A/n- Wow, I am so sorry it has taken so long! Finals were last week and I'm starting my summer job this week. Crazy Crazy. Anyway, Here is the next chapter! My Beta seems to think it's "Depressing depressing depressing. I need to go listen to happy music" so, fair warning! :-) -Sarah

Chapter 10

Year 2

The Wedding

Dear Harry,

Another year has passed and still no word from you. I amuse myself by reading the random "sightings" in the Daily Prophet. I really doubt you traveled abroad, but what do I know? I never thought you'd leave for two years.

You are a right bastard, by the way. Your two best friends are getting married tomorrow, and you won't be there. You don't even know i's happening. Do you know how much pain it's causing my family? No, probably not. You seem to just care about yourself and your privacy.

I don't think of you as much anymore. Well, as much as I used to. I just want you out of my head and my heart. I want to move on so badly, but I don't know how.

I hate you and I love you, how weird is that?

It might hurt, but I'm going to move on. This is your warning. Ha! Yet, as much as I hate it, I still want you to come back to me.

Ginny

I re-read the letter over and over. It was the second one to come through my window. One each year. This one hurt so much more to read. She was moving on. She was going to find someone else. I knew she would. She was a strong girl, she could move on. I, on the other hand, would not move on. I would be forever alone. It had been two years, and I had yet to figure out anything else but that.

I glanced down at the letter again. She was wrong on one point. I did know Ron and Hermione were getting married tomorrow. The same damn bird that brought me her letters, brought me the invitation. Mrs. Weasely sent that, along with a note begging me to attend, lamenting that I'd never know. She and Ginny both sent the letters and invitation never thinking I'd ever receive them.

I spend most of the night thinking. Draco had made his opinion known, and a large vile of polyjuice potion sat on my dresser.

He gave me two options. On the left sat a pile of red hair. They were plucked from the head of a random ginger that got in his way. I could go and try to pretend to be part of the Weasley family again, just as I had at the last disastrous wedding I had attended. Or, I could use the pile of dark blond hair on the right of the bottle. They belonged to Robert Marley, a co-worker of Ron's at the Ministry. I wasn't exactly sure how Draco got those hairs, or where poor Robert was at the moment.

I hadn't decided if I was going yet, let alone who I would be impersonating. Draco hadn't read this letter. He didn't understand.

"Harry?" Draco questioned from behind my door. I didn't answer, but true to himself, he opened the door anyway. "What is that?" He asked, obviously distracted from his original question.

"Another letter from Ginny," I answered, handing it to him.

I watched him read it in silence. Once he finished, he looked up at me.

"See?" He asked triumphantly, "This is my point. You have to see for yourself that she has moved on and is happy. Go as the moron from the Ministry. Dance with her, talk to her, and see if she might take the bait. Then you will know and you can move on yourself!"

I didn't want to look at him anymore. He just couldn't understand. I would never move on. But, I did want to see her and make sure she could be happy. He was right about that part.

"Fine," I muttered, "I'll go as the moron."

Draco practically jumped for joy, "Okay! Well, this polyjuice will last 12 hours. The wedding starts at 3 PM, and it's 6 AM now." He stopped and stared at me intently. "You need sleep." He turned and ran out of my room and into his. He returned a bit later with another vile in his hand. "Sleeping daught, take a mouthful and it will knock you out for a couple of hours. I'm going to Diagon Alley."

"What?"I yelled, grabbing his arm as he turned from me. He couldn't possibly think that was a smart idea.

"Polyjuice Potion!" He yelled at me, "I'll go as the ginger and get you some dress robes and a gift."

"Oh," I relaxed a bit and then I got an idea. "Wait, I know what to get them."

I tugged at my new robes uncomfortably. This was dumb, daft, stupid and dangerous. What was I thinking? But it was too late, people had watched me appear and it would look really odd if I just left. Clutching my small gift in one hand and the invitation in the other, I walked towards Percy, who stood guard by the gait into the Weasley's property.

"Hello Robert," he greeted me with an odd and handed me a program. "Thought you were ill?"

"Yes, you know those Healers," I replied easily, I'd expected this. "They can cure anything." I smiled and handed him my invitation, thankful that my name had only been on the envelope and letter. Percy smiled sadly at me, "there's a table for gifts by the door."

I nodded and walked quickly to the table. It was flooded with gifts of all shapes and sizes, colors and scents. I replayed my interaction with Percy back in my mind. I had done okay, everything had gone as planned, yet something nagged at the back of my mind. It was the somber look Percy had on his face. I looked around and spotted random members of the Weasley family. It was a look they all wore. I was about to go ask George when soft music began to play and everyone started sitting down. I settled myself on the groom's side towards the back. I could see Hagrid towards the front, seated next to McGongagall, Flitwick and all of the other professors. As I looked around I recognized mostly everyone in the crowd.

The music changed and I watched Ron appear at the front next to the official. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley passed down the isle next. Mrs. Weasley was sniffling. Not far behind were Hermione's parents. They looked a bit out of place in their muggle clothing.

The music changed again and I tensed. I knew who would be walking by next and I needed to prepare myself for it. I also had to prepare myself to see the man Ron chose to be his best man.

I could hear soft gasps and turned my head to look at the girl who still held my heart.

She glided down the aisle with supreme grace. I couldn't tear my eyes from the girl who walked by me. She had definably grown into a woman in the past two years. Her ice blue gown emphasized every curve and pooled down around her feet. Her face was in stark contrast to her body. She held a fierce, sharp expression, no sign of sadness or joy. Just hard. She took her place in the front and turned to look back.

Again, the music changed and the crowd stood. Hermione appeared at the back of the aisle and began walking forward. She looked quite beautiful, more so than I'd ever seen her, but her face was heart breaking. Tears began to stream down her face as she walked towards Ron, and suddenly she stopped.

