A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! A certain anonymous reviewer reminded me of a certain spelling mistake-I am so sorry I misspelled Voldie's name! How horrible can I be-I really apologize for that. I've also gotten some feedback that this story is a bit confusing-I'd appreciate it if y'all would dictate what exactly was confusing. Is it the quick scene changes? Or maybe just the fact that it started in the middle of things-or it is merely the lack of information?
All you anonymous reviewers, thanks so much for your feedback. Unfortunately, I can't personally acknowledge any questions or comments you might have, so...sorry.
Isabelle Marie, harryloveshermione2003, Draco's Gurl, AnimalLover947, strawberry shortcake, and clanmalfoy, the answer to who Harry's wife was will be answered soon. I guess I'm that type of person who indirectly hints at a lot of stuff; I hate it when books bluntly give away the ending. So yeah, sorry I can't tell you yet! Hopefully you'll be able to figure it out on your own though *winkwink* Also of mention, although I had hoped that I made this painfully clear, Hermione was married to Ron.
Also, clanmalfoy, the answer about the G/D-ness will be answered later. Be prepared to hunt for hints, like with the identity of Chloe's mother.
Hilary, there MIGHT be some H/Hr-goodiness. I'm not sure if I want it to go that way...but I'll think about it, lol.
Kayters, I think you're the only one who actually liked (or mentioned that they like) the abrupt scene changes. It's more movie ish, I agree, but hey-it's just how I write!
BabyD: Nope, she's not corresponding with him! Nice guess though!
Thanks to dracosgurl159, Draca, Cindergirl, Kim, Estaria, Nara, darkcharlie, LockaBlack, and Draco'sbabe137 for your feedback!
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To Bring You Back
Chapter Two: Worthless
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summary: "I had to come back," Draco whispered. "You wouldn't understand." Harry fumed, clenching his wand painfully as he shouted, "What type of idiot are you! To come back here, knowing that you'd be killed! Do you have anything to live for?!" Draco gave him a sad smile, chuckling as he replied, "That's why I'm here, Pothead." And Harry knew. He hadn't come back for his mum. His dignity. The truth. He had come back for Ginny.
~-~-~-~-~-~
"Hello, Virginia."
Ginny swallowed hard, her fork clattering into her plate. Harry swiftly got up, his hand clenched around his wand.
"Malfoy," Harry said, eyeing Draco.
"Pothead," Draco replied, giving him a side glance. "I see that you still haven't learned your manners. If you can't tell, I'm trying to have a private conversation."
"Well I'm sorry, Malfoy," Ginny spat, rising as well. Draco turned his eyes back on her, narrowing them slightly at the bitterness in her tone. "But I don't have time for your words. Harry, let's go." As Ginny turned to leave, however, Draco reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Let go of me!"
"Virginia, we need to talk," Draco whispered into her ear, his hot breath tickling her neck.
"Well I'm sorry, Draco, but I don't-"
"Please."
Ginny froze, her brown eyes going wide as she relaxed. Draco stared at her, his face expressionless. It was the desperation in Draco's voice that had stopped her from escaping.
"So now you need to talk?" she finally said, and in his shock he let go of her arm. Grabbing her coat, she threw Harry a look and walked briskly out of the café, her red hair billowing out behind her.
"Damnit," Harry heard Draco say.
"What are you doing here, Malfoy," Harry whispered, his eyes still on the door after watching Ginny's exit. "Why now?" Draco sighed, his hands resting in his pockets as he swallowed.
"I needed to see her one last time."
~-~-~-~-~-~
Hermione brushed her hair out of her face, tendrils sticking to her tears as they rolled down her cheek. Sniffing, she reached into her pocket and grabbed a locket, Ron's last present to her.
"You will remember me when I'm gone, won't you?"
Hermione clenched her eyes shut, her arm falling loosely to her side as she remembered the last time she had ever talked to her husband.
"Hermione, listen to me."
She hated herself for not understanding. For not knowing that something was going to happen. All the damn signs! Everything Ron had said, and yet Hermione still couldn't grasp it. Still couldn't do anything.
"I love you..."
Still couldn't save him.
"Hermione?"
She wanted to forget. Desperately wanted to erase her pain. Her dreams, her nightmares, were plagued with his smiling face, the ache in her heart.
"Promise me something."
But she didn't want to forget. Slowly, she knew, she would forget his smile. His touch. His beautiful eyes. She would forget him.
"Learn to let go. Revenge isn't worth it."
Hermione clenched the locket harder in her palm, allowing the soft breeze to kiss her tear stained cheeks as the sun's warmth embraced her.
"I'll see you sooner than you think. Don't worry, like you usually do."
Hermione turned around slowly, making her way back home.
"I'll never really leave you, Hermione. Don't fight it."
Her footsteps crossed her old ones in the freshly paved mud as she made her way through the woods behind the Burrow.
"I'll wait for you. Destiny had a different plan for you...something so much more...magical."
Hermione's eyes lifted up to the sky, the clouds hiding the sun from her view.
"You don't know how much I'll miss you."
Slowly, she closed her eyes, suddenly desperate for his touch.
"I'll be there, Hermione."
