straight for the couch by the fireplace, ripped off her cloak and backpack and threw them on the floor. She stood there staring at the fireplace as her breathing slowly calmed down. Then, she collapsed onto the couch and buried her face in her hands.

Harry stared at her for a few seconds before he put down his bag and took off his cloak. As he sat down next to her, she leaned her head against his shoulder and started to sob.

"WHY?" she cried. "WHY DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING TO ME? First Michael, then Dean! WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?"

Harry put his arm around Ginny's shoulders as she continued to sob into his sweater. "Oh, don't say that," he said as he racked his brain for something comforting to say. "They weren't good enough for you. You shouldn't blame yourself." Handkerchief, he suddenly thought and started searching his pockets with his free hand. It's around here somewhere. He found it in his back pocket and gently dried her cheeks with it. "Hey, maybe it's for the best," he said as he handed the handkerchief to her.

Ginny took the handkerchief and sat up to blow her nose. She wiped her eyes and sat still for a few moments, sniffling a little as she stared at her hands. Then a look of curiosity came over Ginny's face as she tugged at a corner of the handkerchief. She exposed the corner embroidered "H.J.P." in fancy red and gold thread and stared at the letters. She gasped a little and turned to Harry, comprehension dawning on her face.

"You know what Harry?" Ginny said. "I think you're right." Harry blinked and then raised his eyebrows when he realized what she was saying. A smile slowly spread across his face.

Ginny let out a small chuckle as she returned the smile. They stared at each other for a few moments, not completely sure of what to do next. Then Ginny sat back on the couch, still looking at the handkerchief.

Harry put his arm around her shoulders again. Ginny snuggled up against him in response and leaned her head against his shoulder. They didn't say another word to each other the rest of the afternoon, but somehow, they didn't need to. Wow, Harry thought contentedly as he leaned his cheek against her head. This is...really nice.