Will You Ever Return to Me?

Episode I: the Boundaries of Patience

Chapter 1.

October 1998, Diagon Alley.

Harry had done his duty--as he always had.

He had come to Ron and Hermione's wedding for the sake of his best friends. He would be best man, despite the gaping hole in his chest. None of them understood what motivated Ginny. When Hermione tried to reason, first in person, then, when she became too busy, by owl, she got nowhere. Finally, Ginny sent her a Howler screaming, "I LOVE DRACO AND I WILL MARRY HIM!" to her. Harry wished he could find it funny.

She didn't sent him a Howler, but their communications weren't much better. She was very nice, very polite to him... but the letters always firmly stated that the past was past... and that she intended to marry Malfoy. I love him. Just reading that hurt. Knowing Ginny, he didn't want to get hurt even more by hearing it.

Four months. Four months since the end of the war. Four months in which the wizarding world was celebrating. Four months of torture for Harry. Hounded by reporters, wanted to be used by the Ministry, killing himself over Ginny...

And today, for the first time in four months, he would see her. He wasn't looking forward to it.

If it wasn't for Ron's insistence, Hermione wouldn't even invite her. How many times had Malfoy called her a Mudblood? Did Ginny think like him now? Hermione took this almost as hard as Harry... but she has Ron, Harry thought. Hermione told Harry that she always imagined Ginny as her maid of honor... which terrified Harry until she told him that it wouldn't happen. She chose Luna Lovegood.

The wedding started off with a moment of happiness. Percy Weasley, apart from the family for years, who wouldn't even speak at his parents' funeral, had come.

The two brothers faced each other. Exchanging a glance with Hermione, Harry was ready to pry them apart, take away their wands... but they crushed each other in an embrace.

"I've missed you, Perce," Ron said. "We all did... even Fred and George..." He nearly burst into tears. Hermione helped dry his eyes.

Bill approached to hug Percy as well. He was grim. His wife, Fleur, had been attacked in their home, with their baby daughter. Both were subject to the Cruciatus Curse. By the time Bill got there, and in his fury, killed two Death Eaters on the spot, it was too late. The baby died, and Fleur, while appearing all right, would never be able to have children again. She and Bill celebrated the end of the war no more than Harry, Ron, and Hermione did.

"Welcome back, Perce," Bill said. Harry forced a smile.

"What is it?" Bill asked.

"You heard about Ginny?" Harry hated bringing up the issue.

Bill nodded. "I did." Harry was surprised Bill could be so calm... one of the Death Eaters who attacked his wife and child was Lucius Malfoy.

"You don't think she'll bring... him here?" Harry asked.

"She wouldn't... dare," Ron whispered. Ginny Apparated in... as did Malfoy.

She's beautiful, Harry thought. But with the situation as it was, that beauty was almost a mockery. She's not yours.

The couple approached. Harry tried to look Ginny in the eye, but she turned away. Malfoy smirked, placing his arm around her. Harry narrowed his gaze. It took all his restraint not to draw his wand and curse him.

He spotted a movement nearby. "Bill, don't," he said, restraining the older man.

"Not exactly the welcome I would have liked," Ginny commented.

Ron glared at her. "Ginevra Weasley," he said. "Take your seat."

"Ron, why--"

"Take your seat," Harry said. Everyone fell silent.

"Don't tell me what to do, Potter," Malfoy retorted.

"Shut up, Malfoy," Harry said without looking at him. "Ginny, this day belongs to Ron and Hermione. TAKE YOUR SEAT."

"Fine," Ginny announced, and dragged Malfoy away. Harry wiped sweat off his forehead.

"Mate, I'm not going to ask you if you're all right," Ron placed his hand on his shoulder. "I know you aren't."

"Will it ever be all right?" Harry asked, looking at the people around him.

Bill was the only one to answer him. "I don't know, Harry," he said. "I wish I did."

The wedding itself was a blur. Harry did his part at the alter, but he never danced. The one person he wished to dance with was taken. Harry sat on the sidelines, drinking almost constantly.

So many people who should have been here... weren't. McGonagall... Dumbledore... Remus and Tonks, whose romance barely had time to start... Sirius... Arthur and Molly, who would never see any of their grandchildren...

Then, Harry thought bitterly, considering some of them would bear the Malfoy name, it may be for the best. Ginny was determined, and her parents wouldn't be able to stop her anymore than he or Hermione were. That was one of the things he loved about her. She is gone, Harry. Think of her as dead. That's easier.

"Can't believe this, a Mudblood for a sister-in-law," he heard Malfoy's voice. "Oh well. It's not her I'll be shagging--"

Harry jumped up, and he was not the only one. He couldn't take this anymore. He raised his wand and threw a curse at Malfoy.

He missed, his aim being offset by having too much to drink. The spell flew by Malfoy and hit Ron in the back of the head. Ron now spotted a pair of long donkey ears. Hermione, who was dancing with him, shrieked.

"Oh, Ron, I'm so sorry!" Harry yelled. Malfoy burst into laughter.

"I didn't know there was a way to make the Weasel look any uglier, but Potter found one!" he said.

Harry was ready to do murder. He smashed the wine glass he was holding, got up, and headed towards Malfoy, who was still laughing, and got another shock.

Ginny was laughing with him.

Ginny was laughing with him.

Clenching his fists, Harry strode forward, despite realizing he was lacking coordination.

"We are obviously not welcome here, Draco," Ginny said. "Let's go."

Harry might have run at Malfoy and kill him then. With his bare hands. He tried, but two steps later, he bumped into Luna Lovegood, leading them both to crash to the floor. Luna giggled. Harry flushed. Malfoy doubled over in laughter again.

"Potter, I'd appreciate it if you got off my girlfriend," Neville said.

"Sorry, Nev," Harry sighed. "Sorry, Luna."

"Harry," Neville said as he got up, "don't--"

Harry ignored him and aimed his wand.

"Expelliarmus!" Bill shouted. Harry's wand was yanked away. Before Harry attempted to rush Malfoy without it, he and Ginny Disapparated.

Harry punched a table, causing several glasses to fall over. He tried to say something, attempted to walk up to Bill, and tripped. His last thought before he lost consciousness was regret at his inability to kill Malfoy.