My Heart Still Beats For You

Ginny spent the rest of that day by the lake. She wanted to think of what Draco could be doing at that moment, but then again, those thoughts brought pain beyond belief.

You put a rose in my hand
Put a dollar in my pocket
But you don't understand
How the days grow longer, the sky is black as night
I see the morning but you won't see the light

That night, as rain splattered against her window, she sat on the windowsill and remembered.

She remembered their first kiss, in that same spot by the lake. She'd been awkward, but he seemed to know exactly what to do. He guided her as he gently brushed his lips against hers.

She remembered their first official date. They went to Hogsmeade for a while, but they got tired of that and came back to the castle, where they spent the rest of the day wandering around the grounds. Past the greenhouses, along the edge of the forest, around the lake, even daring to go near the Whomping Willow.

She remembered when she'd first found out about his duties as a Death Eater, and his obligation to serve in place of his father, to pay the debt. He had explained to her that he was in danger, and she would be too. And perhaps they shouldn't be together. But she'd insisted.

It hadn't mattered to her, that she was in mortal danger because of her love for him. It still didn't matter. She didn't care about saving herself; she cared much more deeply for Draco, and for his safety. He was forced so deeply into this world of evil that Voldemort had brought back with his followers.

She watched him grow paler and more worried as Voldemort grew stronger. She was there when he had to leave for his responsibilities, and she waited for him. She prayed for him to be all right, and for him to be spared with life, what so many others had not.

When he returned to her, she saw what no one else saw. There was a haunted look in his eyes that had not been there when they were younger. His icy blue eyes grew darker, and she could hear the now-familiar waver in his voice when they spoke about Lord Voldemort.

Leaning her head against the cool glass of the window, she wiped away her fresh tears and drew her knees to her chest.

I thought about you for a long, long time
I wrote about you but my words don't seem to rhyme
And now you're lying here
But my heart still beats for you

They'd made a vow to be together always. And now, in the midst of these dark times, she felt that invisible bond strengthening, rather than becoming weaker. Anything could try and tear them apart, and many things had nearly succeeded, but she'd always love him. And she knew he felt the same.

Somewhere out there, she knew, he was doing whatever he was he needed to do. It was his duty. And she hoped he was thinking of her, safe and unharmed.

Note: lyrics copyright Hootie and the Blowfish.