Grey Clouds

Mrs. Weasley came down the stairs into the living room and saw her entire family sitting huddled around Harry, welcoming him back.

"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley squealed as she made her way over to him and hugged him tightly. "How have you been, dear?"

"I've been fine, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said, smiling.

"How was your trip?" Bill asked.

"It was good, or as good as it would ever get when you go to Azkaban."

"Ah, yes," Mr. Weasley said. "I guess you can't expect much from such a dark, dreary place."

"Alright, everybody," Mrs. Weasley said, "let's leave the questioning for later. Harry's just gotten here, and he hasn't even had time to eat anything."

Harry smiled. "The food in Azkaban was terrible. It tasted like that apple pie Ron had made...when he'd forgotten to add the apples."

The room burst out laughing while Ron huffed. "Well, now we know what you're getting for Christmas," he said moodily.

"Speaking of which," Mrs. Weasley said, "tomorrow's Christmas day, and we haven't even gotten all the presents sorted out!"

"It's not that much work, Molly!" Mr. Weasley said. "We just have to put them under the tree for tomorrow morning."

"Yeah, Mum," Fred said. "Can we just go have dinner?"

"Oh alright," Mrs. Weasley said as everyone tried to scramble to the dining room where Mrs. Weasley had laid out a full buffet.

Harry, however, stayed behind. He searched the room for Ginny, whom he hadn't seen all evening. He scanned the room twice before he walked up to Mrs. Weasley and asked her, "Where's Ginny?"

"Oh," Mrs. Weasley said. "She's...not feeling quite well. She's upstairs in her room, dear. Why don't you go bring her down here?"

Harry nodded as Mrs. Weasley smiled. He left his bags where they were and made his way upstairs to Ginny's room on the top floor. As he passed his room, he realized that the room across from him was empty. The room that had belonged to Draco had no clothes, no items or anything. Harry stared bewilderedly at the empty space before quickly realizing that he had to go fetch Ginny.

He had missed Ginny so much on his trip. He missed seeing her smile in the mornings and her bright red hair wherever he went. He missed the warm feeling he got when he sat beside her and the smile that she always brought to his face.

If being away at Azkaban had taught him anything, it was that he couldn't be without her. He had been gone for three days and right now, he was yearning to see her; to feel her hair; to kiss her. This whole friendship charade had to be stopped; he needed to tell Ginny how he felt.

***

Ginny opened her door and felt her heart crumble to pieces. Harry was standing in front of her, smiling sweetly. Her life had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.

***

"Draco..."

Draco turned around and saw his mother walking into his room, holding a cup of pumpkin juice. She placed it on his bedside table and walked over to him, gently putting her hand on his shoulder.

"You haven't eaten since you got here. Are you sure you're not hungry?"

"Yes, I'm fine," Draco murmured softly.

"Alright, listen, Draco, I know I've never been very maternal, but I can tell when something's bothering you. What is it?"

"Mother, it's really nothing," Draco insisted.

"Is it about Ginny Weasley?"

Draco stopped and turned around to face his mother. Narcissa was standing quietly, examining the expression on Draco's face and waiting for a response.

"How...How did you know?"

"You've gotten seven owls from her in the past three hours. Someone who sends you that many messages either really loves you or really hates you."

Narcissa held out seven envelopes addressed to Draco, from Ginny. Draco walked over to his mother and took all seven of them, holding them gingerly in his hands.

"So which one is it?" Narcissa asked. "Does she love you or hate you?

Draco laughed sadly. "I don't know."

"What about you? Do you love her?"

Draco smiled sorrowfully at his mother. "I've sent her twelve owls in the past two hours, what do you think?"

***

"Uh...hi..." Ginny said, trying not to sound awkward. At the same time, she was trying to mask her sadness.

"Is that all you're going to say?" Harry asked playfully. "You haven't seen me in three days and all you're saying is 'hi'?"

"I...I'm just not feeling well, Harry," Ginny said.

"Yeah, your Mum told me. Are you going to be fine?"

"Um, yeah...it's just a headache."

"Do you want me to get you anything? Tea?"

"No...it's okay."

"Well, your Mum sent me up here to get you to come eat dinner."

Ginny laughed a little bit. "Mum's got you doing work already, eh?"

Harry laughed. "I don't mind it that much. So are you going to come?"