A soft prickling on her shoulder, then her knee, tickling. Hermione opened her eyes, amazed to see what was around her.
Red autumn leaves were falling over her, the breeze carrying them to shower her.
"I love you. Don't ever forget that."
~-~-~-~-~-~
"What do you mean, see her one last time?" Harry asked, his eyes tearing away from Ginny to stare at Draco.
"It's none of your business, Potter," Draco muttered, sighing.
"It is too my damn business," Harry breathed, taking two long strides to face Draco. "You leave her and all of a sudden come back, just to leave again."
"You wouldn't understand, Potter. I just...had to see her." Harry snorted.
"That makes it sound like you love her, you know."
"I know."
"Do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Love her."
"Love who?"
"Love Ginny." Draco didn't answer, his grey eyes staring into Harry's green ones. Finally, he blinked, shaking himself out of his stupor and shrugging delicately.
"I don't know." Lifting his head up, soft tendrils of blonde hair cascaded down his forhead.
"Then why the fuck did you come back?"
"I told you already, Potter, you wouldn't understand." Draco turned to leave when a hand clamped on his shoulder, pulling him back around.
"Malfoy..." Harry said, struggling to find the right words. Draco shrugged Harry's hand off, sneering slightly at his situation.
"Look, since you're so desperate to know," Draco began, his eyes finding sanctuary on the window. "This is the end for me. I know it. And for some bloody reason, I had to come and see her. Just to remind myself, I guess."
"Remind yourself of what?"
"Just...a reminder of what could have been."
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Hermione sauntered into the Burrow, the smell of happiness invading her senses.
Sure, happiness wasn't a smell. Or so people thought. But people also thought magic didn't exist. That love didn't exist. That miracles didn't exist.
Hermione stepped out of her boots, dropping them delicately next to the door as she pulled her long hair into a ponytail. Noticing a certain redhead sitting at the kitchen table, Hermione smiled slightly, sighing as she went to sit next to her.
"Ginny, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked, noticing Ginny's red, puffy eyes. "What happened?"
"Nothing," Ginny said defiantly, sniffing.
"Now Ginny," Hermione began. "You know better than that."
"Really, Herm, nothing happened." Hermione gave Ginny a side glance, and noticing the way Ginny stroked the necklace she was wearing, Hermione knew what had happened.
"Did Draco come back?" Hermione asked quietly. Ginny froze, her eyes darting up to meet Hermione's nervously.
"W-what?" she stuttered, and Hermione laid her hand on Ginny's, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Did Draco come back?" Hermione repeated, and Ginny nodded, her eyes swarming up with more tears.
"What did that bastard want with you?"
"He...oh, Hermione, I don't know!"
"Did he beg and grovel for forgiveness?"
"He wanted to talk...he said sorry..."
"Well, sorry just isn't good enough." Hermione frowned, her face set in frustration. "He doesn't deserve your forgiveness. Not after what he did."
"Maybe I just was expecting too much, you know. I mean, how could I seriously think that he loved me?"
"Ginny..."
"I mean, who would give up his inheritance, family, blood, for me? It's just...idiotic."
"No, not at all."
"It would never have worked out anyway. I'm...glad...it ended this way."
"Ginny-"
"No, really, Hermione. Quite happy."
~-~-~-~-~-~
"The end?" Draco ignored this.
"Potter, I also came to see you."
"Wha-"
"Deatheaters are regrouping. My...father...he's revolting. He's going to break out of Azkaban anytime now, and he's planning on somehow building his own world, own society, one where darkness dominates. I'm going to try and save my mother."
"But your mum's in-"
"I know where she is, thank you. I'm going to save her, Potter. And I know that this is where it all ends. For me, at least. Look, I'm...sorry."
"About what?"
"About Weasley." Harry's face paled. "I never did get to tell him I was sorry. Missed the funeral too. I just wanted to let you know, at least, that I was. You know...sorry." Harry didn't respond. "Wea...Ron, he was...a good man. The world'll miss him."
"Yeah," Harry croaked out, his green eyes blazing as he looked up to meet Draco's.
"I'm aware, Potter, that...my father was the one who killed him." Draco waited for Harry to nod, and when he finally did, Draco continued. "I also wanted to let you know that I never wished this on him."
"I know, Malfoy."
"I never hated him."
"Yeah."
"Never hated you, either. Or Granger."
"Malfoy-"
"I can't believe these bloody words are coming out of my bleeding mouth."
"Look-"
"But seeing as I'm going to Hell anyway..."
"You aren't going-"
"Take care of Ginny for me, Potter," Draco growled, his eyes dimming. "She deserves someone to love her."
"Wha-" But before Harry could ask anything else, Draco had disapparated, leaving no trail to follow.
~-~-~-~-~-~
"It's not like I loved him, you know..." Ginny whispered meaninglessly. "Not like I cared..." Hermione remained silent, deep inside her own thoughts.
"I just...I hate him," Ginny muttered, her eyes tearing up once more. "I hope he dies. Dies in his own despair."
"You don't really mean that, Gin," Hermione whispered.
"No, you're right Hermione." There was a brief silence. "I loved him..."
"I love you, Ginny. I'd give up anything for you..."
"...but that's worthless too."
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