Love Everlasting

Chapter 3: The Unforgettable Parting

"The NERVE of that man! Storming out of the room like that, what did I do anyway?" Ginny said to herself quietly walking up the marble staircase to Gryffindor tower. But then she saw him. The sparkling gray eyes, the beautiful dirty-blonde hair. Cedric stood at the top of the staircase looking dreamier than ever, looking like he was waiting for something-or someone.

"Ginny listen-" Cedric said as she began to pass him.

"No! After you just storming away, why shouldn't I? You acted like a jerk in there Cedric! A real jerk. . ." Ginny said stopping at the railing of the stairway.

"Look Ginny, I don't want you mad at me. It would kill. All I want is to talk. About, well. ." Cedric said looking at the floor at his feet like they were suddenly more fascinating.

"About what?" Ginny said, starting to approach him again. Each step she took it seemed like her heart thumped louder and more fierce every time until she could hear his soft, sweet breathe coming from him. Her heart seemed to explode.

"There's going to be a... to be some sort of tournament here at school... a tournament I entered earlier this evening." He said, finally looking at Ginny with a half smile again, but looked back at his feet.

"A, a, tournament? What kind of tournament?"Ginny said walking even closer so she could feel his sweet breathe blow onto her face. The blood on her green zip-up was leaving a stain and she could tell that was what he was looking at.

"The Triwizard. But Dumbledore also said," Cedric said lifting his head high and now looking at the ceiling,

"The Death toll has been high, and that is why only people who are 17 and higher can enter. That is why it was forbidden for hundreds of years." He said and looked at Ginny, whose eyes where swelling with tears. She put her arms around his back and placed her head on his chest, and now his heart started to beat quite quickly again.

"Cedric, you won't die... I won't let you!"Said Ginny who was now being held by Cedric, who's hands were on the back of her neck.

"I won't Ginny, but..."

"But what? You won't Cedric, I promise!"Ginny said, her grip around his sides strengthening.

"Not that Ginny, its you." He said his hands left her neck and slide down her back, until he came to mid back.

"Wha-Me? Why me?" She said tearfully.

"Because if someone or something tries to hurt or kill me, they would go after the one I adore the most, and try to kill them. I can't put you in that situation. So Ginny, I, I, I think we should end what we have together. . . I am really sorry. Ginny I love you and you should know by now I do. I want you to be safe. I love you more than anything in the world." Cedric said in a powerful voice that kind of scared Ginny, but she didn't let go. She held on and placed her hands on his chest, and her head sunk in too. She began to cry. It wasn't loud, but a soft quiet cry. Cedric robes were getting wet, and he pulled up her head with his cold hands and again placed them around the back of her neck, and kissed her like there was nothing on earth left to be done. When they kissed, Cedric took her by the arms and brought her as close as possible. They both felt warm. Never before have they kissed like this; as close as can be, Ginny's hands still on Cedric's chest, Cedric still had his arms wrapped around her tight. After about 2 minutes, they stopped and Ginny started crying again. But they were silent and she was trying to be strong.

"Cedric, you may have cold hands, but a very warm heart. I don't know what I would have done if I never had met you. But now, I feel weak again Cedric, Weak. Because I know you won't be there any more." Ginny said stepping out of the embrace.

"I will always, always be there for you. I don't care what will happen to me. I will be there for you Ginny. Always. Even if we can't see each other. I am not saying to meet other people, but after the tournament, it would be really suspicious if we just started seeing each other again. It might catch the attackers attention- if not dead. I don't know what I was thinking entering, and I never knew I would win. It was stupid. I wrecked us Ginny. I am so sorry."Cedric said looking at his feet again.

"Well, G-G-Goodnight, C-C-Cedric... I love you too." Ginny said, trying to hold back the tears that kept spilling out.

"GINNY WAIT!" Cedric said loudly, but she had already approached the Fat Lady's portrait and tried to say 'Sniffgederfuss' but it came 'riffridurfrusss.' and she entered the warm, empty common room.

"Ginny, where have you been- and why are you crying?" Harry Potter said full of concern, but Ginny walked right passed him into the Girls dormitory.

Ginny woke early that Snowy Sunday morning, going to take a walk in the snow. Alone. That is how she felt now without Cedric.

She walked down to the Great hall quietly. There was only one other familiar person in the Great Hall. They were the only two people in the Great Hall. Ginny tried not to look at him, but she couldn't help herself. Cedric was trying not to look at Ginny either. But they caughteach others eyes, and couldn't get freed. But Cedric finally stood up and walked toward her.

