Goodbye, based on Air Supply song of the same name. The next instalment of the 'Air Supply Series', courtesy of Sapphire200182! Semi-sequel to "Sweet Dreams", but it's a good Standalone. One-shot.
Disclaimer: Nothing, as usual.
Here we go. Pay attention to the lyrics, guys!
Act 1"The Final War brought much pain and death to the wizarding communities of the world. But no wizarding nation suffered more than England, which had the highest number of deaths during the war. Albania lagged a distant second. But the Final War shattered not just families. It also destroyed lives and relationships."
–Professor Hermione Granger, during a History of Magic lesson at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry–
I can see the pain living in your
eyes,
And I know how hard you try,
You deserve to have so much
more…
Harry tried to keep the tears out of his eyes, and a great big lump rose in his throat. Next to him, Ginny sobbed uncontrollably, leaning on Harry for support as she wept.
Harry put her arm over her shoulder, and stared at the tomb of the one who had figured so much in both their lives.
I
can feel your heart and I sympathize,
And I'll never
criticize,
All you've ever meant to my life…
The simple black marble tomb had been paid for by the Weasley twins, who now stood off to a side, having lost their cheerful spirit entirely. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry could see Hermione weeping, supported by Ron who looked like crying himself.
ARTHUR WEASLEY, it said in gold lettering at the top.
I
don't want to let you down,
I don't want to lead you on,
I
don't want to hold you back,
From where you might belong…
Harry put his arm around her, glad that Voldemort was dead and that he could now court her openly, and gently whispered in her ear. "You want to stay longer, Gin?"
She gulped, and made an attempt to answer. "N-n-no. Let's…let's go for a walk."
As they walked off to a nearby grove of trees, Harry made another life-changing decision.
You
would never ask me why,
My heart is so disguised,
I just can't
live a lie anymore…
At the grove, they embraced as Ginny was overwhelmed by a fresh wave of tears, strengthening Harry's resolve to do this even more.
"Ginny," he said finally, when she had subsided. "I…I think we should break up for now."
As she looked at him in shock, he quickly continued, pushing his advantage. "I know Voldemort's dead, but many of his followers are still out there. And they want revenge on me. As long as we're together, they won't stop to harm your family. And I can't allow that to happen."
I
would rather hurt myself,
Than to ever make you cry,
There's
nothing left to say but goodbye…
"I'd rather die than have Draco Malfoy hunting down your family one by one. So…until every last Death Eater is run down…I guess I had better say goodbye."
You
deserve the chance at the kind of love,
I'm not sure I'm worthy
of,
Losing you is painful to me…
"But, Harry! I…" she began, but he cut her off.
"But nothing! You deserve a chance to have a life you'll never have if I'm around. Go find some other…" and he choked on these last words, "…guy to love."
I
don't want to let you down,
I don't want to lead you on,
I
don't want to hold you back,
From where you might belong…
"Harry! I would never look at it that way! I love you! You know I love you. And nobody could replace you."
Harry closed his eyes, counted to ten, and opened them again, willing away the tears. "Ginny, I can't lie to myself anymore. I'm not…not worthy of you. Those Death Eaters are after me. And if they want me, they'll get me, but not you, not Ron, not Hermione."
You
would never ask me why,
My heart is so disguised,
I just can't
live a lie anymore…
"But Harry! You…you can't… what about all those times together? What about… the first night by the Great Lake, and all the others?"
I
would rather hurt myself,
Than to ever make you cry,
There's
nothing left to say but goodbye…
"I've thought it all out. And this is the only solution. Till we meet again, Ginny. I'm gonna kill Malfoy for this."
He kissed her one last time, more passionate than they had ever kissed before, each other feeling their partner's sweet essence, mixed with the bitterness of separation and salty tears. They seemed locked together so fiercely that when they separated, it seemed like the last tremble before death.
You
would never ask me why,
My heart is so disguised,
I just can't
live a lie anymore…
I would rather hurt myself,
Than to ever make you
cry,
There's nothing left to try…
And, with a forlorn wave and a brokenhearted sob, Harry Apparated out of her life.
Though
it's gonna hurt us both,
There's no other way than to say goodbye…