Charlotte stood outside the pub, taking a deep breath. "Pull yourself together, girl. You've got to do this," she thought to herself, tugging down the edge of her dress. She closed her eyes, thinking of her boyfriend, Draco Malfoy. He was so perfect, with his pale blond hair, porcelain skin that a blemish never touched, his Quidditch chiseled body, down to his…well. She smiled, thinking of what they had done the night before. The smile disappeared just as quickly as she thought about why she was here.
She opened the door to the pub and coughed once at the smoke in the air. She looked around quickly and spotted the red hair that she was looking for. Ginny Weasley sat at the bar, talking amiably to the barkeep and sipping her drink. Charlotte steeled herself and walked to the bar, thinking about what she would say.
She reached Ginny sooner than she wanted to and tapped her on the shoulder. Ginny looked up at her, confused. "You don't know me, but I know who you are. Mind if I sit down?" Ginny shook her head. "Do I look familiar?" Ginny shook her head again and Charlotte took a deep breath before continuing. "If I don't, well I should. I'm sure you've seen me around. I know you've probably heard my name, though we've not been introduced. I'm the fool in love with the fool who's still in love with you." Charlotte extended her hand
She saw realization dawn in Ginny's eyes as she took her hand. "Charlotte, right?"
Charlotte nodded her head, knowing she had to get it all out before she lost her nerve. "If you've got a minute, I'll buy you a drink. I've got something to say. It might sound crazy, but last night in his sleep, I heard him call out your name. This isn't the first time; he's done it before. And it's hard to face the truth. But I'm fool in love with the fool who's still in love with you. I know love is a fragile thing. And I'm trying hard to make it last. But it isn't easy holding onto my dream when he's holding onto the past."
Ginny stared at her, at a loss for words. Charlotte knew she should go, before she embarrassed herself further, but she had to finish what she came to say. "Just one more thing, before I go. I'm not here to put you down. You don't love him, that's a fact. Girl I've seen you around." She felt the tears in her eyes coming, and she looked away as she finished, "But you hold his heart in the palm of your hand, and it's breaking mine in two. I'm the fool in love with the fool, who's still in love with you." With that she turned, tears streaming down her face, leaving Ginny speechless behind her.
As Charlotte stepped into the night she wiped her tears away and Apparated to hers and Draco's flat to pack. She left him a note explaining why she had left, and she set off to start a life where she could love someone who would return her love.