The Trouble with Love Is

Standard disclaimers apply. I will never be JKR, though I wish I could be Jessica so I could knock some sense into her mummy's head. :)

"Harry? I was thinking about a few things last night about our relationship," a distracted Ginny Weasley said happily as she waved her wand. "It's been a long time since we actually 'went' out with other people for fun, so I was thinking about going to that new club with Neville and Ron Saturday. That okay with you? It would be a lot of fun." The laundry in front of her folded itself. Harry Potter sat on the love seat across from her, his ears blocking out every sound. "We really should do something with this place, too," she added, scrutinizing the place where the portrait of the late Mrs. Black once stood. "A lot of thinking would have to go into it, though." Noticing that Harry wasn't listening, she said softly, "Harry, earth to Harry?" The man in question looked at her with blank eyes. Ginny sighed.

Are you listening to me? I was saying how much renovation needs to be done with this place. Either that, or we could move into that empty cottage by Bills. He says if we wanted it, we could get it for the right price. You don't thinking about living in here-" she looked at him oddly, "forever, do you?" Clicking her tongue thrice, she levitated the clothes, then followed behind as she made her way up the stairs. Harry shook his head quickly.

Oh how often this conversation took place. Harry knew that Ginny was growing restless inside #12 Grimmauld Place and preferred to live in her own house. He could agree with her at some angles, but this place was at the perfect spot. It was convenient, being that close to the Ministry and Ron and Hermiones flat three blocks away. It was home for the time being.

For an hour, Harry helped her clean. No one had lived in the house since he, along with Ron and Hermione, used the place as their hiding spot two years ago. Doxies returned to the curtains, dust mites and bugs littered the corners of the house itself. The furniture was partially worn to the springs underneath, and it was, overall, almost a hovel in appearance.

After refinishing all of the cupboard doors in the kitchen, he glanced at the clock nearest to him. Just about six. Harry walked upstairs and into the room with their door ajar. It was the master bedroom of the house, originally belonging to late Mr and Mrs Black. An old, medieval style looking bed was in the center of the plush carpet. Rich green curtains fell from their hangings, covering the inside of the bed with precaution. Harry frowned. The curtains were not usually down like this unless they were asleep or hiding. He threw one aside.

Ginny, along with her wand and wash rag, laid peacefully atop the dark blue duvet. Her face was crashed into the expensive fabric adorning the ivory pillows. Their baby tabby kitten was curled up next to her. It was such a peaceful sight, one that Harry almost felt ashamed for intruding upon. Yet he couldn't help but feel slightly pained at seeing her fiery red hair mussed across the sheets. He slid the curtains back to their original place and out of the room he went.

Harry walked down to the kitchen, half expecting Kreacher to be making dinner for the three of them. But the dark room was empty. He quickly lit a few candles before turning his back at the sound of a coughing noise. Kreacher stood there complacently, a beautiful white owl resting on the elfs arm. Lunes, he realized, Hermiones owl. She flew at him, circling around him as Harry stepped forward to untie the scroll attached to her leg. Giving the elegant snowy owl a treat from the counter, Lunes flew off into the fireplace. Harry smiled. Unraveling it, he could see Hermiones handwriting flow across the parchment in iridescent red, while Kreacher sunk lazily into the shadows.

July 12, 2000

Harry,

Having the time of my life in Rome, as if you didn't know already. We're learning so much about the Roman history, and how magic greatly influenced everything that went around. But oh, Harry, I wish you two guys were here! Ginny too, of course. Venice would have to be my favorite, however. The architecture was just astounding. On another note, how's your Auror training going? It has to be ten times harder than my medical course work, but I know you can do it. You didn't take Voldemort down for nothing, did you?

I helped find a new cure today, Harry, it was so fantastic. This is the reason why I went into the medical field. The joy and satisfaction after finding something that will help millions of people is fulfilling. It's like drugs, only better. You can understand that, I'm sure. We went through lots of it over the years. But you are where you need to be- helping cleaning up the world of evil.

Have you seen Ron? He hasn't been answering any of my owls recently, or any of them, I'm afraid, so I was wondering if anything happened to him. George hasn't been too hard on him, has he? We can't forget the Canary Cream incident last winter. Or the time he nearly killed the cat. Anyway, I'll be home late Saturday evening. I can't wait to see you!

