Prologue:
"I love you," he whispered into her sweet-smelling hair while his arms were wrapped around her waist. Everything was perfect in this moment. He had the girl of his dreams in his arms, the sun was setting, and the lake looked like a sort of rainbow with all the sun's colors reflected in it—the only source of color in a field of white.
"I know." Ginny lifted her head off his chest and smiled, "I love you, too." She dropped her arms from around his waist and walked closer to the edge of the dock. Her life was utterly at peace. A war may have been raging, but as long as it never reached Hogwarts, it didn't really matter. Their peace wouldn't be disturbed.
Draco walked over to her and said, "I have something for you, an early Christmas present."
She pouted, "But I didn't get you anything."
He smiled, "I didn't expect you to." Then, he revealed a small, gold locket from his pocket. It wasn't very extravagant, its surface was plain, except for two engraved cursive letter, DG.
Ginny was awed; it was so lovely. She reached for it and opened the heart. Inside was one picture of Draco giving her a peck on the lips and the other was a picture of them laughing and smiling together. She handed the locket back, twirled around so her back was facing him, and lifted up her long hair. He gently put the locket around her alabaster neck and clasped it.
She let down her ruby hair and faced him with a glittering smile. Then, after, quickly touching her lips to his, sprinted away and yelled back, "Catch me if you can!"
Draco laughingly chased after her.
*******
Remembering that time of bliss and simplicity brought a smile to Draco's lips, but not his eyes, for he had realized that happiness like that never lasts. He also realized that if he had truly caught Ginny, had captured her heart, they wouldn't be standing here now, months later, having this awful conversation. But maybe that also meant she hadn't fully captured his heart either because if two people were truly, completely, hopelessly in love they wouldn't let a war come between them.
These musings were pointless now. Their break-up was inevitable. The war had reached Hogwarts and they were fighting on opposite sides. The only logical thing to do was end it, but he couldn't help thinking that if perhaps they had truly loved each other something could've been worked out.
Ginny tore into his thoughts with bitter words she could only whisper, "We both knew it couldn't last. A Malfoy and a Weasley just don't belong together."
Draco looked down and nodded. Yes, even if they had worked something out, they would have broken it off eventually and sooner was better than later—less painful. He looked back up, and stared into her eyes. "I'll always remember though, what might've been if the world had never interfered." He walked over to her, wrapped his arms around her small frame, stole one last, soft kiss and then walked away without looking back.
Once he was gone, Ginny finally opened the locket she had been toying with during that painful exchange. She saw the beautiful, joyful faces, and couldn't help but choke on a sob and let tears gracefully fall down her pale cheeks. How had this happened? How had something so wonderful turned into something so tragic? How could something so perfect be ruined in just a few seconds?
Ginny laughed and admonished herself after that thought. She should know by now nothing in the world is ever perfect.
"We take as much perfection as we can get and go one with our lives," she spoke with a scornful edge to her voice.
A few glistening tears slipped out after that bitter thought, but she was quick to halt their flow. There was no sense in crying. What's done is done. She could get past this. She had a war to fight. She would always have the memories even though she could never have the man.
A/N: so this is my first fanfic ever so I hope you liked it. Tell me if I should continue and please tell me what I should fix or could do better. Oh, and I'm disregarding most of book 7. If anyone's interested in beta-ing please tell me, in a PM or review. Thanks for reading!
