A/N: To James Blunt's 'Goodbye My Lover'


Did I disappoint you?

Or let you down?

Harry and Ginny strolled into the plush expanse of one the many shops they frequented in the course of redecorating their beautiful apartment. There were many elegant portraits hanging on the walls and an assortment of beautiful sculptures, pots and trinkets were placed in beautiful abandonment around the shop. Harry led his wife to a luxurious red velvet couch, when she protested irritably he simply shook his head in wonder and stroked the large bump on her stomach contentedly.

Should I bee feeling guilty?

Or let the judges frown?

Harry meandered around the room gingerly fingering some lavish item or other and ran his hand through his hair, bemused at Ginny's insistence to redecorate.

'Cause I saw the end

Before we'd begun

Then he saw her. She was turned away from him, but her porcelain face was thrown over her shoulder in an enrapturing smirk he could not place. Her fuchsia dress was silky and backless and her feet were bare, but her hands were covered to the elbow in black silk gloves. Her hair fell in a dark chocolate cascade. She was without doubt the most beautiful woman Harry had ever seen.

Yes I saw you were blinded

And I knew I had won

Harry, as if pulled by a Veela's charm, walked to the woman, who just stood there, with her head thrown over her shoulder, smirking at him. When he reached her realisation suddenly dawned on him, she was a portrait.

So I took what's mine

By eternal right

I took you soul out into the night

Harry called for the shopkeeper and pointed to a haphazard assortment of items and then, feigning nonchalance, Harry pointed to the portrait. The shopkeeper smiled at him forlornly, knowingly.

It may be over but I won't stop there

I am here for you

If you'd only care

Harry hung the portrait in his study the second he got home. Ginny smiled and intoned that the girl's dress brightened the room, and then retreated to their bed room, slightly nauseous due to her pregnancy.

You touched my heart

You touched my soul

You changed my life and all my goals

Harry haunted his study obsessively over the next few weeks under the guise of "work" but simply sat staring at the beautiful girl. She continued to smirk with her strange smile. He wasted hours trying to pinpoint the expression. She looked as if she had just engaged in amorous activity with her lover. Yet she also had a sadness tainting the deep brown pools that were her eyes.

And love is blind,

But that I knew

When my heart was blinded by you

Ginny gave birth a while later and Harry tore himself from the presence of the ethereal woman and tended to Ginny and cooed over his beautiful son, all the while itching to return to the portrait.

I've kissed you lips

And held your hand

I've shared your dreams

I've shared your bed

His mania over the portrait drove him back to the store where to his delight there was another portrait of the beautiful girl. She wore a deep blue velvet dress and matching gloves. She was looking off into the distance, with the same anomalous expression. He purchased it without hesitation. Once again, the shopkeeper smiled with an empathetic expression.

I know you well

I know your smell

I've been addicted to you

Eventually Harry had filled his entire study with portraits of the beautiful wraithlike figure. He banned Ginny from entering his study and boarded himself in with the portraits.

I am a dreamer and when I wake

You can't take my spirit

It's my dreams you take

One day a letter came to invite him to a ball held by the creator of the masterpieces. He attended only in hope of being able to attain another portrait. Harry apparated to the location, leaving Ginny at home alone with their son.

And as you move on,

And he saw her.

Remember me

Remember us and all we used to be

She was standing with her back to him, her head thrown over her shoulder in the backless fuchsia dress and black gloves. She smirked at him, but it was tainted with such a pain that Harry's heart ached.

I've seen you cry

I've seen you smile

That night Harry did not return to his home, to Ginny, to the child. Instead he booked a hotel and spent the night in frenzied passion with the girl, who was immensely more alluring in real life. It was not until the sobering dawn hit and he woke in bed, alone, did he wonder why she removed all clothing but her gloves.

I've watched you sleeping for a while

I'd be the father of your child

I'd spend a life time with you

Harry ran home frantically back to the portraits to see if his dark fears were accurate. He ran into his study to find Ginny weeping on the floor, under the many portraits. He pushed her out violently then began screaming for the portrait to take off her gloves.

I know your fears

And you know mine

The beautiful girl stared at him, with a heart-wrenching melancholy and slowly obliged.

We've had our doubts

But now we're fine

Harry gaped at the red slashes across her wrists marring a disgusting black tattoo which looked like silk imbedded into her skin- the dark mark.

And I love you

I swear that's true

Harry ran to the shop keeper demanding to know where the girl lived.

I cannot live without you

"She died during the final battle. After you killed he who must not be named, she killed herself. She was his betrothed."

And I still hold your hand in mine

In mine when I'm asleep

Harry stood at the beautiful cemetery on the jagged cliff overlooking the sea.

And I will bare my soul in time

When I'm kneeling at your feet

He broke down his tears pooling on her gravestone, derisively pondering the bitter red irony. He laughed scathingly at the heavens and cursed God with all his might. He cursed God for the fate of the beautiful girl, for his insanity and for wrenching his soul mate from this world, before he'd even met her.

Goodbye my lover

Good bye my friend

You have been the one

You have been the one for me

With one final brash, reverberating laugh, he threw the portraits over the cliff and disapparated before they hit the jaws of the ravenous waves.