Love Always, Hermione

Harry stuck the letter inside his pocket with a smile. A trickle of warmth shot through him pleasantly. He, too, couldn't wait to see her. For the past year, Hermione had been studying abroad in Italy for some medical research program. They were having a secret welcome home party at the Burrow for her that night. With all of the things going on in his life, he hadn't written to her as much as he liked, but apparently more than Ron. He thought of this odd, as Ron was usually very clingy to Hermione. But a distraction from his train of thought arrived in his girlfriend coming down the stairs. Ginny took both of his hands tenderly.

"Hey," she said softly. "Should we start getting ready for the party? It's at seven, and you know Hermione's nothing but punctual." Ginny chuckled. "Anyhow, let's do this." Harry grasped her hand, and slung his other one around her waist.

"Yes, let's."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

By six thirty, everything was in full swing. Harry and Ginny showed up in good time, laughing together as they saw Ron streak across the yard with something resembling a rabbit on his head. Inside was even more of a laugh. Streamers in different colors were strung from one wall to the other, a banner screaming out, "Welcome home, Hermione!" when someone walked past them. Molly had everything from treacle tart to a large turkey sitting on the buffet table set up in the kitchen. Noise came from every corner.

Noticing George sitting on the arm of the couch, Ginny dragged Harry over to him. "Do you have anything to do with that thing sitting on Rons head?" she said with a twinkle in her eye. "Something like, I don't know, a rabbit?" George just nodded. Nothing special, no words, just a nod. It had been that way ever since Fred died. He was a half, no longer a whole. Harry knew what he felt like to a lesser degree.

"Harry!" Ron clamped a hand over his shoulder while balancing the large bunny rabbit hat on his head. "That wanker had it magically glued down," he explained at his best friends confused look. "Isn't it great that Hermione's coming home today, after being gone for a year? It'll be great to see her in the flesh." He wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

"Especially since you haven't written to her at all," Harry retorted quietly, wishing he hadn't said it the moment the phrase left his mouth. Ginny shot him a look, and Ron looked guilty.

"Yeah, well, things happen. I was on the road a lot with the team, and there's a lot of things we need to work out when she's back. I don't want to go into detail on my scandalous deed that she obviously sung to you in sonnets." Ron rolled his eyes and entered the mass of people moving their way. Ginny turned on him.

"Listen, Harry, don't. Ron's in an odd place right now, and I don't think he was comfortable about it. Talking to your lover over just letters for a year would be hard. And I know he didn't write to her, but come on, you know he did it to protect themselves from hurt. So drop it. You won't get anywhere." She removed her arm from his and went over to her mother. Molly Weasley looked at his fondly. He returned to smile.

"Wait, she's coming!" someone whisper-shouted. "Hide!" All of the lights were extinguished, everyone hiding behind some kind of furniture. Harry situated himself behind the rocking chair. His heart was beating wildly. This was Hermione, coming home after a long, well deserved break. The door creaked, forcing some moonlight into the darkened room.

He had to force back any sound that might have protruded from his mouth as Hermione flicked loose locks of brown away from her face. She almost looked like a new person that he didn't know- her face was full of mixed emotions, two he recognized as subtle anger and apprehension. Her hair was half up, but what surprised him the most was her posture. Slumped over, uncaring, and other things that were not the woman he knew and loved.

"Hello?" Hermione called softly. "Is anyone.. home?" Candles suddenly flickered, and everything rushed to life. "Welcome home, Hermione," they all chanted at once. At the sight of so many people she fumbled with her things and laughed.

"You didn't need to do this! You're going to make me cry." Harry stepped out from below the chair. Dark brown met green across the room, and all became quiet. It was as if all of them were spectators in an arena. Hermiones appearance did a complete back flip. She stood up straight, her eyes sparkling as she broke into a natural smile, dropped her bag, and ran at him. Harry almost lost his footing as she flung her arms around him happily. It was normal, not awkward in the slightest. He leaned into her. She breathed into his ear, "It's so great to see you again. I have so much to tell you."

