The Trouble With Love

As they opened the door, none of them were expecting to find just what it was that they found.

Inside the room was a dusty old mirror. Harry stepped in front of it and gasped. "Do you know what this is?" he breathed.

"No," they replied.

"It's the Mirror of Erised. This may be the answer to our problems," he said excitedly, whirling around.

"How might it do that?" Hermione asked.

"Well, we just have to stand in front of the mirror, and it'll tell us who we should be with! It's that simple. Now, who wants to go first?"

There was silence.

"Oh, come on, someone must want to go first!"

No one answered. They were all busy staring at the floor and shuffling their feet rather uncomfortably.

Finally, Hermione spoke up. "Harry, can we just leave? I don't think we were expecting for it to be resolved like this."

"But if we leave, we may never be able to find it again!"

Ron headed for the door. "Well, mate, I'm willing to take that chance. Wouldn't it be better just to talk it out on our own?"

"Hey, we don't have to look in the mirror! We can just sit and talk like we had planned. I mean, this is still a room, and a hard one to find at that. Do we really want to go searching for another one?"

"Not really," Ginny said. "We've walked pretty far to find this one. I personally don't want to go walking that far again to look for another one."

"Well," Hermione assented, "I guess we could stay here. There's no harm in it, and if we can't decide, well, then we can look in the mirror."

"Exactly!" Harry crowed triumphantly.

So they sat down, but only after turning the mirror to face the wall so that none of them could look into it by accident.

"Okay, this session is now called into order."

"Hermione, this isn't a court room you know."

"I know, Ron. I just like saying that."

"Oh."

"Now, where was I...?" and so the discussion began.

Draco spoke first. "Well, I suppose I shall begin," he said imperiously. "As you know now, I am in love with Ginevra."

"DON'T CALL HER THAT, YOU SCUM!"

"Ron, calm down," Ginny murmured soothingly. He glared at her, but then complied, slumping moodily against the wall.

"As I know it, Ginny is in love with Potter, is that correct?" She nodded her head. "And Granger is also in love with Potter." Hermione colored, but nodded all the same. "Now, Weasley is in love with Granger?" Ron too, nodded. "And Potter and Loony are in love?"

Harry nodded immediately, Luna nodding hesitantly several seconds later. "Is that everyone?"

Luna gulped. It was tell them now, or face their wrath later. "Actually, no, I'm going to add another person to the mix."

All heads turned to look at her. She braced for the storm. "His name is Justin. I met him when I was in France Snorkack hunting." She paused upon seeing the hurt look on Harry's face. "He goes to Beauxbatons. I'm sorry, Harry. I should have told you."

"Sorry? Sorry?" he shouted. I'm your boyfriend! But you said-" he continued now in a softer tone, talking down into his hands, "you said that you loved me."

The silence in the room was tangible. The storm of emotions was growing fiercer by the moment.

"Luna, how long ago was this?" Hermione asked gently.

"About three weeks ago," she whispered, unshed tears shining in her eyes. "I was afraid to tell you, Harry, because I thought you would push me away."

"And you were right," he answered stonily. "I would, and am pushing you away."

"Wait, Harry! Give her a chance to speak!" cried Ginny.

"I'm sorry, okay Harry? Is that what you wanted to hear? Because I am so, so sorry. But we can still be friends, can't we?"

"No," he said bluntly, "we can't."

"Why not?" she asked, tears now streaming down her face. "Why not?" she whispered brokenly, like a small child who has been abandoned by the ones they thought loved them.

"Because of what you've done to me."

"I can't help that I fell in love, that he took care of me when I was afraid, that he kissed me!"

"HE KISSED YOU?!?" Harry roared. "WHY THAT LITTLE-"

"Harry, stop it!" Luna screamed at him, rage now flashing in her eyes. "You should be happy for me! And plus, I'll love him whether I have your blessing or not, and I'd rather go with your blessing than without it! Okay?"

The two stood at a standoff as the others watched, stunned at all that had just happened.

Luna's right. Harry should be happy for her. I'm not going to say a word though; he'll just have a go at me if I do, Hermione thought.

Ginny, on her right, was thinking much the same thing. In her fear, she had somehow scooted closer to Draco, who, fortunately, had not noticed this. She hurriedly moved away.

Draco's thoughts were simple. Wow, never thought Potter and Loony could be so aggressive! Who knew?

Finally, Harry relaxed. "I'm sorry, Luna," he said, and walked forward to embrace her. She shook within his arms, crying tears of relief. The others relaxed visibly too, glad that the first ordeal was over.

