I'll Always Remember You
By Duck Goddess
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter etc.
basketball15 – Yes, you did. I said that exasperatedly, rolling my eyes. It's not a ZSGWHP. It's just GWHP because Zacharias will be gone soon! MWAHAHAHAHA!
BoOkWoRmof2005 – Yeah, it was surprising to lots of people.
KRB91 – LOL, thanks! I loved that part as well…love Ron and Hermione! Hehehe…doesn't everyone hate him? I'm glad you found it surprising…I wanted it to be like that!
malfoyismyboo – Oh yeah, it was surprising! Yay! That's how I wanted it to be.
Hannah – Thanks! I'm glad you like it.
HarryGinnyfan23 – Hehehe. Well, the bumping into him in Hogsmeade thing was kind of foreshadowing it. LOL, I doubt Ginny would be too happy if one of her best friends was beating her boyfriend up. I portrayed Ron as pretty confident 'cause they both got into Auror training and are treated as equals so there's now 'living in his shadow' kind of thing. Thanks for reviewing!
Starfiregirl5671 – Thanks! Well, I can't say that because that's just a spoiler…
Azabaza – Hehehe. I love ending chapters like that!
superspunky7 – Well, Ginny didn't actually TELL Harry that she went on a date with him but she implied it. LOL, I don't think Harry catches them kissing but he catches Zacharias doing something else that you'll see in this chapter…
BowlingStar – Thanks! What's Frosh Day?
5CANDALOUS – Thanks!
eatingmania – Thanks! LOL, I knew you'd like Jealous!Harry. You just love to see people in pain and stuff.
Baby-Atemu – Well, she's kind of oblivious so call it a Weasley trait, LOL. I'm glad your computer's better.
stressygirl – LOL, no one can believe it, can they? Of course they won't last…I'm not an H/G shipper for nothing…
CriplrCrssFce06 – LOL, aww, I can't do that to poor Harry! But the remembering her feelings for him, I can do. Hehehe. Thanks for reviewing!
On another note, Happy 26th Birthday, Hermione! Hope you, Ron and your bushy/red-haired children are doing okay (hehehe).
Chapter Ten – The Truth About Zacharias Smith
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna and Bill (the groomsman) waited at The Leaky Cauldron. It was ten past six and Ginny still hadn't arrived.
"Where is Ginny? She's never been late before," Hermione complained.
"Calm down, Hermione. Maybe they let her off late at the Ministry," Luna suggested.
"Maybe," she replied skeptically.
There was a pop! and two figures appeared.
"Bye, Zach," Ginny said lovingly as she kissed Zacharias goodbye. It turned into a full-blown snogging session until Bill pulled him away from her, scowling.
Ron, Hermione and Luna stared at Harry cautiously. Surprisingly, he wasn't staring at the new couple. Instead, he was twiddling his thumbs while staring at the ceiling.
"Sorry, I'm late, guys," Ginny said apologetically, "Zach didn't want me to leave."
"Who was that?" Bill asked, in his overprotective-big-brother mode.
"Zacharias Smith. And you will NOT hurt him in any way otherwise I'll Bat-Bogey Hex you," Ginny growled.
Bill frowned but he didn't say anything else.
"Okay, let's go!" Hermione cried and they left The Leaky Cauldron and went into muggle London.
Ginny, Luna and Hermione were chatting animatedly while Harry, Ron and Bill were whispering feverishly.
"He's a prat!" Ron hissed furiously, "He didn't believe Harry when he said that he saw Voldemort in fifth year. I don't know what Ginny sees in him!"
"Yeah," Bill agreed, "There's something fishy about him. Has Ginny said anything about him to you?"
"She's practically in love with him already," Harry said bitterly.
"Well, I talked to Herm and Luna last night. They think we should leave him alone because Ginny's happy with him. What do you think?" Ron asked.
"I think they might be right," Bill said, sighing.
Harry looked at Ginny, who was chatting and laughing cheerfully. He didn't want to lose her to Zacharias Smith. They had no connection and he probably didn't even love her at all. But then again, Ginny was one of his best friends. She deserved to be happy.
"So, Ginny, what happened with Smi – I mean, Zacharias?" Hermione asked casually.
"We went to see some muggle thing. It was called a film or something like that," Ginny replied.
"That's…nice," Luna said apprehensively.
"I love his eyes. They're amazing, all green and sparkly," Ginny gushed. Hermione and Luna exchanged glances.
