They had met and loved in secret at first. But she wanted more than for it to be a secret. So they told some people and it eventually became schoolwide. The thought of that one person who would find out and use it to his advantage was the reason he asked her here, to meet in secret like they used to.
He hated to do it, but he had to end it. For her.
He had told her to meet her by the lake, as always before. She always came, and he loved her for that and so much more.
But tonight was different. Too many people knew about them, he had to do this to protect her.
Ginny...
His love-his only love. He already knew what her reaction would be if he had told her the real reason.
He imagined the fire and determination in her deep brown eyes he had seen before. The fire in her eyes that made her his Ginny. He knew what she would say, she had said it before.
"I don't care if You-Know-Who finds out, what if I want to take the risk? I just want to be with you..." Her voice was fierce, but her eyes pleading and vulnerable. She kissed him, the kiss demanding, sweet, begging.
He felt her presence.
"Harry...!" Ginny flung her arms around his neck and kissed him softly. "You haven't asked me to meet you here for a while, what's up?" She smiled and rubbed her cheek against his.
He was so bewildered at seeing her again he almost forgot why he asked her to meet him. Then it came to him. The reality of the situation brought a thick frostbite to the warmth of her love. Their love.
"Ginny...You know what I was meant to do. I need to destroy Voldemort. You-I-Us, we can't-" He struggled for the words as she read his expression.
"I thought you told me this before. You know I don't care, I want to be by your side, Harry!" She was on the verge of raising her voice. She didn't understand why he brought this up again. "I don't care if he finds out and tries to use me against you, I'll just-"
"Don't you get it, Ginny? I know this!" He was almost yelling at her.
She had dropped her arms so they hung limp and close to her sides. She clenched her fists.
"Then why won't you just give us a chance? Just tell me!" She raised her voice as well, looking into his eyes. Ginny saw frustration, pain, and something else she couldn't name. It hurt to see his eyes like that, so she looked down.
"You get in the way of my mission," he said shouted, blurting it out.
Her eyes widened. He sounded so blunt, so unlike the Harry Potter she knew. She never heard his voice like that, and that's what hurt the most.
"Liar," she whispered at first. "Liar!" She shrieked, her voice shaking. Her eyes stung with tears threatening to fall.
"You see? You made me yell at you for no good reason! This won't work!" He shouted again. He turned away from her, unable to look at her without breaking down or kissing her.
She covered her face with shaking hands, letting her tears fall down her cheeks.
"You don't mean that. Please, Harry look at me," she regained her strength, and her voice was unwavering.
He couldn't help but oblige. What he saw broke his heart.
She was standing so defiantly, yet she looked like a gust of wind could tear her down. Ginny's cheeks were tear stained but her expression was hard.
"Harry, you can't-I won't let-I love you!" She rushed to him, kissing his cheek and resting her forehead on his chest.
"I-I know," he said coolly.
"I guess this means we won't meet again," she whispered. She felt him nod.
She ran from him, away from the lake, away from the memories, away from her only love.
It took him all his willpower to not run after her, tell her he loved her too.
Why isn't he running after me? Why? I don't understand, she thought. She ran to that one place that had comforted her years before.
Harry gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry, Ginny. I swear if I survive, I'll come back and win your heart back. I love you too, Ginny," he said after she was long gone.
The Chamber of Secrets hadn't changed. This comforted her greatly in a way. She sank to her knees and cried all her tears.
"My dear Ginny...You cry such bitter tears," A voice spoke, echoing throughout the chamber.
"Wh-Who's there?" she asked, looking around.
"Don't tell me you haven't remembered your old friend Tom..." the voice said again.
Ginny's eyes widened.
"Ginny, did the Potter boy do this to you? You know you told me everything, and the only reason you cried was because of Harry Potter," the voice comforted her like it did so long ago.
"H-he did." She wiped her tears.
"Tell me everything..."
My one shot. If I get enough reviews, I'll write a sequel. I have it all planned out, and I plan on having all my stories finished by Christmas.