My Shadow

Ron sat alone in the common room that night. Hermione had tried to talk to him, but had gotten no sensible reply so she'd sauntered upstairs to bed. In front of him the fire was raging, reds, oranges and yellows flickered up the surrounding walls. It mirrored what was inside him; a burning hate... and loathing... and... something else. It was confusing. He'd seen them together, The love in Harry's eyes, but it was strange. Draco was strange. His eyes were vunerable and scared. He was really concerned about Harry and he didn't try to shoot remarks back at him or Hermione either. What's going on? Ron thought. I can't be spiteful at Draco now. Not now him and Harry... are... urgh. I can't even say it. That they're... together. Wait, why am I calling him Draco? he thought. It's Malfoy, Malfoy, MALFOY!

Why? he thought, why is all this happening to me? Why did Harry have to fall? Why did Draco have to... look like that? Ron put his head in his hands and felt hot tears on his face. He didn't notice a house elf come in and stoke the fire or put a blanket over him as he fell asleep. His thoughts had frustrated him and tired him out. He didn't understand.

The next morning Ginny was sat on her bed looking at a picture of Harry. It was taken last summer at The Burrow. Harry was trying to teach Ron to play football. He had a huge grin on his face watching Ron trying to dribble the ball. Ginny had secretly taken the picture from Ron's room and now always kept it with her. It was in a green frame and spent most of it's time hiding under Ginny's pillow so that people wouldn't see it and tease her. She knew he was in the hospital wing, but she'd been too nervous to go and see him. Hermione had said he was getting better and would go back to lessons on Monday as normal, Giny was relieved.

Behind her she heard the door creak. Ginny's head whipped around. Someone was coming in. Ginny hastily shoved the picture under her pillow and turned to face the door. Hermione's head appeared through the crack. She smiled when she saw Ginny.

'Hi,' she said, opening the door wider and coming in. 'What're you doing?'

'Oh nothing. Just thinking about stuff.' Hermione came over and sat opposite Ginny on the bed.

'Then you're clearly doing something aren't you.' Ginny looked at her and Hermione just grinned.

'So what were you thinking about?' Hermione asked.

'Just... stuff,' said Ginny, smiling.

'Would it perhaps be to do with this one guy that I know?'

'Maybe,' they both giggled. Hermione was the one person that Ginny had actually told about her little, or should I say, big crush on Harry. She'd liked Harry ever since she'd seen him at Kings Cross Station on him first day at Hogwarts.

'So,' Hermione said, 'Have you thought about the Ostara Dance?' Ginny's head shot up.

'What dance?'

'There's a dance coming up. Kind of like the Yule ball last year, but this one's in spring. Ostara is the Pagan term for the Spring Equinox.'

'Isn't that one of those muggle religions you told me about?'

'Yeah that's it.'

'So when is it and why haven't I heard of it yet?'

'Well,' Hermone started, 'I'm not sure exactly, but I think it's in 2 weeks.'

'So why are we having one. I mean last year it was because of the tournament thing. What's gonna happen this year?'

'I'm not sure of this either, but maybe it's to commemorate something. You know what I'll find out.' She made to get up.

'Wait! It's not important. I want to know who you'll want to go with.' Hermione sat back down and stared at the bed.

'I... don't know.'

'Yes you do. It's written all; over your face. You know I distinctly remember you saying you were annoyed because a certain brother of mine didn't ask you.' Hermione's head shot up.

'I didn't say that!' she said indignantly.

'You did. Ok maybe not those exact words, but that was the impression I got.' Hermione stared at her, then Ginny began to see a smile creeping at the corners of her mouth. Ginny giggled. 'I always knew you liked him. Ooo Hermione has a crush on my brother. You know it feels weird. Anyway when you two get married I'll practically be your sister.' She burst out laughing.

'Ginny shut up!' Hermione said laughing too.

As news of the Ostara Dance spread quickly people were chatting about their clothes, hom many people had asked them. Harry was now out of the hospital and Ginny had had a small chance to talk to him, though she hadn't had enough courage to ask him to the ball.

Also Draco wasn't ecstatically happy about it either. He'd talked with Harry that morning and they'd decided to keep it a secret. Now that Harry had gone and told Ron and Hermione, draco was left alone waiting for tomorrow to come so he could start lessons again.

For Harry the week flew past. He had to catch up on all the homework he hadn't done over the weekend and he didn't have much time to think about the ball let alone trying to find a date.

