Author's Note: I'm back - by popular demand. 29 reviews in one day? Okay, I'm REALLY happy that that happened on this fic since I'm the craziest HG shipper there is out there. So anyway, I've decided to go ahead and write Bill and Fleur's wedding (as in the book Harry, Ron and Hermione said they wouldn't miss it even though they were leaving to go searching) and have a bit of HarryGinny sad fluff.

To answer a few questions brought up by reviewers, responses are at the end of the chapter.


Even though everything around me had seemed to be slowly slipping away; Harry, my brother's humour, Hermione's friendship, Bill getting married, Hogwarts...even my magical ability - I had to admit that I had done a good job enchanting our backyard for Bill and Fleur's wedding. So many spells used in such a short time did weaken me, but I didn't care. It was something for me to do, something to keep my mind off of Harry.

Hermione had written to me a few days before the wedding explaining how her parents had gotten married, it had been a Muggle backyard wedding. And thanks to her advice, our backyard now looked like a spring paradise - in spite of my emotions that had run cold in me the past weeks. I never even acted how I really felt anymore. Since Dumbledore's funeral two months ago and Harry's goodbye, I'd remained, in everyone's eyes, the strong willed Weasley.

Even though I felt like curling up in my room and shutting out all of reality until I could know that Harry would be there again, with me.

It had taken me all last night - enchanting the garden, that is. A few chairs were clustered with a small aisle separating them, the edges of the aisle adorned with flowers. A gazebo (another one of Hermione's Muggle items explained in her letter), a sort of fenced in area with a wooden roof carved in patterns, was situated at the end of the aisle, plenty of ribbons and flowers decorating the white washed wood.

Everything was in Fleur's favorite colors, naturally; gold satin, her fancy name for yellow (because pink would clash with my hair color), lavender and azure, translation from Fleurish: blue.

Bill couldn't have married a Brit? I thought wryly, knowing that I needed the lift in mood.

I looked over the backyard once more. I'd put up the illusion of a forest around the seating and beyond the aisle way that stretched to the limits of our backyard. It didn't look like a backyard anymore - it looked like the paradise I had promised Fleur for her wedding a week ago.

Now it was the morning of the wedding, and no one was up. I knew that because I hadn't slept all night - the sky was slowly changing to lighter shades of blue. My thoughts refused to stray away from the pang of regret I felt in my heart every time I thought about Bill and Fleur getting married. How she was going to marry him, though he would still fight in the Order and risk his life everyday, and how he still hadn't healed completely from his werewolf scars.

Phlegm - Fleur - loved my brother through and through, even if I found her annoying most of the time.

She was lucky to be getting a wedding as perfect as this, she was lucky to be getting married to the man she loved.

At least she got to be with the man she loved.


My enchanted backyard had surprised when the guests (the ones not participating in the ceremony) took their seats. Fred and George had shown up, (in black dragon skin), Fred escorting an old schoolmate of his, Angelina Spinnet, and George with Katie Bell as his date. Remus and Tonks were also there, holding hands, whom every time I saw made me remember Harry, and how we had once been able to be together.

Though I smiled when I saw Tonks's hair color - a neon shade of blue I knew would make Fleur annoyed. Charlie was also there with a woman I didn't recognize, and so were a few of Bill and Charlie's friends from Romania. Several members of the Order were in attendance as well, including Kingsley, Dawlish (believe it or not he and Bill had become friends while doing undercover work for the Order), and Professor McGonagall.

Gabrielle, Fleur's younger sister, and I were standing on one side of the gazebo, dressed in our gold satin dress robes while Harry and Ron stood opposite us, dressed in black robes. Gabrielle and I were Fleur's only bride's maids, I the Maid of Honor.

Bill had asked Ron to be his Best Man, with Harry as his other groomsmen. I knew that Bill had asked them so they could take their minds off everything else, and just enjoy the wedding.

Fleur looked even more beautiful in her lavender gown, her long silver hair flowing past her shoulders, and her sparkling crown atop her head, (made of course by the best, she had gotten her Goblin crown for her wedding.)

Harry had arrived the night before with my brother and Hermione. Everyone seemed unsure of the understanding Harry and I had come to two months before. All I told my family was that Harry needed to go after Voldemort, with Ron and Hermione - and that I understood he had to do this on his own, with the help of his two best friends.

To my relief they had not pushed the matter, though I think even with the appearance of me being fine with it Bill saw through my facade. And it was probably because he was so (to my annoyance) in love with Fleur, enough to recognize how much pain I was in because I loved Harry.

I hated that Bill could see that, and I loved him for not saying anything to anyone, or confronting me about it.

But now that Harry was back for the first time in two months, with the exception of a few letters from Hermione written in code (in case of interception), I don't think anyone knew what was going to happen between us.

I had put on a brave face at Dumbledore's funeral, and lived with the fact for two months that Harry, my brother, and Hermione were out there searching for the very definition of evil risking their lives. My heart couldn't hear those words from Harry's mouth a second time - I would buckle under my emotions - that I was sure of.