"I shouldn't have reacted like that. And you have my blessing."

"Thank you," she said gratefully, voice still slightly shaky. "So, can we still be friends?"

"Of course."

They sat against the wall, Luna still within Harry's embrace. "I wish that Justin were here, no offense Harry."

"None taken," he said, stroking her hair.

"Well, moving on," Ron said nervously. "Who wants to scream at their loved one next?"

They laughed.

"Well, I think we should let Harry recover from that screaming match first before he has to go ahead with another, so he's out of the question. Luna's been sorted out, so that leaves Malfoy, Ginny, Ron, and, of course, me."

Malfoy stood up. "My dear Ginevra, would you do me the honor of screaming at me?"

"Of course! What would you like me to scream at you?" she laughed, standing up as well.

"How about what a wonderful boyfriend I'd make for you? Or, if not that, just telling me I'm handsome would work nicely too."

Under her breath, Hermione said, "Well, looks like this one has been sorted out."

"Yup," Ron whispered back.

Without further ado, Ginny began screaming at Draco.

"YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT!!! THINKING I WOULD RETURN YOUR AFFECTIONS!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU??? YOU'RE A MALFOY!!! I CAN NEVER EVER BE WITH YOU!!!"

Draco stood in shock as Ginny finished in a calm tone.

"Even if you are sexy."

"B-but I thought..."

"Yes, you thought," she sneered at him. "What else have you thought? Well, whatever it was, you were wrong!"

Draco sank to the ground, with a despairing look upon his face. His shoulders were slumped as he leaned against the wall, face white in shock.

Ginny suddenly smiled, a very different look from the one she had had moments before. "Silly, I was only kidding! I didn't really mean those things. At least," here she frowned in mock concentration as if seriously pondering it, "I don't think I did."

"Really?" he asked, pale eyes lighting up with the barest flicker of hope.

"Really," and she then walked over and kissed him full on.

A minute or so later, he was reeling from lack of oxygen because Ginny's kiss had been so passionate.

She smiled gently at him, laughing silently as he staggered around the room, then falling to the floor and gazing up, dazed, at the ceiling. She then proceeded to walk over and sit by him, to make sure that he was okay.

"Well," Hermione asked, quite shocked by the sight of a Weasley kissing a Malfoy, "who wants to go next?"

"I will," Harry said gruffly.

"Oh, I get to go, do I?"

"Yes," he said, offering her his hand, which she brushed aside.

"Erm," Hermione said eloquently.

"Yes?" he said expectantly.

"Well, Harry, I love you, as you know. I just don't know if it would be a good idea, you and me. It might ruin our friendship," she said, gesturing to Ron, Harry, and herself.

"I understand," he sighed heavily. "I suppose I feel the same way. However," he announced firmly, "I do think that you and Ron should be together."

She turned back around, gaping. "W-what? But wouldn't that ruin our friendship too?"

"No, it wouldn't. You two belong together."

With this, Hermione turned towards Ron, a new light shining in her eyes.

"Harry," Ron said faintly.

"Yes?"

"Are you quite sure about this?"

"Yes, I am."

"So who will you have?"

"Oh, I'll find someone," he said airily, hiding deep emotions as he spoke. "I'm sure of it. Someday, when the time is right, I'll find her. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to be alone."

The others left, Hermione hanging back for a moment to say, "Thank you, Harry," and then departing.

He sighed heavily, moving the mirror so that he could look into it.

"Please, tell me what I want to know. I think you know what that is," he said to it.

Its surface swirled and then cleared to show him a single image. It was of a gravestone that said: Here lies Harry James Potter, who was a friend to all in their time of need. May he rest in peace.

Funny, he thought, it doesn't say when I died. Well, I suppose I'll find out someday... and he turned to leave. But, on an impulse, he turned around once more.

This time, the mirror showed him a different image. It was of a young man, holding a woman in the rain. Hey, that's me!

The mirror suddenly began to swirl again. He backed away uneasily. I don't think it's supposed to be doing this!

It cleared once more. This time it showed him with the same woman, holding a small child on his lap while several more ran around him. In the background was a Christmas tree. Then its surface swirled once more. This time it showed him as an old man, sitting next to that same woman. Curiosity sparked within him. Who is she?

And with this question bouncing around his head, he ran out into the corridor and shouted after the receding figures, "Hey, wait up!" They turned to wait for him. And with a joyful heart, he raced after them with a smile on his face.