Bitches in Tokyo
Temporary battles
Can take up half your life.
How you dig your bed,
Will it help you sleep at night?
Forgiveness like a blanket
That you want to forget.
But you still crumble at my name.
You still crumble at my name.
September 27, 2017
When Ginny came home from work, he was waiting for her in the living room, his foot jingling and a mug of Butterbeer in his hand. Ginny, however, did not appear to notice his strange disposition, and instead, plopped down on the couch next to him and let out a long moan.
"Hello, Gin. Long day?"
"Ugh-you have no idea. I got this job so I could stay at home more often, not so that I would have to put up with the overall incompetence of the Daily Prophet late into the night. I swear, my imbecile editor doesn't know the difference between a quaffle and a snitch. Merlin!"
"Hmm."
"One day, I'm going to show them the difference when I show them both up his arse! Bloody wanker." She stewed in silence for a moment. "Did you and Lily have a nice time today?"
"Oh, yeah. She was disappointed when I told her we wouldn't be doing any shopping, but still liked the park."
"You took her to the park?"
"Yes. Is that a problem?"
"Oh, no. I just thought it an odd choice."
"Why? It is my favorite place to go in the neighborhood."
"Is it?"
"Yeah, it is. And I thought Lily might like to share it with me."
"Hmm. Sweet of you."
"Thanks."
Ginny played with her hair for a moment.
"Ginny?"
"Yes?"
"We need to talk."
"Oh."
Harry fidgeted in his seat, but held Ginny's gaze. "Ginny-I-can't-"
She sighed, breaking eye contact by looking down.
He swallowed and tried again. "I can't do this anymore. I care about you, I do, it's just-"
"You don't love me, do you Harry?"
Harry's face twisted, as though pained.
"Please, Harry. Tell me the truth."
"I-no. No, I don't."
Ginny looked away, blinking back tears.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, but I-I tried Ginny, and you're wonderful and beautiful and a great mother. I don't-I don't know what's wrong with me, but I just-can't. You deserve better than that-better than me."
"I thought that you might-might not."
"Gods, Ginny. I'm such an arse. I didn't mean to-didn't want to hurt you, I swear."
She smiled at him tearfully. "I know, Harry. I know that." She wiped away a few stray tears. "But I never really knew you, did I?"
"Ginny-"
"No, it's true. I love you, Harry, but not in the way you need, I think."
"Ginny, don't. This is my fault, completely my fault. Please don't think-"
"It's okay. I've-I've been preparing myself for this for a long time."
Harry would have preferred that she scream, yell, throw things.
"I'm sorry, Ginny. So sorry."
"I know."
"I wish-"
"Please, don't."
Harry finally looked away, feeling worthless. "I'm sorry," he said again.
There was a long, terrible pause.
"We need to think of the children."
"We need to tell them in person. Both of us."
"Yes."
"We can wait, until a better time."
"I think, Harry, that we've waited long enough. We can take Lily up to visit James and Albus and tell them then."
Ginny placed her head in her hands.
"I don't want to fight about anything, Ginny. You know you can have anything you want, I just want to be able to spend time with the kids."
"We'll talk about the particulars later, Harry. I'm-I'm going to go to bed."
She stood, mascara running down her cheeks, still managing to hold her head high. She started to walk away, but then froze.
"You-you love her, don't you?" She asked softly, without turning around.
Harry didn't ask whom she was referring to. "Yes." He closed his eyes. "I didn't mean-"
"I know you didn't." Ginny said, her voice remarkably strong.
"Why-why aren't you mad at me?" Harry finally blurted out, unable to keep himself from doing so.
"If I know you at all, Harry, you've punished yourself enough over this, more so than I could ever do." She took a few more steps toward the stairs. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me."
"I didn't," he choked. "I swear, I didn't."
"I know, but I can't talk to you anymore." She paused. "Let me go, Harry. Let me let you go."
She walked up the stairs without another word.
Harry looked down at his left hand and slowly removed his wedding band.
A heavy weight left him.
A/N: I really dislike Ginny in the books when she's with Harry, but I wanted to give her some dignity-sort of. My beta says she couldn't picture Ginny being so dignified, but agreed it was a nice change from the norm, so I stuck with it. Sometimes I like to try something different. And honestly, the chapter/song title was completely a coincidence-Lol. We now have only three chapters left! Also, I know this chapter was short, but I felt like nothing else really needed to be said, and I'm certainly not one to add superfluous material, just for the sake of making a chapter longer. I'll update again soon though!