And my strength to remain the strong willed Weasley nearly slipped when I saw Harry walk out into the backyard, dressed in his black robes. He'd been gone for two months, though it seemed like he had aged two years. His green eyes, so piercing before, now seemed dull and tired. His hair was wind blown as ever, though his skin seemed paler.

And all this time what had I been doing? Chores around the house, legwork for the Order under Mum and Dad's orders, and just plain trying to force myself to remember that Harry had left me to protect me? Well, the first two had kept me occupied but when our eyes met across the aisle, as Bill and Fleur recited their vows, I felt naked as ever - unable to even shield a sliver of my emotions from him.

How did I know he could see right through me? Because I could see the pain, and fear, and knowing in his eyes as I knew he saw in mine.

Because I still loved Harry, and he still loved me.

Nothing had changed in two months. I had said I understood, but that was a lie. I had acted like we weren't saying goodbye, that we were only taking a break because he needed to sort some things out, things I knew risked his life, things I knew I would have faced with him if he had let me.

But he hadn't. Because he couldn't protect me. Anymore than I could protect him if it came down between choosing my life over his, and his over mine.

The sun had begun to rise over our towering house, illuminating the flowers even more in the brilliant light. I had spent hours enchanting our backyard so that Bill and Fleur would have a perfect wedding, and they had gotten it.

When I finally looked away from Harry, (countless tears still unshed inside of me), I saw Bill and Fleur kiss, sealing their fate, and lives, together forever.


"Zee backyard looked wonderful!" Fleur exclaimed, pulling me into a hug. We were all still in our dress robes and as Hermione had informed me, I'd become the hostess of the reception - which was being held in our own house, despite the size of it with our twenty guests. It had taken Bill almost three days to convince Fleur not to invite her entire family.

"I'm glad you liked it," I said, genuinely happy that her tone wasn't one that would be used with a child, but with someone more mature - I'd stopped calling her Phlegm in my mind and aloud. She gave me another smile, her entire face lighting up as she turned back to Bill to fawn over him some more. Some things would never change.

So far, I hadn't seen Harry yet, giving my tumbling emotions a rest for a moment, until I spotted Hermione walking over to me, she had something in her hand. I realized as she approached me that it was a sealed envelope.

"Really Ginny, the backyard looked wonderful, congratulations," Hermione said to me. Hermione had also changed, I noticed. Not in the same way as Harry, but she did look a little older then when I last saw her. Her eyes a little less bright.

Had two months changed them that much?

"Thank you," I replied, smiling even though I felt my chest twinge in the effort. Where was Harry? My stomach had been in knots with anxiety, or pain, (I hadn't been able to tell one from the other the past few weeks), but I still wanted to see him. Even if I couldn't talk to him like we used to talk with each other.

I glanced down at what Hermione was holding, she seemed to be stalling to say something. Finally, when she spoke, I wished she hadn't. Her smile weakened as she met my gaze again. "Look, Ginny, I know Harry would have loved-" I winced inwardly at the word, even coming from someone else used in a different way I still felt the pain in my chest "-to be here tonight," she handed me the envelope. "He said for me to give you this." After a moment she added, "I'm sorry."

Did she know what had happened between Harry and me? Had he told her what he said, had he told Ron?

I looked down at the parchment, remembering that I was the strong willed Weasley, not a heart pained, silly little girl in love like I felt.

A love that can never be until Voldemort is gone! I told myself.

"It's all right, he's probably just tired from the journey here," I answered lightly. Even now, after lying for so long I was surprised at how good I had become at covering up my emotions. I couldn't bury them, no, they still dug their way into my heart every time I thought of Harry. But I could mask them as if I'd been doing it all my life. Mask them from everyone, except for one person.

Hermione's expression fell slightly then she rested a hand on my shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay, with all of this?" She asked me.

Again, I lied with a reassuring smile. "Really, Hermione. I'm okay," I answered.


I had been staring at the envelope for half the night - I still couldn't sleep. I wondered what would happen if I did read it, would I shed tears? Jinx the nearest object I could find? Scream in pain because of what Harry had to sacrifice? Leave the Burrow in hopes of running away from my problems? Go after Voldemort myself in blind rage?

I didn't know what I would do - emotions as powerful as mine couldn't be rationalized. Emotions as powerful as love couldn't ever be rationalized.

It was well into the early morning by now, and I hadn't slept for two days - but I felt as awake as ever. I had only seen Harry during the ceremony, but what I felt was enough to cause my heart to sink to the deepest low for a long time.

He, Ron and Hermione had left after the gathering, saying their farewells, though Hermione promised to keep writing whenever she could, which I knew would be rare.

Still. Those dulled green eyes were clear in memory as if I'd seen them a minute ago, and everything that I saw in them - all the change I saw - was what I think finally gave me the courage to open the envelope.

I recognized the familiar tilted handwriting at once.

Dear Ginny,

You said you understood me when I told you that I had to leave, and that we couldn't be together anymore, and up until this morning I think only part of me knew the truth.

