Change is Everything

By: Sporkchild

Chapter Thirteen: One Last Time

"The isolation did you some good, I guess." Hermione joked as she, Connor, and Ginny walked towards Advanced Potions the next day.

"Yeah," Ginny smiled at her friend. Both girls were of a stubborn nature and were not quick to apologize, considering they had been able to snub one another for three and a half months.

"There's Draco…" Hermione whispered quietly, slightly jerking her head toward said boy.

"You two still in a tiff?"

"Tiff is an understatement. Until he realizes what my brother and Harry told him was mostly lies, we have nothing between us."

"I'll talk to him." Connor gave Hermione a brief kiss before taking off toward his once very best friend.

The two girls sat together, hands laced as one, and watched Connor talk to Draco. When he came back, Ginny pounced.

"What'd he say?"

"Not that she'd want to know…" Hermione sarcastically joked; taking her seat and adding a couple minor touch ups to her potions homework.

"He'll see you soon…it'll all make sense then, I swear."

"I trust you," Ginny sighed, quickly sitting as Snape entered the room.

"Ginny?"

The girl sat up quickly, hearing her name whispered through the inky dark. When she turned her head, she saw Draco sitting on the edge of her bed.

"How'd you get in here?"

Draco snorted. "You're such a romantic, Weasley."

"Don't call me that…" She rolled herself in the blankets and turned over. "I need sleep, since my fiancée is graduating tomorrow." Since their fight, Ginny had complied with her family's wishes. Harry and her were engaged, and tomorrow was graduation.

Draco's expression softened and he touched her exposed shoulder. She started to jerk away, but his arm slid fully around her, wrapping her in a warm embrace. She froze in shock. 'What is he doing?'

"I've missed you Ginny, and I'm sorry. I know what you're doing is right. I don't want to interfere…that much. I meant to talk to you over a month ago, but I just didn't want to mess things up. Can I stay with you?"

Ginny, still shocked, nodded. She turned to face him. "Only tonight?"

"You're almost married, Gin. I wouldn't want to mess up your perfect life. Just tonight, Ginny, just tonight." With that, Draco pressed his lips to Ginny's, and life was good. Life was right. Life was perfect, for now…

The next morning, Draco woke early. The sunlight was only beginning to weakly shine through the window by Ginny's bed. He smiled thoughtfully. 'What a beautiful start to a tragic day…' He thought sadly.

"You were going to leave without saying goodbye?"

He looked down at the red-headed angel that lay in his arms and smiled sadly. "I'd never miss saying goodbye to you, especially now that it's…" He stopped short, not wanting to upset her anymore than she would be today.

Ginny lowered her head low, trying to cover her sorrowful face.

"Don't worry, Ginny…your life will be grand," He whispered as he settled closer to her. He tucked her head up under his chin and breathed in her flowery scented hair. "Think of it. Harry will probably become a famous auror, you'll have perfect children, because they'll be yours, and a beautiful home to keep you happy. Think, Ginny, just think." His consoling words did nothing to help her. She tried to imagine the perfect life Draco spoke of, but when it came to seeing her husband, she didn't see Harry. She saw the only man she would ever love…the one with platinum blonde hair, a wicked smile, and icy blue eyes that only warmed for her.

"I need to leave, Ginny…"

Blinking back tears, she nodded, knowing he was right. She wanted to object, to tell him that she loved him, that marrying Harry made her want to slit her wrists and die, but she couldn't. He wouldn't let her.

"Goodbye, Draco…" She turned away, not wanting to see him leave. The tears brimmed over silently.

"I love you, Ginny…" He whispered into her ear, giving her one last kiss behind her earlobe. She felt the weight shift in the bed before stilling once again. "I always will…" He now stood next to the door, hand ready on the door knob.

"Just leave," Ginny choked out, pulling her knees up to her so that her body now resembled that of a fetus in the womb.

Draco smiled a sorrow-filled smile, understanding her need to get him away, but still not wanting to leave. He didn't even fully believe that leaving was the best thing, but he had a lifetime to convince himself that it was. He would heed her wishes, not wanting to upset her any longer, and never speak to her again…hopefully.

"I love you…" He heard just as he was closing the door. Never again would he hear those words from her mouth directed at him. Never would he feel the tingles that her lips caused whenever they touched anywhere on his body. Never would he know the joys of love again. She was it for him.

