Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, JKR does.

A/N: This scene is placed at the ever-popular setting of Bill and Fleur's wedding and is post-HBP.

When Courage Fails: The Pain of Sacrifice

By: eugene-the-artichoke

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He had followed her out here, watching as she left the celebrations taking place that day. No one had noticed.

Except for him, that was.

She sat near the pond in the farthest part of the Weasley's land, red hair shaken loose from its previous style. Her delicate golden robes were bunched up and settled around her, revealing a small portion of freckled, white skin .Strappy, shimmering sandals were placed next to her reclining body, and both her hair and shoes continued to catch the midday light at different angles.

He swallowed the painful lump in his throat.

She picked up what looked like a small, smooth pebble and whirled it at the water. It skipped a few feet, before sinking into the glassy water. She looked blankly at the newly formed ripples, when all of a sudden he heard a soft cry of despair. He looked on in heartbreaking pain as tears began streaming down her porcelain skin. Her hands reached up and covered her face, and soon she was sobbing uncontrollably.

He was startled when he felt wetness on his face. He knew as well as she did that he was the cause of her crying. He was in agony knowing that there was nothing that he could do, despite her arguments to the contrary.

Looking at her trembling form again, he felt a sudden urge to go to her. Running a shaking hand through messy black hair, he glanced at the far end of the yard to see if there was anyone in sight. Nobody was.

Thoughts began frantically running through his mind. Should he go over there? What would he say if he did? What would SHE say? Did she want to speak with him?

Questions continued to form in his mind, when he felt his feet begin to move of their own violation. Unable to stop walking, he resigned himself to an awkward and painful conversation.

Just as he was about to come into her line of vision, he heard someone yell "Ginny!" across the lawn. Not being able to retreat fast enough, he saw her hastily dry her eyes, before getting up gracefully.

Without turning around, she hollered "Coming, George!", and he wondered how she knew which of her brothers it was. Unfortunately, he didn't get much time to ponder this fact, when with a gasp, brown eyes locked with green.

He choked when he saw the emotion in her eyes, and his own emotion threatened to overwhelm him.

She blinked first, and without a backward glance, she hurried toward her waiting brother.Once he was certain they were out of sight, he gave a strangled moan, and plopped down on the grass.

He should have known better than to come. The break-up had been too fast, too rushed. There was so much that was still to be voiced between them, and it seemed that it would have to wait for yet another time. Time that he wasn't so sure they had.

He sighed.

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A/N:Questions, comments, suggestions? Review...