Chapter 13 – Realization and Second Thoughts

It was nearing Halloween and Harry was becoming miserable, everyone noticed but only Anna, Ginny and Hermione knew why. Ginny seemed to be avoiding Harry's eye and Sean was becoming more and more pale. One day after their defensive lessons when Anna had successfully pinned Harry down, she made him talk to her.

"Look, dad everyone knows something's wrong so either do something about it or pretend," Anna said sitting next to her dad who was staring at the floor. He didn't say anything just nodded Anna sighed and left. Harry packed up his things and went to his office, when he got there he found Hermione sitting at his desk.

"Where have you been Harry?" she asked as he walked in.

"Around," he said vaguely.

"Oh, so why have you been moping around then?" she asked already knowing the answered but wanting to hear it from Harry's mouth.

"I haven't," he said. Hermione raised her eye brows. "Alright maybe I have but it's nothing you need to know."

"Harry I know, it's kind of obvious. But don't worry only I know," she said seeing the worry in his eyes. "But what I don't understand is you not doing anything about it."

"Hermione, I can't you don't understand. I can't she has to be happy and if she's with me she won't be happy she won't be safe."

"Harry, you don't know if Sean will make her happy, you can't know."

"I don't want to talk about anymore," Harry said and Hermione nodded and got up to leave but not before saying, "Harry either do something about it or pretend to have gotten over it." Harry stared at her.

That night Harry hardly slept he was up all night thinking, walking around his room, thinking lying back down staring at the ceiling and thinking some more. This was the only chance he would have to get Ginny. He knew she was happy with Sean and Sean was a nice guy. He didn't know what to do. The next day was a Sunday, the wedding was to take place in Hogsmeade, at 3pm. The day was crisp and bright and sunny it was a lovely day for a wedding. All morning Anna tried to get her father alone to talk to him but it was almost impossible. He seemed to be smiling so he had taken Anna's advice she just wished she knew which piece it was. Also Lupin and James kept giving her funny looks when she tired to talk to him.

"Why do you need to talk to him?" Lupin shot at her when she said she had to go and see him for a minute. Remus who was sitting next to him hit him across the head and told him to shut up. The day was filled with chaos everyone who wasn't involved in the wedding knew about it. At 1pm all those invited to the wedding congregated in the entrance hall to go to Hogsmeade. Those who were going from the school were Ron, Hermione, Lily, Jason, Lupin, Remus, James, Sirius, and all of the other Weasley children, Harry, Tom, Brian, Dave and Charlotte, and Harry and Anna.

Anna tried to catch Harry's eye as they were walking down to Hogsmeade, but he was talking to Ron about Quidditch so wasn't paying attention to anyone. So she walked to Hogsmeade with Lupin, Sirius, James, Remus and Lily. They were all dressed in their best dress robes and all had the collars up and clutched them around them to try to keep warmer.

When they got to the park where the wedding was being held in went in and sat down. Hermione who was a bridesmaid went to the back and Sean's friend Darren stood at the front next to Dumbledore who was presiding over the wedding. Ron who was escorting Hermione down the isle also went to the back leaving Harry with rest of the Weasleys. Harry sat in his seat, feeling very nervous. He hoped he wouldn't get cursed for what he was about to do.

The banquet hall next to the park was where Ginny was getting ready and where Hermione and Ron were waiting with her. At 3pm Sean and Ginny were still getting ready. Ginny was in the room looking in the mirror she wore a white set a dress robes with silver stars dotted around with a train coming out of the back. Her hair was down and few bits were curled, her make up highlighted her features. There was a soft knock on her door.

"Who is it?" she called.

"It's me, Hermione. Can I come in?" Hermione called from the other side.

"Yeah come in," Ginny answered. Hermione entered and told Ginny she looked beautiful.

"Thanks," Ginny said and Hermione noticed a slight reluctance in her voice.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing, nothing," Ginny said but she knew she couldn't fool Hermione after a slight pause she responded to Hermione's look. "Ok I love Sean right, but I can't help but think about what Harry said."

Hermione sighed before answering. "Gin, what do you see in your future with Sean? You don't have to tell me just think. Now what you see in your future if it was with Harry." Ginny thought for a bit and started pacing the room. After a while seriously considering both lives she replied.

"I chose Sean; he is the one for me." Ginny said but as she said this there was another knock on the door.

"Gin, it's Sean I need to talk to you," Sean's voice came through the door.

"You can't see me before the wedding. It's bad luck."

"Don't be stupid that's a muggle tradition, I need to talk to you now," Sean said a slight impatience in his voice. Hermione and Ginny looked at each other and Hermione raised her eyebrows she went to the door and opened it and went out letting Sean come in and she went out closing the door behind her. Sean stood looking uncomfortable, Ginny was looking at him waiting for him to say something but he just stood looking at her.

"You look beautiful, this is going to be harder than I thought," he said more to himself than Ginny. "I love you, you know that right?" he asked looking seriously at her.

"Of course I know that, what is this about?" "For a while now I have been waiting for you to call the wedding off," Sean started but ignored Ginny's interruptions. "I see how you look at Harry and how he looks at you. I have been waiting for you to tell me you don't want to marry me because you love Harry. I just realized that he will be in our lives forever and I don't want to be thinking that for the rest of our lives. So this is probably the hardest thing I will ever do… but… I don't think we should get married."

"I… I—I don't love you, I love Harry," Ginny said then suddenly realized what she said and gasped. "I love you I mean Harry I mean, I don't love Harry I love… you," she said knowing she just messed everything up.

"I know you love me and I love you but I know Harry has a piece of your heart that I can never touch. And I don't want to touch it," Sean said tears forming in his eyes.

"So the weddings off then… and we are breaking up?" Ginny asked tears also rolling down her cheeks.

"I guess so… so what do you want me to say to everyone?"

"You? Why you? Shouldn't we both say something?"

"I thought I would save you from embarrassment? But if you really want to…" Ginny shook her head, "we should both take responsibility. Thank you, I do love you."

"I know."

Ginny and Sean went outside together and stood before everyone. Harry knew something was wrong as soon as they both walked out from the side house. They addressed the crowd and told them that the wedding was off due to realizations on both parts.

"But we still have the Hall all day and the food has to be eaten so everyone to the Hall for some food and dancing."