You need to know that I only did what I did to protect you, and I know you well enough to have seen today that you accepted that. I have to believe that I made the right choice, leaving you behind in hopes that you wouldn't be involved in something that's been left unfinished for sixteen years. I have to believe this because for two months, maybe even longer, it has been what's keeping me from running away from the challenges that I know await me.

Ron and Hermione are there for me, to help me, and they have, believe me. But it isn't the same, knowing that I had to leave you behind.

This isn't goodbye, please know that. But don't wait if it means you stop living your life. I don't want to cause you more grief because of it, but I also couldn't find the courage to tell you in person, and for that I'm sorry.

I don't know how long I'll be gone, how long Ron, Hermione and I will be searching - but I will make one promise to you now.

I will never stop loving you.

Always,

Harry

He didn't have the courage to tell me in person. He didn't even have enough courage to say them right out to me at the funeral, I had to ask him first. He said he didn't want to cause me grief telling me his feelings in writing...

But if I could have channeled all the force of an Unforgivable Curse, endured the pain and then lived to remember it, it would not have compared to what I felt squeeze my heart as I read those words.


Author's Note: A continuance granted! I know that there was a LOT of Ginny thinking in here and not as much dialogue as before, but I've got confrontation and dialogue coming up. I've started plotting for a third chapter already (if you guys do want more) if Ginny used the summoning charm in her sleep without knowing it...

But anyway, I'll do my best to answer questions below with respones. 'Til then, see you guys on the next update (hopefully!).

PadawanMage: I felt the same way, though I think JK was confined to only show Harry's POV. And there's more to read - enjoy the update!

DHMC: Thank you, glad to hear it.

Wen1: Continuation? Of course! I hope you enjoyed chapter two!

Orla Potter: I made someone cry? Horray! (You know, by having success and all.) I'm glad you got so into it!

kazziedal: Lol, I'm glad you loved it.

holly: I know what you mean, more Ginny feelings and reactions in the book would have been better.

Nimbirosa: Lol, I've actually heard that saying before. And I was going for the bittersweet exactly! Thanks for the review!

lily: It's cool, I've got friends who support different ships.

XxLemurxX: Here's more...I hope you liked it just as much!

Lady Elenwen: I'm glad you think so - enjoy the update!

A Korny Mofo: I'm glad that I almost got you - hopefully I'll suceed soon, lol. Thank you for the review!

NShadows: They will - and if they won't I'll just rewrite however much of the 7th HP book I have to so they DO end up together...lol.

Lariren-Shadow: It's okay if you can't tell - I wascrying too. Good to know I'm not the only one.

xSTARxSHiNEBABY: Glad you liked it that much - thank you!

Brett A Longman: I'm happy to hear that I was a swing vote in this! Please continue reading the HarryGinny ships - they really can be great, at least I think they are. Thank you for the glowing review - it really did make my day after having such a bad one. I hope you like this update if you decided to read it!

Jubexchix: I know what you mean, angsty Spiderman 2 scene to the max for me. Totally shipping for them still even though he might not be able to see her as much (or at all) in the 7th book. Thank you for the review!

HeatherGranger13: Thank you for the compliment!

sakura13: Thank you :)

anti-thule: Glad tohear it, thank you.

Becka: Yay! Sucess! Thank you, I'm glad you liked it - and don't worry, my HarryGinny muse hasn't left me alone since I finished the 6th book.

UnfortunateKingdom: I know what you mean - and I'm glad I did it some justice.

Kim: I will do my best - and thank you.

GMUXMenSoaps: I did see that at first, but I guess for me I want them to be together I pulled it this way - though I do agree that she may have felt differently in book canon.

christopher i finks: Continued! And thank you for the review!

iriscristata: Thank you! I'm glad I could portray those feelings in words :)

Stu: Less is more. Thank you for the review.

Sarah Took: Yay! More HG and RH shippers! You rock, and thank you.

TragicFantasy: (Just want to say I like your penname.) They really DO have to get back together - my friend and I have actually discussed tracking down Rowling in Scotland and asking her for the flat out couples in the last chapter, (though I think we would just be arrested and thrown into jail. And in a foreign country I don't think I'm willing to risk that just yet.)

Sweet Temptations: Thank you and I'll do my best to write more you ya!

BlackRose: I know what you mean, I sort of got some weird vibes like that in the 5th book but the 6th completely awakened my HarryGinny ship. Same here - no one should have to sacrifice THAT much.

Adriane1: I know what you mean - I'd probably crumble into pieces and then guilt Harry into taking me with him. But I think the reality I worked out fits a little better...and a Lavender story? Centered around Ron and Lavender you mean?

nativewildmage: I did enjoy my writing...and sort of pictured myself in the scene. I don't think that's healthy, but eh. Thank you for the review and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

And to A(n)nonymous: I'm sorry that the summary ruined it for you but I did go to lengths so as not to mention Dumbledore's funeral like after the 5th book came out everyone's summaries read "After Sirius' death...". I put that there are spoilers and I'm sorry that my fic ruined it for you - but I will not change it.