Disclaimer: Nothing's mine!

A/N: OMG I've just read through this story and it's so bad! To all my reviewers – THANK YOU SO MUCH for putting up with this, cos it really didn't turn out the way I'd originally planned... oh well... More you shall have!

Timra, duckiez143, Mars18, StarCrossedLovers: Aw, don't be too hard on Arthur. I didn't plan him to be that evil, just really traumatised, so he's unwilling to give people second chances anymore. You would be too, if all your sons and your wife were killed. But yeah, he's a bit hateable in this fic, isn't he? Sorry, Arthur... /faith is sheepish/

Memory – A Blessing

Promises Unbroken

"No, dad..."

Ginny barely had the strength to whisper those two words. The floor seemed to spin beneath her feet as she looked at her father's expression of utter indifference, and Draco, his expression like one she had never seen before, full of total, heart-wrenching regret. She felt faint and her body wanted to sag, but the binding spell held her fast, and she felt horribly sick instead.

This wasn't happening, they had only just found each other again, this couldn't be happening...

"Ginny, I was controlled! You know it! Believe me! Ginny... trust me."

Draco's words penetrated her stunned mind. She would not betray him by looking away now. She looked at him, their eyes meeting. Looking at his anguished, entirely honest expression as he was held to the spot, the tears started in her eyes, spilled over her eyelashes and fell down her cheeks. Draco was not insisting his innocence, was not begging for help. He just wanted her trust. And she would give it to him, one last time...

Just once, she nodded, praying that that one nod showed the unending, unbound trust they would always have. And that was enough for them both.

"Take him away," Arthur said quietly.

"This is your last shot, Weasley," Draco sneered, turning to him. "Just hope that this one works better than your other little idea."

"I said, take him away!"

"Draco, I love you!"

The men hesitated at her utterly wretched wail.

"Take him away!" Arthur shouted, losing his temper at last.

The lovers smiled waveringly at each other, knowing they would never stop loving one another, Ginny blinded by her tears, and Draco trying in vain to stop a single tear trickling down his own cheek. His words were simple, and he willed for all that he could not put into words to be understood, in this one final moment.

"Remember me."

She nodded, her hand moving automatically to the thin chain of the pendant at her throat.

They grabbed his arms, pulling him past her, and away from her, ripping them apart, ripping them in two... He struggled, a last minute of desperation, but he could not get free... Why wouldn't they let go...? One day together had not been enough, a lifetime together would not have been enough...

"No matter what I did, who I am or was, I love you, Ginny. Don't you ever forget that, even when they force me to!"

She was slipping now, a million miles away as they dragged him inexplicably away from her and towards the door, Ginny's own father pulling her back as she struggled, the tears now streaming down her cheeks... Why wouldn't Arthur just let go...? Just a few more moments, please...

"I'll never forget. As long as I breathe, I won't forget."

"Promise me, Ginny! Promise me you'll keep us alive!"

They were both crying now, as the gap between them was widened, crying for the future that would never happen now... No more time...

"I promise! I promise, Draco. I love you, I love you..."

"I'll always love you, Ginny. Always! Always..."

Another door opened in her mind, and Ginny remembered. She completed their old phrase, their unbroken promise despite it all, and even as Draco left her sight forever, completed their unbroken love.

"Forever..."

A/N: I'm so sorry guys, I know how much you all wanted a happy ending. I feel so bad now! But I assure you, it would have been rather terrible. I'm terrible at happy endings to long stories... I might do a sad little epilogue to this... but only if I get lots of reviews!!! mwahahahaha!!