Ginny let out a dry sob, already out of breath from the silent tears. Her heart was breaking once more, only this time was much worse. She felt a hand on her shoulder, and stiffened. Hermione climbed into her bed with her and held her as only a best friend would as the girl sobbed as if her whole world was breaking.

And in the silence of sleeping Hogwarts, Draco's heart began to break.

Graduation was over, and the Great Hall had been cleared of all but one table, which was pushed against a wall. That table held Ginny, a horrible mess inside, but a happy girl on the outside. She'd managed not to cry through the whole ceremony.

"Hey!"

She jerked her head up at the misty voice and saw Luna. Ryan stood beside her, his arm hooked firmly around her small waist.

"Hi Luna." Ginny said, forced happiness in her voice.

"I brought you a cookie…" The strange girl held up a pinkish looking cookie in a napkin.

"Thanks. Don't let me keep you guys here, go have fun!" Ginny laughed, waving her hands at the couple to shoo away.

Luna looked unsure, but Ryan drug her out onto the dance floor. Ginny still admired how brave Luna was. She had to be, because she still wore her wacky outfits. For the special honor of graduation, the girl wore a silvery thin peasant blouse and a long black skirt with lime green vertical stripes. She had silvery and gold loafers on, with small black bows. She had her hair in high pigtails with lime green ribbons in each one. Even though Ginny was upset, she couldn't help but smile and Luna's quirky style.

'Somehow, she was right,' Ginny thought as she smiled bitterly, thinking about what Luna had said on the train ride here. "Trouble is only what you make of it."

She scanned the room for Draco out of habit and saw him standing near the opposite wall with Buffy on his arm. Her bleach blonde hair was curled for the occasion and she was wearing a short black dress that was scantily cut mid-thigh. She couldn't quite make out what they were saying, but she heard Buffy's laughter ring out across the room, making her nerves thin and her heart break. It took everything she had not to cry.

Before she could do just that, Hermione and Connor came walking over.

"Hey Ginny!" Hermione looked as bright as every, her cheeks were flushed from dancing.

"Audrey's got a new man." Connor pointed at a corner close to a few dancing couples. Ginny glanced around and saw a third year boy, standing on his toes, making out with Audrey. He practically had her pinned against the wall, even though he was so short.

"Who's he?"

"Eric Verin. He's awful scary looking. Reminds me of a baby troll. I almost bloody cried when that kid smiled at us." Connor shuddered, closing his green eyes briefly before throwing his arm loosely around Hermione's shoulder.

"That bad, is he?" Ginny muttered, giving the couple a meek smile.

"Hey Connor. If the kid bugs you that much, why don't you go play PDA officer and go break up the smooching?" Hermione laughed, knowing her fiancée wouldn't pass up the chance.

"What a great idea!" The boy jetted off in the direction of the disgustingly public couple.

"Have you started wedding plans?" Hermione asked hopefully.

All Ginny could do was shrug and try to hold back her tears.

"I know Draco really loves you. I understand where he's coming from. It's all too complicated. Your families have been bitter rivals for God knows how long! Besides, Harry's good for you, hunny, he's going to be a great dad."

Yet again, Ginny's eyes welled with tears, but this time, she couldn't hold them back any longer. They fell freely, but when she saw a shadow fall across her lap, she quickly dried her eyes and looked up. It was the last person she wanted to see…Harry.

"Want to dance, love."

Ginny recoiled at the endearment and resisted the urge to glare, but just gritted her teeth. She wiped away the hairs that stuck to her tear-stained cheeks. She couldn't stand her future husband, but for Draco, she would always say yes.

Harry took her hand and led her out to the floor. She was trying to block his touch out with her mind, pretending it was another man's instead. Instead of focusing on that, she focused on the song that played slowly as they swayed together.

Within that dance, Ginny realized she would never be happy with Harry. But the love she felt for Draco made her unable to say no to any type of command he may request of her. So, for the love of her life, she smiled, and when a fast song came on, she danced, laughed, and gained flushed cheeks.

And Draco, as he watched Ginny dance and laugh with the wrong man, finally had the horrible relief of his heart fully breaking. He did the only logical thing. He left the room, leaving his date and friends behind to themselves, and cried lonely tears of a broken heart.

And there it is! One last chapter, though technically it's an epilogue, before we are done people! Aren't you excited? Two years of waiting, and I'm finally done posting! W00t!