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Ginny was ecstatic.
The war was behind them and finally the world seemed to settle down. Granted, it took longer than she'd expected, but it was finally coming around to something she remembered from before everything went to shit.
She wasn't an idiot.
She knew nothing could be exactly the way it was before. Not with Fred gone and Bill's… Accident.
But Harry had finally come around to the Burrow and her ex boyfriend had really grown into a fine man. She'd barely seen him over the years. He'd taken off after the war, choosing to explore the world and enjoy himself after his years of suffering. She heard he enjoyed France, that he had found peace there.
Ginny found she couldn't blame him for it. Maybe blinded by the love she still carried for him, but he was the hero of the Wizarding World. He'd saved them from Voldemort, even tasting death in the process. Harry deserved a break.
But now he was back and they were playing Quidditch together like they always did. He was laughing as Ron tumbled off his broom, walloped by a bludger to the stomach. Ginny couldn't help but stare. His messy mop of hair was wilder now that he'd grown it out. The stubble of his beard on the more defined cheeks and the easy grin he wore made her heart swoop.
Harry Potter was more handsome than ever and Ginny couldn't help but fall in love with him all over again.
She knew he didn't have a girlfriend after her. She'd found that out through Ron. But Ron kept discouraging her, telling her to stay away from Harry, but being very vague about why.
“Forget Harry,” He would say uncomfortably. “It's not the same anymore. He's not the same anymore.”
Ron was right. Harry wasn't the same anymore. He was better.
She shivered as they trudged back to the house, wishing she'd worn something that wasn't as thin as the blouse she'd donned to catch the scarred Hero’s eye. It hung low on her chest, exposing the swell of her breasts.
“I'm so bloody cold,” She shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Why'd you leave your jacket back home then?” asked Ron rather cross, his brows knotting as he rubbed his aching belly as he marched up ahead along the muddy hillock, the cool November wind nipping his ears, turning them red.
Harry laughed quietly from behind her and pulled off his jacket, setting it on her shoulders. “Here, Gin. Have mine,” He smiled and fell into step beside her.
The jacket was large, wider along her frame than any of her own and she felt a shudder run down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. A flush coloured her cheeks and she didn't trust herself to speak, yet she glanced over at him time and again.
Harry raked his fingers through his messy hair. She wanted to feel its inky softness, explore the pricking of his strubble.
Kiss his lips once more, oh Merlin please...
He was to stay overnight, just one night. She knew she had a chance, the best chance. They'd broken up because of the war. Not because they fell out of love with each other. He hadn't had a girlfriend after her. Ron was being stupid. She should make a move now, not stay away.
She rapped their bedroom door the next morning. Harry was sharing Ron's bedroom for old times sake. He might not ever visit again. After all, he was twenty four now.
Harry opened the door, sleep in his pretty green eyes and shirtless. His pants hanging low on his waist. Ginny's breath hitched in her throat.
“Yeah?” He tried to smile, his voice deep and guttural with drowsiness. Ginny's heart began to race.
Harry was so gorgeous.
“I.. Uhh.. This..” She cleared her throat and reached out to grab his hand, dropping a bracelet on his palm. It was a black rope bracelet, with a charm in silver at its centre. Harry squinted at it, trying to see it without his glasses.
“This.. Made me think of you,” She said quietly. Harry raised it up to his eye level, eyes narrowed as he focused on the little charm. His face smoothened into a smile and he chuckled.
“Is that a snitch?” He cocked an eyebrow at her, grinning.
Ginny couldn't stop herself. She pushed him against the door frame and kissed him. His lips were softer than she remembered, but tasted oh so familiar. He didn't move. Didn't flinch. Yet, he didn't lean in either.
She pulled away and he gave her a look. Pitying her almost.
“Gin, I'm sorry.”
She looked away, tears pricking her eyes.
“Gin, you have to believe me.”
Her throat constricted and she struggled to breathe. The rejection burned through like an unforgiving poison, determined to kill her slowly.
Harry stood before her, leaning back against the wall to keep his hands as far away from her as he could and she stumbled, trying to get away from him.
She heard the floo woosh to life downstairs as she hastened to her room and heard George address the visitor.
“Fucking hell, Malfoy. What are you doing here?”
“Picking up my boyfriend. Can't have him staying in this dump any longer,” Came the curt reply of Draco Malfoy, as cold as ever, before he called out. “Harry Potter, get your arse down here!”
Harry laughed and yelled something back.
She shut the door before she could hear anymore, leaning against it as the tears broke free, hot and heavy down her face. Ginny slid down to the floor and hugged her legs against her chest, sobbing away her yearning, her pain, her grief for a love she never got over.
Ginny Weasley screamed as the curly haired man yelled out a curse.
“Crucio!”
Pain on pain in torrents crushed her over. She curled up, screaming, tearing at her hair, waiting for it to end.
But it seemed to go on forever.
Her body still continued to convulse even when the curse stopped. She reached out, trying to crawl away on the dusty stone floor.
The man laughed.
“Oh, you're not getting away, Weasley,” He sneered, walking closer to her and crouching down to her level. “Now tell me, where is Potter?”
“I don't know,” She wept, broken and flinching away, terrified of the man.
The man laughed.
“You were his sweetheart since Hogwarts, weren't you? The only girl he ever loved. His best friend's sister…” The man paused and his voice dropped. “You must understand why I can't believe you. I need to avenge my father. Nothing personal alright, Red?”
She sobbed hard. “Draco… Draco Malfoy...”
Mattheo Riddle frowned. “Draco Malfoy what?”
“Draco knows…” She whimpered, fresh tears trickling her dirty face.
Mattheo laughed again, turning around to a dark corner of the dimly lit room and beckoned with his fingers. A familiar face of sharp features and platinum hair stepped into the light, an impassive expression on his face.
“Draco here has been aiding my efforts to avenge my father,” Mattheo chuckled, standing up and moving back to position. “He's my cousin, you know? Can't have you bad mouthing my family. Let's not make this harder than it already is, Red. Alright? Now I ask you once more.” He raised his wand at the sobbing girl. “Where is Harry Potter?”
Draco watched as the man tortured the Weasley girl. He knew where Harry was, but he wasn't going to betray his husband's whereabouts. Harry was in France, at their home with their two adopted sons. No one, but Ron Weasley had known of their relationship initially and Draco intended to let it stay that way, that their secret ended with the Weasleys. It was a shame he'd relaxed his guard and let them all know back then.
Harry didn't need to know that Voldemort's mad son was hunting for him. Draco had volunteered to help the Ministry, staying on Riddle's inner circle to glean just enough information to bring down everyone else who still stood in favour of the dark side. Harry had worked enough to save the world. It was Draco's turn to save him now.
He saw Ginerva scream and look his way again, her wide eyes desperate. But no help would come for her. Not today.
Draco loved Harry, but he didn't care for the Weasley girl, especially since she was the only one Harry truly loved before him. He didn't care what would happen to her. She was just be a note in his next report. Her death would be one of many in Mattheo Riddle's deranged man hunt. Pity his aunt Bellatrix had to reproduce. Her psychotic genes passed on to her son.
Draco raised his right hand to rub the back of his neck and the movement was enough to shatter the last bit of hope Ginny had left. Her eyes went blank. He smiled back at her slowly, wickedly. He knew what she'd seen.
Ginny had seen the bracelet on his wrist, the bracelet Harry had given him.
The black rope bracelet with the charm of a silver snitch at the centre, glinting in the light.
Mattheo shouted his curse once more. Ginny screamed again.
And Draco watched.