Ron on the other hand was asked by someone he least expected, Hermione. He was sitting in front of the fire, after Harry and everyone else had gone up to bed, when Hermione came down to talk to him. She sat down and tried to engage him in conversation, but Ron could sense her awkwardness and said,

'Hermione, just spit it out.' So she did.

'Ron will you go to the dance with me?' He was so shocked that at first he just gaped at her. Then he realised she was waiting for an answer so he replied,

'Cool. Yeah I'll go with you.' She smiled a rare happy smile, which he found hard not to return.

When he'd told Harry the next morning Harry hadn't been that surprised.

'Oh come on Ron. I've known you've liked each other since about third year. It was just a matter of time.'

'You know that's what Ginny said. So who are you going with?' Harry hesitated and looked at the floor.

'I don't know.'

'Why don't you ask Ginny?' Harry stared at Ron then thought well I can't go with Draco can I? At least I know her and she is... sort of sweet

'Ok yeah I will.' Just as he stood up to go upstairs Ginny came down. Ron looked at him. 'Later,' Harry said and went up to the dorm. Ron stared after him and laughed. Ginny just looked bewildered.

Harry didn't see much of Ginny that day and when he did see her she was surrounded by all her friends. He managed to catch her during dinner. She was sitting alone in front of the fire in the common room. Harry went and sat on the chair next to her.

'You're not going to dinner then?' he said.

'I'm not that hungry,' she replied without looking up. So either she's embarrassed to talk with me or is depressed and wants to be left alone or even both.

'So... um... you going to the ball?' She was still staring at her book. It was weird. He wasn't nervous like he was asking Cho last year.

'Yeah I'll probably go. No-one's asked me. What about you?'

'Yeah I'm going. Um... since you're going alone,' he started, 'Would you go with me?' Ginny looked up from her reading and looked at him. He couldn't read her expression.

'Really?' she said, finally.

'Yes. If you want to.' She smiled.

'Yeah... sure I'll go with you.'

'Great.' He started to get up.

'Thanks.' He turned.

'What for?' She shrugged.

'For asking me,' she smiled and he smiled in return.

'Are you coming down for dinner?'

'Yeah I'll be down in a minute.'

'Cool.' After Harry left Ginny collapsed back into her chair and tried to convince herself that it really happened and she had a hard time hiding the grin on her face while at dinner. Although only Hermione noticed, but all she thought was 'oh God, this is bad.'

It was Friday, the day before the ball. No-one could concentrate in lessons so most teachers gave up and let them play games. Even Hermione wasn't bothered by this.

During Charms Harry kept looking over at Draco. He hadn't had much of a chance to talk to him. He'd been too busy with everything else. He wondered who Draco was taking to the ball. Last year he took Pansy Parkinson, though Harry knew Draco hated her. I wonder how people would react if they saw me and him together, he thought. I'd give them a shock though. He smiled to himself as he pictured the expression's on their faces. He then saw Ginny's face. 'It won't work,' an echoy voice said in his mind. Wait, did I just think that? he thought, weird. He pondered for a moment then gave up and emersed himself in the fun of the lesson. They were having a sort of cushion fight using magic.

After Charms it was lunch. Harry decided to take a walk, as he wasn't that hungry. He made his way to the oak tree to find Draco already there. He stopped.

'Hi Harry.'

'Er, hi Draco,' he replied and sat down next to him. Harry stared out at the lake. It wasn't glinting like it was the last time he was here. It was different.

'Hey Harry.' Draco waved his hand in front of Harry's face. 'What's up?' Harry looked at his concerned face.

'I don't know. It's weird,' he replied. He turned back to look out at the lake.

'What is?'

'I'm not sure, but it's strange.'

'Harry, you're making no sense.' Harry looked at Draco again. Draco's pale hair blew slightly in the breeze.

'So,' Draco continued, changing the subject,' I hear you're taking Ginny to the Spring Ball.' Harry detected the slightest hint of jealousy in his voice.

'Well,' he replied, 'I can't exactly take you can I? I mean imagine the looks on everyone's faces when they see me and you together.' Harry could just picture the horror on Snape's face seeing Harry and Draco dancing together. 'Also Ginny's my friend so I decided to take her.'

'What about Granger and Weasley?'

'Hermione and Ron are going together.' Draco raised his eyebrows. 'Don't say anything Draco, they're still my best friends you know.'

'Hey I thought I'd be your best friend now considering...'

'Well... yeah, but I've like... known them longer... and stuff.'

'Suppose,' Draco replied. They sat in silence for a few minutes, and in that moment Harry heard that voice again.

