Chapter 2

What was supposedly the best day of her life and the worst of his turned out to be exactly that. She had asked him if he wanted to be invited, and he respectfully declined. However, her future husband had insisted on inviting him – since he was such a good friend of hers and all. He made an excuse – unavoidable family commitments – and sent the happy couple his best wishes. The morning of the big day arrived and he decided he couldn't sit around and just allow this to happen, so he grabbed his broom, ran out the house and flew all the way to her childhood home.

When he arrived, the Weasley men were assembling a marquee. He waved hello to George, whom he had played Quidditch alongside at school, but otherwise kept going. He wasn't sure he could stomach talking to the family of the bride whom he was about to try and steal away. He knocked on the door, which was answered by a woman who could only be her mother. He introduced himself, explained that he couldn't stay for the wedding, but had dropped by to see the bride before he had to leave. The kind older woman let him in, asking no questions other than 'Would you like a cup of tea, dear? Perhaps a spot of breakfast?' He couldn't take her up on that offer, as famished as he was. He was here to try and, essentially, ruin everybody's day. It would just be plain rude to ask for hospitality whilst he did so.

"She's upstairs dear. Third door on your right."
"Thank you." He nodded graciously, a knot forming in his stomach. He couldn't believe he was doing this.

He knocked on the third door on the right and was promptly given permission to enter.

"Can you give us a minute Hermione?" She asked in a tone that suggested it wasn't actually a question. The other woman took her leave and closed the door behind her. "What the hell are you doing here?" She looked beautiful. Angry, but beautiful. "We spoke about this last week Olly."
"I know, I'm sorry. I'm not staying. I just had to see you." He felt so stupid being here. Of course she wouldn't leave with him.
"I'm glad you came." She stood and closed the gap between them. She placed one hand on his chest and allowed his thumping heartbeat to calm her down. She looked at him, her engagement ring and her wedding dress, wishing so desperately that the three came as a package deal. She didn't say what she was thinking, but if he had asked her again to run away with him, she would have done it without so much as a second thought. "Does Harry know you're here?"
"I haven't seen him, only your brothers and parents."
"In that case I don't feel so bad about doing this." Even in her heels, she had to stretch to kiss him. For the first time since he was thirteen years old, he felt himself on the verge of tears. He felt robbed of an opportunity. It should be him elsewhere in the house getting ready to greet her at the other end of the aisle, not Potter.

They broke apart in due time, although neither of them wanted to. It wasn't supposed to, but this felt like a goodbye to the both of them.
"Ginny Weasley, I," he couldn't get the words out for fear of the tears that would come with them.
"I know." She reassured him. "I know you do." She couldn't bring herself to say it back, then it really would be a goodbye – and this definitely wasn't a goodbye.

They hugged for a long time, neither wanting to be the one to break it up. However, eventually they had to, as someone knocked on the door.
"Come in." She called. It was the same woman who had left them earlier.

"I don't want to rush you Gin, but Fleur wants to get started on your hair and I can only say 'five more minutes' so many times."
"It's okay," he spoke when she didn't. "I'm just leaving anyway. You look beautiful Ginny. Congratulations." And with that he left. She sat back down on the chair and wiped away the tears from her eyes.
"Right, tell Fleur she can get at my hair." She spoke before the other woman could ask her what was wrong.