Rainfall

sky_is_blue

Rating: G
Genres: Romance
Relationships: Draco & Ginny
Book: Draco & Ginny, Books 1 - 4
Published: 31/03/2003
Last Updated: 31/03/2003
Status: completed

Her wedding day: A new chapter in her life. But she finds herself clinging to something, some part of her that was left incomplete. A promise from someone long gone is remembered, and it takes memories and a gravestone to leave everything behind. D/G

Chapters

1. Prologue

2. The End

1. Prologue

Rainfall

Part I

Prologue

It was raining heavily. But that did not daunt the little boy from his mission. He continued his endless trek up the hill and did not stop until he was in front of the small, smiling girl—a beautiful little girl that was drenched in the heavy rain. She shivered once, and he wrapped his arm around her. They sat under the tree together where the rain was not so heavy, and there they talked quietly like most 6 year olds would do.

Something, of course, was wrong, as it always was in stories. His father had told him that they would be going away. Her father had frowned sternly at her whenever she played with her friend. The clouds in the sky were just too gray. Sadness rang everywhere around them, emanating through their bodies. Maybe they didn’t understand any of it then, but surely, children could feel something that was innate, something that was, well—human instinct.

His small hands rummaged around his pockets until he fished something out. Looking up at the girl with large, innocent gray eyes, he whispered softly, hurriedly.

‘ We’ll be friends forever, Ginny.’ His small voice was so reassuring that she believed him. She nodded shyly as he took her hand--and when he did, she felt cool metal touching her palm. Upon opening her hand, her eyes turned wide and she giggled with delight. There in her hand lay a plain, thin, silver chain. It sparkled in the dim light, and her eyes shined with awe. She looked at her friend with admiration and silently thanked him. For a moment, they were almost solemn. For a moment. Soon, it was forgotten. Giggling, the boy grabbed her hand and sprang up.

‘ Let’s go play, Ginny!’ He begged. So, together, they ran about the hill freely—their hill, where no one would disturb them. Together they laughed and chortled and chased each other, ignoring the gray day and knowing only their friendship, however small it was. But soon, darkness threatened to overcome, and as they parted, in their young eyes there was sadness and fear once again. Fear that they would not see each other again. They walked down the hill together, swinging their hands about and smiling serenely at just how wonderful their friendship was. They walked on in happy silence, ignoring the rain that would eventually wash away everything they had—even the sweet innocence they had once grasped, and eventually the friendship they had shared.

‘ We’ll be friends forever.’ But he promised with confidence, never the less.

2. The End

Rainfall

Part II

The End

The rain would not cease. It was a Wednesday evening, and it always rained on Wednesdays. She turned from the window in slight disgust.

She didn’t really know what she was supposed to feel. It hadn’t been as if she had known him, right? The news had come rather unexpectedly, met by no tears. There were only a few confused looks, and a particular look of disbelief coming from her. It was just talk, she told herself. How would he have known anyway? No one had seen him for a while. For all she knew, he was still alive and well, still being a bloody git. All this she thought to ward off the nagging feeling that persisted.

She tugged incessantly at her chain again, something that had become habit. No one thought much of it. But today, her mind wandered to it, and how it had found her way to her. It was nothing much; a single chain. It did not even glitter prettily in the light, for it had lost its glow years ago when age began taking its toll.

Her mind clouded when she thought about it, for she had been questioned about it a few times before. People would finger it lightly and ask her, ‘ Why do you keep this piece of rubbish?’ But her attention was quickly diverted.

As she looked through the pile of photos lain out in front of her, she smiled softly, laughing at the funny pictures, crying a little after coming across one that brought sad memories. Often times she missed the days of carefree laughing, before she…well…grew up.

And tomorrow, she would be a blushing bride. Through her state of pre-wedding anxiousness, she kept the chain on her neck, touching its cool surface and feeling an odd feeling of comfort. Comfort.

‘ Promise me you’ll get rid of it when we get married—it’s just a pile of trash.’

‘ I promise…’

There was a feeling of regret at her words as she suddenly reflected on what she had said. For a moment, she let herself remember him, and apprehensively let the far-fetched thoughts crawl into her head. Maybe it wasn’t the fact that she had grown fond of the useless piece of silver. Maybe it was about something entirely different. Maybe it was just the mystery behind it.

He had always been a strange one. Mean, nasty, cruel, selfish…oh, and the pride that never left his eyes. It was always there, the stone cold pride that set his icy gray eyes on fire. So cold and distant. Everyone hated him.

Everyone.

She never did tell anyone about her little secret, however. Her little secret—the one that made her wonder whether or not there was a human hidden behind layers and layers of calm, cool facade.

Impatiently, she tugged off the chain that hung loosely around her neck and placed it on her dresser.

*+*

Her wedding day had been a bright and sunny day. It was full of laughter and reminiscing, kisses and farewell tears. Empty champagne bottles and boxes of chocolates.