'It won't work.' He'd heard voices before and usually they were other people's voices in his head, but this sounded just like himself. It was quite unnerving.

Harry had that afternoon off and sat alone on his bed. He was trying to figure out what the voice meant. Hmmm, maybe it's trying to warn me against something, he thought. He lay back on his bed, head on his pillow. Warn me against what? he thought. He'd only heard it twice. Once in Charms when he was thinking about Draco and him at the ball, and the other time when he was talking to Draco by the tree. Harry's great sense of logic told him that it'd probably be to do with Draco, but why wouldn't it work.? He trusted Draco, but... he pondered the thought through dinner, but it was still unfinished. Until he suddenly said outloud,

'... but the Malfoy's don't trust us.' He looked around seeing the face's of Ron, Hermione and other surrounding Gryffindors staring confusedly at him.

Back in the dorm Ron questionned him about his outburst.

'What were you talking about at dinner? You were like, really quiet, then you suddeny said something about Malfoys not trusting us. Explain please.'

'Well I figured out that the voice in my head meant it wouoldn't work out between me and Draco.' Ron looked at him, more confused than ever.

'Wait. Voice in your head. You and Draco. What? Slow down explain.' Harry looked at him and took a deep breath.

'Ok, well I started hearing a voice in my head saying "It won't work". I tried to figure out what it meant and I think it means it won't work out between me and Draco.'

'Ohh. Ok now I understand. So are you going to dump him or something?' Ron tried to keep the pleasure out of his voice.

'I don't know. It was just a feeling. I don't even know if that's what it meant.'

'I think you should talk to Draco...I mean Malfoy.' Harry, too exhausted to notice the slip, collapsed onto his bed and soon after was asleep.

Saturday, the day of the ball, was a bustle of excitement for almost everyone. In the Gryffindor common room Harry and Ron were in an engaging game of wizard's chess and Hermione and Hinny were playing exploding snap, Hermione had been reading, but had given up because of the noise and excitement all around her.

Everyone was having a lazy morning. After the huge feast at lunch Ron went outside for a walk. The sky was overcast and there was a gust of wind blowing across the lake. He pulled his robes tighter around himself and walked towards the quidditch pitch.

As he lent back on one of the pillars inside he noticed someone on a broomstick in the air. They were too high up to make out. Ron slid down the post to sit on the floor. He watched the flyer for about ten minutes. He had to admit that the person was a pretty good flyer.

After a while Ron noticed that the flyer didn't seem to have an obvious purpose up there. Maybe they're thinking just like me, Ron thought. He continued to watch until he realised they were getting lower. The person was wearing cream trousers and a black shirt., and Ron came to a decision 'it' was a 'he'. Ron edged back into the shadows as the flyer nearred the ground. He landed grecefully and Ron watched him slick back his pale, blond hair.

'Oh my God,' he murmured. It was Malfoy. However Ron stayed hidden as Malfoy made his way to the edge of the pitch. Ron watched him pick up the water bottle off the floor and take a huge swig. Ron still couldn't believe he'd been sat here the last twenty minutes watching Draco flying. I even thought he was good, he thought.

Draco relished the cool water running down his parched throat. He'd been flying for must've been at least an hour. It had been nice to be able to just fly and have the wind blow all yourcares and burdens from your shoulders. It was relaxing and inspiring at the same time, if that could ever be done. What made it weird was that he's noticed a figure come onto the pitch and then watch him. He'd soon learnt that it was Ron and was now wondering why he was here. Once his thirst had been quenched he picked up his broom and wondered over to thr seated Ron. however Ron just watched him.

Ron didn't realise Draco knew he was there. He thought Draco had been oblivious to him. As Draco neared Ron stood to face him. To Ron's surprise Draco didn't come out with some cocky comment like he thought he would. Instead he said

'Hey Ron. Been entertaing you have I?' He didn't sound the least bit spiteful or sarcastic and Ron kept quiet. 'Um, this may be a bit challenging, but I'm going to try to be... er... friendly towards you. You know for Harry's sake.' Ron continued to stare at him. Then realised he had to respond.

'Er... yeah.' Annoyingly he couldn't seem to come up with a clever line to throw back at him, and scarily, as Ron looked at Draco's cool, grey eyes, he began to soo something of what Harry saw.

Draco looked at Ron warily. He clearly wasn't listening to what he was saying. So he just said,

'Ok, bye.' And turning he walked off back up towards the castle.

Ron watched him leave then turned back to face the quidditch pitch. What just happened there? he thought.