I couldn't understand. Weddings were supposed to be happy affairs. Ron and Hermione were obviously in love, the look on Ron's face when Hermione appeared was a testament to that. What reason did they have for being sad?

Ron gave up waiting, and ran towards Hermione half-way down the aisle. He pulled her into a tight hug and together they walked the rest of the way.

I realized then the reason for the tears. As they stood together in the front of the audience with Ginny on their right, it became glaringly obvious something was missing. Or someone. The best man.

As the ceremony started, I stared down at my program. At the bottom of the page there was a small picture. It was of me, Ron and Hermione at the end of our first year at Hogwarts. Under the picture there was a small paragraph.

We left the best man spot empty in honor of the only person who has a right to stand there, Harry Potter. He is both our best friends and we are sad he left us. We love you Harry.

I sat in stunned silence for the rest of the ceremony. I watched as my two best friends promised to love one another for the rest of their lives, and I'd never felt so empty and alone in my life. Not after first year, when I walked forward to meet Voldemort for the second time, not when I watched Sirius or Dumbledore die. I hadn't even felt this alone when I walked through the forbidden forest to face Voldemort, thinking I would die. I had never been alone because they were always there, waiting for me to come back.

I was disgusted with myself. I realized then, that I was alone by my own choosing. I left them.

The music started once again and they walked back down the aisle, joined forever.

The after party had a very different mood than the ceremony. The chairs had been moved and the area had been transformed into a giant dance floor, just like Bill and Fleur's wedding. I sat at the table farthest away from the dancing. My plan had changed. I wasn't going to find Ginny and talk to her. I'd had enough pain for one day. Yet, I couldn't leave. So, I sat in the back and downed a few glasses of champagne to blunt the sharp edge of pain that jabbed at my heart.

"Why are you so glum Robert?" Ginny's voice asked from behind me. I couldn't even look at her, so I stared at my hands as I answered.

"Weddings always make me depressed," I answered.

"I know how you feel," she replied in a low voice, "but at least you can feel low. My mother won't let me! 'Ginerva Molly Weasley!'" She mimicked her mother's voice. "'You will look happy today or so help me, I will curse your backside so hard you wont sit for a week!'"

It was a perfect impression of Molly and I couldn't help but grin up at her. Her own grin faltered a bit, but she composed herself and rolled her eyes.

"I'm almost twenty; I'd rather not be treated like I'm four!"

This time I laughed out loud at her expression and she smiled back at me.

"Come on," she reached her hand forward, "Let's go fake happy on the dance floor."

Not knowing how to refuse, and excited at the prospect of holding Ginny again, I grabbed her hand. The song changed to a slower one as we approached and Ginny wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me close.

We didn't talk at all while we danced. I pulled her as close as I dared and she sighed, resting her head on my shoulder.

"You should tell them, you know, that you came." She whispered, her voice laced with pain and anger.

"What?!?" I asked, shocked. She couldn't know. How could she possibly know? I pulled away, searching frantically for some way to escape. She pulled me closer, her face directly in front of mine.

"I know you Harry Potter. Don't you dare think otherwise," she hissed.

I pulled back harshly, I had to leave. This was dangerous.

"Fine, Leave. Go hide. Can't you see how much pain you've caused?!?" She whispered loudly.

I turned and ran towards the boundary of the Weasley's property. I spun to apperate, and the last thing I saw was Ginny standing in the middle of the dance floor, angry.

Ginny's POV

I wondered what awful thing would happen when my next brother got married. Honestly, we didn't have a good track record. At least this time, I was the only one hurt. It had been rather easy to convince the guests who had overheard the last part that "Robert" was ill and it was just the fever that freaked him out.

After explaining, I excused myself from the party, complaining of a headache. I glared out the window. How dare he show up here, and in disguise! The day I decide to move on, he shows up.

"GINNY!" Mum yelled up the stairs, "Get down here and help with the presents! NOW!"

I sighed, but made my way down the stairs. My entire family was seated in the living room, surrounded by gifts.

"Can you write down names and gifts, Gin?" Hermione asked quietly.

"Of course," I answered cheerfully, trying to cover my unease.

It took hours for Ron and Hermione to open all their gifts and my hand was cramping something fierce when they finally got to the last one. It was a small box, interestingly wrapped with red and silver paper and a gold and green bow.

"There isn't a card," Ron muttered as eh ripped the paper off a small white box. He thrust his hand in and pulled out two small golden balls.

"Who would give us snitches?" Hermione asked quietly.

Ron didn't answer as he scrutinized each snitch.

"This one is yours," he answered, handing her one and then he continued to look at his own. After a few moments he looked up and popped the snitch into his mouth.

"What are you doing?!?" Mum yelled, but she stopped screaming when she saw Hermione do the same with hers. They both pulled them from their mouths and peered down at them.

"What is going on?" Mum screeched, still not understanding.

"They're from Harry, Mum." I yelled at her, and suddenly all eyes in the room were on me.

"He was here?" Hermione whispered.

"Yeah, he was polyjuiced as Robert."

"You talked to him then?" Ron said quietly, "That's why Rob..er…Harry left."

"I knew it was him when I talked to him," I muttered.

No one asked me any questions and Mum started to clear away the rubbish in the room. She neatly stacked all the gifts in the corner. Silently, everyone got up and walked from the room. Rather quickly, I was the only one left. I stood to leave, but stopped when I saw the two snitches on the table. I picked them up. One said "I miss you" and the other said "I love you"

"Sure you do," I spat as I threw them across the room.

A/N so... you should review me. It makes me happy. and we all know a happy author is a quick to post author... ;-)