"Are you sure you're not describing Harry?" Hermione asked, inwardly smirking. Ginny looked at her strangely.
"Of course I'm sure," she said boldly but she was blushing furiously.
They arrived at the muggle shop, full of dresses and tuxes.
"Here we are!" Hermione said brightly. Ginny, Ron and Bill stared at the shop anxiously.
"Why can't we wear robes?" Ron whined.
"We can't wear robes because my family is full of muggles! Or did you forget that?" Hermione snarled, narrowing her eyes at him.
"Seriously, are you pregnant?" Ginny asked.
"No, for the last time, I am NOT PREGNANT! Now let's go in!" Hermione yelled and she stalked inside.
"Merlin's beard! I'm not wearing these," Ginny complained to Harry as she saw the puffy, pink dresses.
"Yeah, they don't suit you," Harry agreed, "So how was it with Zacharias?"
"It was great!" Ginny said enthusiastically, "Are Bill and Ron plotting against him?" Her tone was now stern.
"No," he replied, grinning.
"Ginny!" Hermione cried, "I found the perfect dresses!" She rolled her eyes.
"Maid-of-honour time. See you later," Ginny said as she walked over to the soon-to-be-bride.
The dresses were pale green and thankfully, flowing. Ginny tried them on and walked outside. Harry was the only one standing outside.
"Well, what do you think?" she asked as she twirled around for him to see.
"It looks great," Harry said hoarsely.
"You really think so?" she asked skeptically, looking down at it.
"Yeah," he said enthusiastically.
"Are you just saying because you're my friend?" she asked suspiciously, "Because I don't want to look like a total moron at the wedding."
"No, I'm serious!" Harry said desperately.
"So, how have you been? I mean, I know I talked to you yesterday but it was all about Zacharias. You know, I haven't talked to you as much lately," she said.
"I'm fine. I'm having trouble with Concealment and Disguise, though," he replied.
"Oh, I haven't had that class yet. Is it hard?" Ginny asked nervously.
"If you're good at concealing yourself which I'm not," he said. She laughed.
"I bet you are but you're just being modest. As always," Ginny teased, punching him on the arm.
"Ow! You're really strong, did you know that?" Harry complained, rubbing his arm, "No wonder your brothers hated playing Quidditch with you."
"Actually, they didn't want to play Quidditch with me because I'm a girl which is a totally unreasonable excuse," she said firmly.
"I like playing Quidditch with you," he suddenly said. Ginny looked at him and felt her heart beat faster. AARRGGHH, stop it!
"You're really sweet. I'd better go show Hermione the dress," she said and she walked off. Harry watched her go. She really did look amazing.
She saw Luna wearing the same kind of dress except it was light blue.
"Gin, you look great!" her friend complimented.
"That's what Harry said."
"Really?" Luna said slyly. Ginny blushed.
"Hey, I have a boyfriend, you know," Ginny reminded her.
"Well, no offence to Smi – I mean, Zacharias, but you and Harry have more chemistry." Ginny frowned. Was that really true?
Harry walked along Hogsmeade, going home after Auror training. He never Apparated home; he preferred walking because it helped him think. He looked up and gaped.
It was Zacharias Smith. He was holding hands with a tall, slim, very pretty, blonde girl. They were walking and seemed oblivious to the fact that Harry was there.
THAT BASTARD IS CHEATING ON GIN! Harry thought furiously. His heart pumped rage and fury as he watched them with narrowed eyes as they kissed. He wanted to run over to him and pound his brains out. Control yourself. I'd better tell her, he thought. Harry Apparated to Ginny's and Luna's flat in a second.
"Ginny!" he yelled. She came running out and he blushed as he saw that she was wearing nothing but a towel. Don't stare, don't stare, don't stare, he chanted in his head as he averted his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked worriedly.
"Get dressed first!" he barked. She rolled her eyes and went into her room. Harry gave a sigh of relief. At least the blood was rushing to his brain again and not to his…lower region.
She came out again in jeans and a t-shirt.
"Is this okay, dear brother?" she asked sarcastically.
"Great. Listen, I saw Zacharias Smith. With another woman," Harry said, wincing at his straightforwardness.
Ginny's jaw dropped. Then, she narrowed her eyes. Then, she sat down. Then, she stood up again.
"Oh, for God's sake, give me a reaction!" Harry blurted out.
"How come no one likes him?" she asked quietly.