The day seemed to last forever, and it was such a joyful one. The moment he held her hands and she said Ô I do.Õ , she had felt the sense of relief flooding through her because the deed had been done. Her wedding day had been everything she had dreamed of and more.

But though she laughed and hugged and reminisced, she did not feel completion as her mother and friends had told her she would. She felt…empty. Her lips did not curl up into a smile as she thought of her future.

She loved him, no doubt about that. But getting married was quite a big leap to take. From here on marked a new page in her book, the day that marked the end of her childhood and the day that she began her adulthood anew. It was a day to remember everything because those old memories would be now pushed aside to make room for new ones. She was no longer a daughter but a resourceful wife and soon to be mother. Someone who would have her own family and someone who would have her own photo albums.

She sighed dejectedly, knowing that these were only excuses for something that had been bothering her for a long time.

Her eyes glanced over at her dresser and she saw the silver chain laying limp on its surface.

Maybe, she was holding on to silly wishful thinking of what could have been. Maybe she was still disbelieving that he had gone, and maybe she was still stubbornly remembering a certain promise.

Maybe all she needed was to know, so she could finally move on and for god’s sake forget about the past and more importantly forget about him.

Getting up, she grabbed the chain without hesitation--and walked out the door.

Curiosity always got the better of her.

*+*

She stood in front of the small house awkwardly, fist in mid-air as she contemplated whether or not to disturb the peaceful silence.

It’s not too late to turn back.

Finally, she heard three knocks, and after realizing that she had knocked, she tensed up as she waited for the door to swing open.

And open it did, a few seconds later, to reveal an aging blonde woman with blue eyes that showed little warmth.

‘ Yes?’ She asked suspiciously, wrapping the shawl around her protectively. Ginny stood in front of her in awe, noting the blonde hair that still remained through the mass of gray hairs that blended in. Noting the lines of weariness etched into her pale skin. Yes, it was her. She struggled to find her voice.

‘ I’m here to ask about your son.’ She said quietly. The woman’s eyes hardened. She stood in front of her, face to face with this strange woman with fiery red hair, and her lips quivered.

‘ You have no business with him.’ She said sternly--but she stopped suddenly and then there was a look of slight understanding that replaced her cold disposition. She closed her eyes for a moment and clutched her heart. Quietly, she crept out of her house, walking slowly towards the hills that stood so magnificently behind her house. Ginny followed her silently, hands trembling and her heart thumping loudly. A million what if?’s raced through her mind, as they walked towards the distant plains and hills.

They did not stop until they reached a particularly steep hill. And there at the bottom the old woman halted, and looked at Ginny. Sadness brimmed her eyes.

Holding back a jumble of sudden emotions, she walked tiredly up the hill, wind blowing against her, the skies suddenly turning dark, stormy gray.

Then, she was at the top, and she remembered everything as the air suddenly grew impeccably still. The sight in front of her clawed at her heart.

On the ground there stood a large slab of stone—a tombstone-- with a single name etched into its surface:

Draco Malfoy

She got on her knees, eyes wide and still not knowing whether or not the sight in front of her was real. She brushed away a few leaves that had fallen over the stone and admired its smooth surface, and marveled at just how similar the gray was to his piercing gray eyes. It was funny how she could suddenly remember.

Everywhere around her there was an ethereal glow, because this place had been the foundation of it all. How strange it was to feel so much sorrow and to know that her first friend was laying here, dead and cold. The word friend sounded so odd, describing Draco Malfoy.

How stupid that it had to be like this. Something precious wasted because of foolish pride and lack of interest. What had seemed so surreal until a few minutes ago came crashing down, and her shoulders sagged with the truth: he was indeed gone.

What had happened to the promises? And what about the promises she made to herself; that she would never let anything stand in their way?

Those words had lost their meaning as they had grown up, letting silly rules dictate whom they could associate with. Now it was over, and there was nothing she could do.

She felt only a few tears roll down her cheeks as she laid the silver chain atop the mound of grass, admiring its plain beauty because of the value it held.

‘ You promised me forever, Draco.’ She frowned softly through her tears, choking back sobs.

‘ You broke your promise.’

And after it had been said, she found that she could not linger. She had said her good-bye. She began walking away, leaving the silver chain on top of his grave. She didn’t need it anymore.

As she did, the sky gave a loud crack and heavy rain began to fall, drenching her completely. Rain that was much like the one she had shared with him so many years ago when they were but children—when it didn’t matter that she was Ginny Weasley, and he was Draco Malfoy.

And perhaps this rain would wash away everything, even the sense of helplessness she felt at the moment. She didn’t regret coming here, but visiting this special place had been like walking into one of her many confusing dreams. It simply couldn’t be a part of her life. He couldn’t be a part of her life.

So she let the rain wash it away.

*+*

Life doesn’t turn out the way you expect it to. All you can do is cry a few tears and move on.

*+*

-fin-