"I don't think so. I'll just get her to send me some food upstairs..."

"All alone? You've become so depressed...and I was only gone for three days."

"It's not that, Harry. I just need some time away from all the noise and everything."

"I'm not going to feel right. We'll all be downstairs having fun while you're up here all alone."

"I really don't mind..."

"Alright, fine. I'll go get us both a plate and we'll sit and eat here."

"What?"

"You won't be eating all by yourself on Christmas Eve."

Before Ginny could say anything, Harry turned and headed downstairs to get some dinner, leaving her standing at the doorway.

***

"I honestly forgot the apples," Ron said exasperatedly. "It's not my fault!"

Everyone around the table laughed as Mrs. Weasley served some tea. Though the atmosphere in the dining room was very casual and light, she could sense the eagerness as everyone kept their ears pricked for any sound from upstairs.

"Have you guys finally decided on a name for my granddaughter?" Mr. Weasley asked Ron and Hermione.

"I don't think we ever will," Hermione sighed. "Ron hates all the good names and wants all the bad ones."

"I do not!" Ron said defensively. "Is there anything wrong with the name Cissy?"

"No," George said, "not unless you want your kid beaten to a pulp at Hogwarts."

"Exactly," Hermione said. "We keep fighting about the same thing."

"Ah, Ron," Fred said mischievously. "I told you marriage was going to be a problem. Look at me. I've got no problems with women."

Ron scowled. "That's because you have no women," he retorted.

Just as everyone burst out laughing, Harry came dashing downstairs, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Is Ginny not coming?" Athena asked.

"She's not feeling well," Harry said. "Mrs. Weasley, can I have two plates of food?"

"What for?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Ginny and I are going to eat upstairs. She's not feeling well and I'll just give her some company."

Mrs. Weasley smiled kindly and prepared two large plates of food. She gave them to Harry, who was starting to go upstairs but stopped midway.

"What is it, Harry?" Mr. Weasley asked.

"I was just passing my room, and I noticed that Malfoy had left," Harry stated slowly. The entire room exchanged looks quickly and Hermione spoke.

"He...he had to go," she said.

"But I thought he was staying for the holidays," Harry asked. "Not that I wanted him to stay, but still..."

"Well," Ron said, "he got an owl and had to leave. I don't think he'll be coming back, though."

Harry nodded and shrugged. He took the two plates of food and walked up the stairs back to Ginny's room.

***

"Here you go," Harry said cheerfully as he placed a plate of chicken, rice, vegetables, sauce and everything else in front of Ginny.

"Wow," Ginny said as she examined her plate. "Mum's really overcooked this year...but then again, she always does."

Harry took a spoonful of rice into his mouth and nodded. "Try the rice. It's really good...but not as good as the chicken."

Ginny ate a few beans off her plate. "Ginny, I need to say something to you..." Harry said slowly.

"Not now, Harry," Ginny said sadly. "Please..."

"But you need to know."

"I...I'm really not feeling very well..."

"Ginny, I..."

"Harry, I really don't want to hear anything."

"Ginny..."

"Please, just go. I'm feeling dizzy..."

"Just hear me-"

"My head is spinning, Harry! Please just go!"

"Ginny...I lo-"

Ginny shrieked and collapsed on her bed. Harry got up immediately and walked over to her, his arms were very tense. He placed his fingers on her neck and felt her pulse, but it was weak. He put his hand to her forehead and felt a huge amount of sweat against her burning skin. Her face was now pale as she lay inertly; her closed eyes, motionless.

Harry said Ginny's name multiple times, trying to help her regain consciousness, but she didn't budge. The door flung open and Ron was standing in the doorway with a concerned face.

"We heard someone yell- Ginny!" Ron dashed over to his still sister and tried to shake her awake. "What happened?" he asked frantically.

"I- I don't know," Harry said. "I was saying something and then she just started to say that she felt dizzy and...she fainted."

"Hermione!" Ron bellowed. "Get up here!"

Within a few minutes, Hermione came upstairs and gasped. "Ron! What happened?"

"It doesn't matter!" he bellowed. "Just try to get her conscious!"

Hermione took out her wand and pointed it at Ginny. She mumbled a few words, and a faint sound came out, but nothing happened to Ginny. She tried a few more spells, but still, nothing worked.

