The Trouble With Love

Harry sighed deeply as he stared moodily at the cracked ceiling of his room on Privet Drive.

What should I do? How am I supposed to choose? I don't...

The thought trailed off as there was a hesitant knock at the door.

He leaned on one elbow and said, "Come in," in a rather sulky and depressed tone. The door was cracked open to reveal a very familiar hazel brown eye.

"Oh, Hermoine, I didn't know you were...ahhh...coming..." he muttered hastily, as he looked anywhere but at her.

"Harry...please, don't be this way. I don't want it to be this way."

There is silence.

Hermoine gave an exasperated sigh. "Harry, why do you always have to be so difficult? Can't you just...you know, cooperate for..."

In an oddly calm voice, the kind in which you know that the person actually has their teeth clenched, Harry interrupted her.

"I need more time, okay? Two days isn't enough."

By now, Hermoine has come hesitantly into the room and perched on the end of the bed.

"But..."

"I NEED MORE TIME, OKAY???"

Hermoine's eyes became suspiciously shiny as she tried to unfeelingly say, "Fine, I'll go then, since...since..."

She broke into tears and had begun to flee when yet another knock is heard.

"Now what???" Harry said angrily, not noticing that Hermoine has paused.

Harry turned to the window to find Pig, Ron's owl, zooming excitedly outside. He moaned. "Oh no, not now..."

A short pause.

"Thanks Pig. You can go, ummm, see Hedwig, okay? I'll be along in a minute..."

He turned to Hermoine, looking rather embarrassed, and said quickly, "Well, Hermoine, I'm sorry I, er, yelled at you. I suppose," breaking off and staring for a moment into the distance, then realizing Hermoine is still standing there. "I suppose you didn't deserve it, I'm still just thinking, you know?"

Quietly, Hermoine said, "Oh, yeah, I understand. I guess I was being too...you know..."

She gave a bitter laugh.

"Well, there went my chances..."

She then left, slipping quietly out. Harry turned and listened and heard her say a polite goodbye to the Dursleys, then leaving. He then turned to the letter.

All right, Pig, let's have it."

Pig obligingly stuck his leg out, hopping enthusiastically the whole time.

Cautiously, as though it might bite him, Harry opened the letter to find exactly what he feared- a letter from Ginny.

Dear Harry,

I hope you have had time to consider what I said. I realize this is probably too soon, but just reply when you are ready. I know this must be difficult for you Harry. Just know this- I understand no matter what your decision is. I only want for you to be happy.

Yours Sincerely,
Ginny

Well, he thought, at least it was short...

He sighed again. How could he choose, for he already was in love with someone else...who loved him in return...

He turned back to Pig.

"Er, sorry, no response yet," he said, ruffling his hair distractedly. "Looks as though you may be here for several days. Hope you don't mind."

And with that, Harry sank onto his bed, and with a smile, thought of his beloved...

It had been in sixth year when they had started going out. He supposed it had actually started when he realized they were very alike...back in fifth year. Then, that next year, they had started going out, meeting secretly in the Room of Requirement, where no one could find them. Their first kiss had been on Christmas Eve of that year, under a ball of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. He had managed to convince her it was safe...that there were no, oh, what were they called, he couldn't remember, those things that she said often inhabited it...the name wasn't that important anyways...

Ron was a little suspicious the next morning when he turned up looking slightly dazed and very disheveled, but he had told him that he had gone out for an early walk and had gotten lost. Ron took it as the truth with nothing more than an odd look, and then forgot about it. He, however, would never forget how her pale blonde hair had been flung out as she had restlessly tossed. Or when she had woken up, dreamy eyes seeking for his face, and had then proceeded to kiss him...

It had gone on secretly. No one except for themselves knew about it...which was exactly what they wanted. Now though...

Harry frowned. He knew what he had to do. Now he just had to figure out how to do it...