"It's great to have you home." Harry looked over her shoulder to see Ron, Ginny, and Mrs Weasley peering suspiciously at him. The rest of the crowd was filling their plates. Feeling quite hot under their gazes, he broke himself away. Hermione then turned. Her expression seemed to harden when her eyes fell on Ron, but she walked toward him anyway. She put on a fake smile.

"Ron," Hermione said stiffly right in front of him. He looked at her, his smile dropping with each moment. Finally, Ron broke the tension by embracing her. Harry pulled Ginny over to him instinctively, who was peering at the sight.

"Don't do anything to set them off," he whispered into her ear. Ginny just smiled at him innocently. Harry tried very hard not to roll his eyes. Once a gossiper, always a gossiper.

"So, Hermione," the redhead began, twirling a curl around her finger, "how was Italy? Harry told me that you said the food was really great, and the program showed you a lot. But was there anyone special over the course of the year?" Her tone was almost mischievous. "Someone... someone like a guy? Maybe a guy you know incredibly well?" Harrys grip on her arm tightened that much more. Hermione looked at her strangely.

"Er, no," she said quickly. Perhaps a little too quickly. Ginny stared her down. "I mean, I'm not that kind of person, Ginny, if that's what you're saying," Hermione explained. Scarlet started to tinge her cheeks violently. "No one special in that way, but yes, I did make friends. I'll see them quite a bit as the program furthers back at home." Ginny was not fighting hard to hide her devious look.

"No, I wasn't implying that at all." It was clear to both Hermione and Ron that that was exactly what she was conveying. "Just wondering." Ginny wiped her hands on the periwinkle summer dress she wore. "Nothing but curiosity about what you were up to when you had some free time. You had to be doing something." Hermione put up a smile in attempt to keep her feelings in check. Harry, too, was curious on her odd behavior about this.

"Anyway, Ginny," Hermione said abruptly, turning the conversation on them, "how was your year? It was unf0rtunate that I was unable to see the playoff match, but I couldn't get the time off. I heard it on the Wireless, though." Ginny nodded, disregarding that fact that Hermione hated Quidditch.

"It was, very. I couldn't believe it that we only lost over a penalty shot. So, so disappointing." She shook her head sadly, the carefully combed strands of hair flying. "But we can only get better from that," Ginny added brightly. "But more about your time in Rome. Some of your newfound friends live around here, do they not? You should invite them over, and we could see what happens under the twilight." Harry could see the glint in Ginnys eyes. He knew she was not trying to be hurtful or intending to make Ron blush a deep color of red, but it'd gone a bit too far.

"Let them be," he hissed. Louder, he added, "Ginny, why don't we go get our food?" She looked about ready to argue with him, but she wiped the dark look off of her face immediately and replaced it with a fake grin.

"Of course, Harry," Ginny said sweetly. "And why don't we go sit in the garden?" Her sarcasm was not missed on him. Harry, dragging Ginny along, walked straight out the front door, leaving a very confused Ron and a seething Hermione behind them. When they were out of earshot of any nightly stragglers, she turned on him. "How dare you?" she asked. "You just made me look like a fool. And it's bloody freezing out here!"

"You were acting like one," he said tensely. At her mention of cold weather, he draped his dark coat over her shoulders. "What were you thinking, asking Hermione about romantic entanglements she might or might have had in her year in Rome, let alone with your brother standing right there? That was cruel, Ginny."

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm just looking out for him!" Ginny shouted. She shrugged off the coat, letting it fall to the ground. "If Hermione was unfaithful, he deserves to know about it. She can't keep something like this bottled up, if you know what I mean. I told you about that drunken kiss between Neville and me last year, and well, you would do the same, right? I'm not trying to make her look like a fool, just giving her the chance to confess anything that might have happened in a calm fashion." She exhaled a long breath. Ginny stared at him, as if she was noticing something for the first time. Harry steeled himself for what could become of that. "I suppose I can't be mad at you for looking out for Hermione. But honestly Harry, never drag me around like that again. I'm not your slave." She gave him a scathing look before reentering the lively house. Her cloaks swished behind her.

Harry watched her, and when Ginny was out of sight, he kicked the ground angrily. This stage of their relationship was definitely not going as planned.