"Her hands are getting warmer," Harry said, gently rubbing them together.

Mrs. Weasley came up next and almost yelled at the sight before her. She rushed back downstairs and returned a few minutes later with something green in her hand.

"This root of ginger should help her," she said, placing the ginger on Ginny's forehead. Ginny face started to regain some of its lost color, and she began to take a few short breaths.

Harry heaved a sigh of relief and smiled slightly as he pressed his fingers against Ginny's neck and felt a steady pulse.

"What had happened to her?" Hermione asked.

"I don't really know," Harry said. "She just started to feel dizzy and she kept saying that she wasn't well..."

"Don't blame yourself, Harry," Mrs. Weasley said gently. "I'm sure she was just a bit exhausted."

"Right..." Harry said tentatively.

"Alright, everyone, leave!" Mrs. Weasley ordered. "Ginny needs some rest!"

Harry, Hermione and Ron left the room quietly. As Harry walked out the door, he turned and glanced one last time at Ginny as she began to open her eyes.

***

Harry, Ron and Hermione had just left the room. Mrs. Weasley walked over to her daughter and sat beside her on the bed, looking at her with sad eyes.

"He was about to tell you that he loved you, right?" Mrs. Weasley said quietly.

Ginny looked up slowly and then looked away. "Yes," she said in a barely audible tone. "How did you know?"

"I just did," Mrs. Weasley said softly. "Why are you doing this to him?"

"Doing what?"

"You're hurting Harry, Ginny. He loves you and you're hurting him."

Ginny tried to stand up but didn't have the energy to. "I didn't faint on purpose, Mum," she said. "He just started saying that he needed to tell me something...and...I kept seeing images of Draco, and I...I couldn't take it."

"Ginny, listen to me," Mrs. Weasley said, "you can love the heart that hurts you, but you can never hurt the heart that loves you. Harry loves you. Don't hurt him."

"I don't want to hurt him!" Ginny said. "I just want him to leave me alone! I just want to be with Draco!"

Ginny began sobbing softly. "I just want to be with him...no Harry, no complications, and no rules...just love."

"When the time comes, Ginny," Mrs. Weasley said, "you'll realize how much you take Harry for granted and then it might be too late."

"How many times do I have to hear this, Mum?" Ginny said. "Please, just go."

Mrs. Weasley got up and walked towards the door. She turned the lights off before she left, whispering quietly. "Goodnight, Ginny."

***

***

Harry looked over at the clock beside his bed, which read very clearly: 11:42 p.m. He couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, a picture of a falling red head would pop into his mind and he'd be woken up again. He wanted to make sure that Ginny was all right. He needed to.

He put on his robes and tiptoed up the stairs to Ginny's room. The candles floating around the stairwell were slowly illuminating his pathway and giving life to his shadow. He finally reached the top floor and quietly turned the knob on Ginny's door.

"Ginny?" Harry whispered. He didn't hear a response, and so he assumed she was asleep. He walked in and looked over her, making sure she was alright. He placed his hand to her forehead to make sure her temperature was normal; he felt her pulse and was satisfied when he heard a steady beat.

Ginny's face was turned to the side, and Harry couldn't see her soft features. He sighed heavily and turned to look out the window at the beautiful clouds gently shivering in the cold wind.

"Ginny," Harry began, fully aware that she was asleep and couldn't hear what he was saying, "I love you."

"I know it's really crazy," he said softly, realizing that he was talking to no one, "but I love you...I've never stopped loving you. You mean the world to me and even more."

Harry laughed to himself softly. "Can you believe it? I'm talking to you even though you're asleep. I love you very much, Ginny, and maybe now you've forgiven me and we can give our relationship another chance."

Harry heard the clock downstairs strike the hour loudly, indicating that it was midnight. "Merry Christmas, Ginny," he said softly before leaving the room quietly.

Perhaps, if he'd stayed a little longer, he would have noticed a silent tear escape Ginny's open eyes.

She turned around when Harry had left and gazed into the darkness. "Merry Christmas, Draco," she whispered.

***

In another part of the world, Draco gazed out into the snowing sky. He closed his eyes as the clock began to strike loudly, indicating that it was midnight.

"Merry Christmas, Ginny," he said softly, letting a lone tear escape his eye.

***