Disclaimer – I own nothing. J.K. Rowling is the owner of all. Except the title, that comes from a song by The Fray.

Ginny sat waiting patiently, spinning her butter beer bottle in a slow circle. A man with untidy black hair suddenly burst through the door, looking rather out of breath, and made his way to her table in the back of the pub.

"Hey, Gin, sorry I'm late."

"It's all right, I'm just glad I got to see you before you left on another assignment."

"I've taken a teaching job at the Auror Training Academy, actually."

"Oh? That's nice," she said. It was then that he noticed her puffy, bloodshot eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Don't lie, Gin, you've been crying. What's wrong?"

"Please…let's just catch up, ok? I haven't seen you in forever," she pleaded.

He gave her a look.

"All right, four months then. It seems like forever," she replied.

"I know," he whispered. "So…how are the wedding plans?"

She sighed. "All right I guess. We decided to move the date up to next month and have a much smaller affair. You'll be able to make it, won't you?"

"I wouldn't miss it. So is the wedding what's stressing you?"

"Not exactly."

She fidgeted in her seat.

"Your mum giving you a hard time?" He asked.

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "No. She wasn't too pleased but she said she's just happy that I finished school and that the war ended first."

He tilted his head to the side. "She doesn't like Seamus does she?"

She stared down at the large solitaire engagement ring on her left hand, spinning it round and round. "No, she always had it in her head I'd marry you."

"Funny, so did I," he replied.

She jerked her head up to look at him. "What?" She asked.

"I know we only dated a few months, but I always thought if I survived the war we might could pick back up where we left off. I guess I was wrong…"

"He doesn't want the baby," she blurted, attempting to change the subject.

"What?" Harry asked.

"He doesn't want the baby," she repeated.

"Is he trying to get you to get rid of it?"

"No, he knows better than to ask me to do that. Though I thought he was going to call off the engagement…."

"And you're marrying him why?" He asked, leaning toward her.

"I love him."

"Do you really?"

She looked away, refusing to meet his eyes. "He's the dad," she said quietly.

"No, he's not." Harry replied, voice harsh.

"I think I would know," she said, matching his tone.

"If he doesn't want a child you both created then he isn't a dad, he's a sperm donor." Harry said.

Ginny laughed, a quick, bitter burst of sound. "Well what's done is done, I guess. We're getting married in a month."

He stared at her. "You don't want to."

She met his eyes at last. "It doesn't matter what I want."

"Doesn't it?" he mused.

"No, it doesn't, not anymore."

The spinning ring stopped and she rested her hands on the table.

"When did it stop mattering?" He asked.

"Down by the lake at the end of my fifth year. It didn't matter what I wanted then, and it doesn't matter now."

"It could matter again, if you wanted it to." Harry said.

"I wish I could just pack up and leave. We've been sharing a flat for a while now…I hate it."

"Then do it."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

She shook her head, long hair flying. "I have obligations."

"To whom?"

She flung her hands into the air. "Everyone."

He studied her for a moment. "You don't have to stay trapped."

She sighed, "Yes, I do. I can't raise this baby on my own."

"Then don't. Come marry me."

"What?" She yelled.

"Come marry me."

"Are you out of your mind?" She asked him.

"No." He said.

She leaned back, shaking her head.

"How could you ask me that? We aren't even dating! I'm pregnant with another man's child!"

"Come away with me, then," he said softly.

"But…why?"

"You aren't happy here. I can make you happy," he pleaded.

"You're talking crazy. Things haven't been like that between us in years." She said.

He stared down at the ring, at the constant reminder that she belonged to another man. "Sometimes I hate myself for that. I see your swollen stomach and all I can think is 'I wish it were mine.' Then I hear you say that the father doesn't even want the baby and I get so angry…he's throwing away what I would give anything to have." He whispered. "I love you, Ginny."

"No…you don't…you can't…not anymore." She said, voice faint.

"Oh but I do and I can." He said, his voice rising as he continued. "I wish I had fought for you when I came back. I did ask you out once and you turned me down. Why?"

She bit her bottom lip and her eyes began to shine with tears. "Because I can't stand the thought of losing you if it doesn't work," she whispered. "I lost you once...I couldn't go through that again."

He reached across the table and took her hand. "You wouldn't lose me." He said, voice soft once more.

"Yes, I would." A single tear escaped to spill down her cheek.

"No, you wouldn't, because it'll work."

She pulled her hand back and wiped the tear away. "You can't know that."

"Trust me. Come away with me. I'll take care of you. I'll love you and the baby. I'll treat him or her just like they are mine. If you don't like my house I'll by a new one. I'll help you with the baby and you can be free to do whatever you like. Please, Ginny…just give me a chance."

She shook her head. He acted as if this was the simplest thing in the world. "Harry, I don't know…"

"Do you still love me?"

Silence.

"Here's my new address," he said, handing her a slip of paper. "If you want to, come. I have an extra bedroom you can stay in if you just want to get away from Seamus. Promise me you'll consider it?"

She nodded as he handed her a cloth bag.

"That contains money. There's enough in there to take you wherever you want to go and get you started. Now you have options. If the path you choose doesn't include living with me, keep in touch." He stood up and kissed her on the cheek. "Bye, Gin, I love you."

She stared after him as the door closed and whispered, "I love you too."

A/N- Please read and review!!