Alright, here's part 2 of the second ending. Again, it kind of looks like the first ending. But with a twist. And by the way, if you like Draco's part of the wedding scene, you should read "Before the Fall", my other story. It's a short oneshot, but it was an ending the entire time.
Chapter 26
DRACO
I watched as she had her long, red hair brushed by her best friend, Granger. She looked nervous. She was still smiling though. She was smiling my smile. Her friend, of course, wouldn't know that. I couldn't believe this day had finally come. I had been dreading it for months.
I wasn't sure what she was thinking. She'd only been out of school for eight months and now she was marrying Potter? It seemed like she was rushing things. "Of course she was rushing things," I told myself, "Everyone was rushing things these days." Weddings were an everyday occurrence after all that had happened. I had seen Blaise marry Daphne, and Pansy marry Goyle, and I'd even heard that Weasley and Granger would be tying the knot soon. It wasn't every day that I watched the girl I loved get married though. But how dare she smile my smile when she was marrying him? It was more than I could bear.
I hadn't actually been invited to the wedding. I hadn't expected to be. Potter and I had hated each other all through school. She and I had been best friends though. I could remember our late night talks by the lake, sneaking around so people wouldn't find out we were friends, holding her when she cried, but mostly I remembered her laugh. And her smile, my smile. It should have been me she was marrying. I wish I could take back all the awful words I said to her the last time we had talked. I knew it was that that had finally driven her into his waiting arms. I remembered that last battle, when I had called her a blood traitor. I didn't think we had a future at the time. But then my family was pardoned. But would her family have ever accepted me? I didn't know.
I climbed a tree to get a better view of the wedding. I was high enough so they couldn't see me, but I could see them. Thanks to the Sonorus charm used, I could even hear the wedding. Leaning back against the tree, I brushed my hair out of my face. The music was starting. Potter was standing by the altar, Weasley at his side. I saw Potter's face change as his bride, my best friend, approached him. Though it killed me to admit it, I knew he really did love her. He could keep her safer and happier than I could. Well, he could keep her safer than I could, I amended. I knew I could make her happiest, but as long as she was happy with him, I couldn't find it in me to begrudge her.
Then the oddest thing happened. The priest said something along the lines of "If anyone objects to this union, let him speak now, or forever hold his piece," or some such nonsense. I thought about objecting, but I realized I wasn't in a position to object. The only reason I was even here was because Longbottom had sent me an owl. But as the priest was about to proceed, Neville Longbottom stood up.
NEVILLE
"I object," I said. Everyone stared at me. I had looked around and seen Draco Malfoy up a tree just to see the wedding. It was now or never for him.
"Neville?" Ginny seemed so confused.
GINNY
"Neville?" What was he doing? I thought we had gotten past this. I really thought he liked Luna now. So why was he objecting to my marrying Harry?
"I object on the grounds that Ginny doesn't love him," he began, "She did once, mind you, but then he left. When he left, Ginny stayed behind and waited for him for a while. Then she decided to move on with her life. She fell in love with someone else, and for her to marry Harry would be wrong for her," he smiled at me as he sat back down.
I blinked. Harry was staring at me. I had never told him about Draco. I had never told anyone who hadn't known at the time. Neville was right though. This wasn't right. But, if I couldn't be happy, then at least Harry should be.
"Gin?" Harry said, "Is that true? Did you fall for someone else while I was gone?" he didn't sound angry, just concerned.
"Yes," I replied shakily, "But that doesn't matter now because it's over."
"What if it didn't have to be?" a clear, velvety voice spoke. I turned around to see Draco Malfoy standing at the end of the aisle.
"What?" I couldn't breathe.
DRACO
"What if it didn't have to be over?" I looked at her and we stared for a moment. I must have looked a mess. My hair was falling from climbing down the tree so quickly. It had taken me a second to realize why Longbottom had interrupted the priest. He had known I was there and was giving me my last chance at Ginny. Ginny just stared at me like I was a ghost. I noticed that she still was wearing the necklace I gave her.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy?" Ron said.
"Longbottom told me," I shrugged. Then I walked up the aisle and Ginny slowly approached me.
"You ended it though," she said, on the edge of tears.
"Ginny Weasley," I began, "I have never regretted a moment in my life more. I've done many things worth regretting: taking the Mark, agreeing to kill, among so many other things, but the one thing I can't forgive myself for is letting you go. I've spent the last several months trying to figure out how to win you back. I still love you, Gin. So, here I am, in front of all of your friends and family, hoping that you will at least take a moment to think about whom you're marrying and if it's the right choice for you."
GINNY
The right choice for me? Since when had that mattered to me? I had already accepted that I wouldn't be happy again. But, did that mean Harry shouldn't be? Didn't he deserve happiness?
I stared at Draco. Here he was, standing in front of me, declaring that he loved me in front of a crowd of people who would love nothing more than to slaughter him as part of the festivities. And he wasn't asking me to forgive him or take him back or anything. He just wanted me to think about what would make me happy.
I turned to Harry.
"I'm sorry," I said, "I can't marry you."
"Because of Malfoy?"
"No," I hadn't decided about Draco yet, "Because it wouldn't be fair to you, Harry. You deserve someone who will love you and make you happy."
"But, Ginny, you make me happy," he started.
"But, Harry, think about years from now. Do you think we'll be happy? I mean, let's say we're seeing off our kids on their way to Hogwarts. Where do my dreams fit into that? I can't ask you to marry me. I loved you once, but now you're more like family."
"Ginny, I, I don't know what to say. I do love you, and I want to be a part of your family. I only left because I had to," he said.
"But, Harry, I need someone to love me despite my family. I can't be a means to an end," Harry just looked at me and then turned and walked away. Ron followed him and Hermione hesitated, looked at me, and left with them. I turned to Draco.
"Are you happy now?"
"No, Ginny, I'm not. I don't like seeing you upset, and I can tell that that was painful for you to do. I am happy that you're not marrying him, though. I won't deny that."
"So, what's your next move? Sweep me off my feet and then ask me to marry you and we get engaged? Again?" I added as an afterthought. His eyes got really wide and I realized what I had just said in front of my entire family.
"GINEVRA MOLLY WEASLEY! WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'AGAIN'?"
Crap.
So, I needed that moment of "Oops." Because I would totally do something like that. What did you think?