"Ginny, I must ask you this."Cedric said sitting down beside her. Ginny wasn't sure if she wanted to answer, but she did.

"Yes?" she said quietly. Looking deep into his shining gray eyes.

"Would you like to go to the Yule Ball with me? For one last time." Ginny could tell the word 'last' made him sad, but she answered.

"Yes. One last time."She said very strongly. But then Cedric took her and kissed her on her dry lips and took her hands and put them on his chest where his heart was.

"This is where you are Ginny. Always. I promise you that. But there is something wrong..." he said in that handsome, dreamy tone,

"I am still deeply in love, Ginny." he said to her his hand still on top of hers, stroking it gently.

"Me, too... I really can't stand being away from you. I need you." Ginny said and Cedric smiled and then it washed away.

"The first task is in one month." Cedric said painfully, trying not to look in Ginny's green eyes. Ginny pulled a piece of Long red hair behind her ears, and stared at him with a blank but sad look.

"I see... Cedric?"She said plainly.

"Yeah?" He said his eyes sparkling, staring at Ginny.

"Do you, do you want to go for a walk? Like into Hogesmade? We are allowed to go on the Weekends."Ginny said trying to clear the thought of the first task.

"I, yeah, I really do."Cedric said, pulling on his sweatshirt, and Ginny pulled on her warm sweatshirt also.

They walked into the snowy grounds and took the long path into Hogesmade.

"Freezing out, are you okay, Ginny?"said Cedric. Ginny was shivering fiercely, for her sweatshirt was not enough to keep her warm.

"Erm, yeah, I guess."Ginny said quickly.

"No your not. Here."He pulled off his big sweatshirt and Ginny's head, and he was shivering but didn't want to show it. But finally Ginny brushed up against his side and leaned her head on his shoulder. That warmed him up in a heart beat. For he was no longer shivering, but putting his arms around Ginny's waist.

"Here we are, Madame Rosemerta's pub. Lets get some Butterbeer here, shall we?" Cedric said dreamily.

"Yeah, I love this place, best there is."Ginny said smiling.

"Two butterbeer's please." Cedric said to Rosemerta.

"For the wonderful young couple coming right up."she said, and Ginny blushed and Cedric glanced at her and smiled. She smiled back. For once this week Ginny felt loved again. For Cedric still had his arms around her waist. When they got there drinks, they sat down to the table with the nearest window. Ginny and Cedric were the only two there, because it was only 7 in the morning.

"Ginny?"Cedric asked suddenly.

"Yeah?"she answered.

"I got to, well, tell you about this dream I had a few nights ago. Not really a dream but a nightmare."He said and took a sip of his butterbeer.

"Ok, tell me, I want to know..."She said quietly.

"Well, we were in some sort of Graveyard. We as in Me, you, V-Voldemort, Wormtail, and the other Death Eaters. They wanted me to become a follower, because if I didn't you would be killed. You told me not to go, said it was a trap, a plan for me to get killed. Then, I yelled at you to be quiet so they wouldn't come after you... That was also the day you got stabbed."Cedric said to Ginny.

"What could this mean? Is this a vision? Or was this happening at The triwizard Tournament?" She said looking at her him in the biggest look of concern.

"It could be. Ginny, that is why I wanted to end us seeing each other. Because I worried about you. I wan yo to be safe..."Cedric said putting his face in his hands.

"Cedric I'm fine-"Ginny said, but was being cut-off.

"NO YOU ARE NOT! I AM PUTTING YOU IN THE BIGGEST DANGER THERE COULD BE! YOU ARE NOT SAFE RIGHT NOW! I LOVE YOU AND I WANT TO PROTECT YOU, BUT IT IS HARD WITH V-V-VOLDEMORT TRYING TO KILL YOU!" Cedric said loudly.

"I want to protect you too Cedric, for I care for you and don't want to see you killed!" Ginny said strongly.

"I will protect you Ginny. Even if kills me."Cedric said tearfully.

"It won't."Ginny said big eyes upon him.

"Yeah well how do you know? V-V-V-Voldemort-t-t could be anywhere, and what he wants... is. .. Is.. You. I can't let him kill you just to get to me. Because if he does kill you, what is the point for me to live anymore? There is NOT a reason. That is why when the tasks start, I want you inside Hogwarts in your Dormitory."Cedric said looking in the Window to see outside on the snowy road.