Chapter 7

Ginny POV

I don't know how I knew to look out that window, nor how long I stood there after he left. What I did know was the feeling of being torn apart as I caught his eye while he left. That mere moment when his emerald eyes met mine caused such an excruciating pain, that I was paralyzed. I stood at that window watching, waiting. Maybe he would change his mind and come running back to me.

I stood by that window until the sun began to peek over the horizon. The light stung my eyes and brought the feeling back to my body. I pulled the curtains closed and walked stiffly back to his bed. It was a fine line I walked. It hurt so much to climb back into his bed, the memories form the night flooded back into my head. But, on the other hand, part of me wanted to run away from all the memories, and anything that could make me think of him.

I pulled the covers over my head and breathed in his familiar scent. The pain came roaring back like a fire. Burning but not consuming. No, not consuming. It showed no sign of ever stopping, ever burning out. I curled up under the sheets, pulling my knees up to my chest and let the flames of pain take over.

I knock on the door pulled me from the replaying of my last sight of Harry. I didn't answer, but the sound of my sobs, which had yet to cease since I came back to the bed, must have alerted the person behind the door to my presence. The door creaked open and Hermione's head poked in.

"Oh! Ginny!" she ran towards the bed wrapping a blanket around me and pulled me into her arms.

I laid my head on her shoulder and let the sobs overtake me again.

"Oh dear," she rubbed her hand soothingly along my back, "what happened?"

I tried to quiet the sobs, but I couldn't gain full control.

"H-he left, after w-we… I t-told him to go. H-he n-needed to, b-but it still hurts."

"Oh Gin!" she pulled me tighter, "I know it doesn't help, but we have to go soon. Would you like me to go grab your trunk?"

I nodded into her shoulder and sat back on the bed. She handed me my clothes off the floor and walked towards the door.

"Wait here, I'll be back soon."

I sat in the bed for a few minutes, staring at the clothes in my hands. I didn't know if it was my imagination or if I really could smell him on them. A fresh wave of pain washed over me and I noticed it was raining outside. I walked over and glanced out the window. The ground was soaked; it had been raining for a long time. It was really fitting, that it would rain today. Rain could was away so much, but yet I could stand outside and let the rain pour over me forever, and still it couldn't erase my memory of Harry.

I shuddered; even thinking his name caused me agonizing pain.

I dressed slowly and wandered back towards the common room. As I walked by Draco's room, I noticed his door was cracked open. That wasn't normal. I peeked in. It was completely empty.

"He went with," I whispered, disbelieving.

"What?" Hermione asked as she entered the room, my trunk levitating behind her. Behind the trunk, Ron followed, red-faced and tense.

"Draco's gone. He went with him," I didn't allow myself to say his name. The sight of him leaving suddenly expanded in my head, him grabbing Draco's arm, turning and disappearing. My focus had been so narrow; I hadn't realized that he wasn't alone. I also realized that it was raining in my memory. Even if I went back to the spot where he left, there would be no evidence that he was there. The rain could wash that away.

"What?!?!" Ron thundered, "I'll kill him!"

"No you won't," Hermione stated firmly. "He is your best mate. Calm down. I'm sure he will come back when he is ready."

"You won't find him," I whispered.

Hermione pulled me under her arm. "Come on. Let's go home now," she stated, ignoring my comment.

I silently followed Ron and Hermione to the Hogwarts Express, head down and I let the rain stream through my hair and across my face. It was pouring harder now, the wind whipping it against our face so hard, it actually stung. As we searched for an empty compartment, people stared at me. I suppose the tears still streaming down my face and my wrinkled clothing looked strange. I was soaked too, I hadn't even tried to shield the rain like Hermione and Ron had. Hermione finally gave up finding an empty compartment and we walked into one with a few first years.

"Out!" Hermione commanded, pointing her want to the sliding door. They grumbled a bit, but left the compartment.

I sat by the window and silently watched as the Hogwarts Castle disappeared from my view. The rain spattered against the glass and it distorted my view of the castle. My last memories of him would not disappear so quickly. Absently, I wondered how long it might take for me to heal from this but, I realized I never would. I could never fully recover. He and I were meant for each other, and because of all the shit he went through, we might never be together again.

"Gin?" Ron asked quietly from the other side of the compartment. "Why did he leave? What happened?"

"Ron! NO!" Hermione yelled, elbowing him in the ribs. "She shouldn't have to talk about it, leave her alone."

Alone. Leave me alone? Yeah, that seems to be my future.

"It's okay, Hermione." I looked at Ron, "He left because I told him to. He had to get away. And find himself again. He wouldn't have left, had I not told him to go. So don't be mad at him."

I turned back towards the window and effectively cut off all conversation. It was getting hard to keep it together, but I did. The small triumph slightly brightened the bleak future that was laid out before me. The rain continued, as the damp English countryside slid to a blur.

A/N So. I love the reviews that I get, and I love writing this story! Wish there where more of those reviews though...

Okay, so the last two chapters have been rather small. BUT they have been full of angst and plot. So the next few will be bigger again. :-)

Thanks to EK. I love you! ;-) and your input.