"What?" Harry said, not believing his ears. In his imagination, Ginny would be Apparating to kick Zacharias' arse and thanking Harry excessively for telling her.
"No one likes him!" Ginny ranted, "Ron, Hermione, Luna…but I thought YOU would understand! I love him!"
"Ginny, it's only been two weeks. You can't love him!" Harry reasoned.
"Love doesn't rely on time! I do love him. Why can't you understand? If this is your petty way of trying to break us up, it won't work! Just because I don't know what he was like before because of that bastard, Lucius Malfoy, it doesn't mean I don't know him at all!" she said angrily.
"Ginny, it's true! Seriously, I saw him in Hogsmeade with this blonde girl!" Harry said desperately.
"Enough!" Ginny shouted, "Just get out, Harry!"
"I –"
"GET OUT!"
Harry quickly Disapparated, not wanting to be kicked or punched. He Apparated into Ron's and Hermione's house.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Ron asked.
"There's always something wrong these days, right? Well, to make things worse, I saw Zacharias Smith with another girl," Harry growled.
"WHAT?" Ron shouted, springing up from the sofa, "Are you sure?"
"Since when have you been looking for an excuse to beat someone up?" Harry asked grimly.
"It's just…well, Hermione's and Luna's talk grew on me," Ron said, looking at his feet.
"Well, I saw him with this blonde girl at Hogsmeade. They were holding hands and kissing. So I went to tell Gin and she freaked out on me. She didn't believe me and accused me of trying to break them up," he said bitterly.
"Oh Merlin, that Smith is so dead," Ron growled, "I'll go tell the others." He Disapparated and Harry knew that he was going to The Burrow to tell his parents first.
Harry sighed as he sat down. What made Ginny think that he was trying to break them up? It was true! Harry felt all his hatred and anger lead towards Lucius Malfoy.
If it wasn't for that filthy, cruel Death Eater, he and Ginny would be happily snogging, or married, even. I guess life will always be pretty damn hard. First my parents dying, the stupid gits I call my relatives, Voldemort and now this.
Ron arrived at The Burrow, looking furious and blood-thirsty. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley jumped at the sight of him.
"Ron!" his mother cried as she flung her arms around him, "Is it about the wedding?"
"No," Ron snarled, "Do you know Ginny's new boyfriend?"
"Oh, that Zacharias Smith fellow? What about him?" his father inquired.
"Well, Harry saw him with another woman."
Mr. Weasley's usual calm approach to everything quickly changed. He stood up quickly and walked up to Ron.
"Let's get the others," he said firmly. They Disapparated before Mrs. Weasley could say anything.
Zacharias Smith was sitting with Daphne Greengrass in The Three Broomsticks when all the male Weasleys appeared. They stalked up to Zacharias and dragged him outside, to Daphne's confusion.
"We need to talk," Bill said grimly.
"Er, um, okay," Zacharias said, feeling a bit frightened.
"We know," Charlie began.
"What you're doing," Fred continued.
"With our," George said.
"Little sister," Ron finished.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Zacharias said nervously, fiddling with his shirt.
"Really?" Mr. Weasley spat, "Then who's that girl in there? She's certainly not Ginny. And don't say she's a relative of yours because we saw you two kissing before we came in. Relatives don't French-kiss each other unless they're sick and a bit mad."
"Er, well," Zacharias began.
"Don't speak otherwise we'll hurt you," Bill growled.
"Okay," he squeaked.
"You just spoke. We have to hurt you," Ron said and he punched him in the gut. Zacharias doubled over.
"We just want you to do one thing," Fred said, with a twisted smile.
"Just one thing," George said sweetly.
"Stop seeing our sister," they said together.
"If you don't break up with her and tell her the truth," Charlie threatened, "We'll hex you into the next century."
"And most of us were in the Order of the Phoenix," Mr. Weasley added for good measure.
The doorbell rang at Ginny's and Luna's flat and Ginny looked up curiously. It was already 10:00 so who would want to see her? It wasn't Luna – she would just Apparate in. Ginny opened the door and gasped.
Zacharias was sporting a black eye, had a nasty cut on his left cheek and was limping.
"I can't be with you, Ginny," he said hastily, "Because I've been cheating on you with Daphne Greengrass."
"WHAT?" Ginny yelled. Her eyes were wide and her face was pale.
"Okay, I'm gonna go now. Bye!" Zacharias said and ran off.
A/N: Please review!