As Long as I Love you

The corridors were quiet and she crept along, concealed to the untrained eye. Students passed her without even acknowledging her presence. She didn't blame them. Then she saw those familiar green eyes looking straight at her. She looked more closely and realized that he was really looking through her. Sighing softly, she walked briskly, making sure she stayed closed to the wall and away from anyone.

As soon as she walked near him, she stopped in her tracks. He then paused in front of her and turned to the redhead next to him. "She isn't seeing Draco, is she?"

"Not while, I'm bloody alive, Harry. I'll hex that Malfoy if he dares to get to her again. Don't worry. You stand a chance with her. She's popular, big deal! You're popular too."

"Yea, popular being the tragic hero every year. I'm sick of it, Ron. So tired of being the tragic hero. So tired of being too afraid to go up to her and ask her out. You sure you won't break my legs if I asked her out?"

"Ginny's my only sister. Plus you're my best friend and the only guy I can trust. Frankly speaking, I'd rather like having you as family!"

"You're thinking too far, Ron," Harry blushed and laughed as the two friends walked off. Ginny pulled the cloak over herself more tightly, leaned against the wall and watched them disappear around the corner. If you want Harry as family, go marry him yourself, she thought bitterly. She decided to hurry her pace until she came to the stairs up to the Astronomy Tower. Slowly treading the steps, Ginny felt her heart quicken.

She knew she loved him. She always had. Harry was no one to her anymore... not after her first year in Hogwarts. Not after she met him. But he had told her to continue her childish fascination for the boy who had lived... to continue with the masquerade that she couldn't bring herself to. Yet for him and only him, she did so, her heart breaking every time she pictured him watching her fawn over Harry. As the years passed, Ginny knew she had grown... she had grown prettier and her popularity in school grew. People no longer saw her, as "Ron's little sister "or" the girl with the singing valentine for Potter". Instead, people saw her as the sweet-faced redhead with a charm that matched her fiery hair. She could finally stop pretending to like Harry. So many pursued her, in hopes of being "the one" for Virginia Weasley. Yet she stayed true to her heart, not failing in her love for him.

When she reached the top of the stairs, Ginny checked the whole place, making sure that there was no one. With each step, she thought more of being alone with him. She remembered how she finally came through the barrier and how real he was to her. Then she remembered that he was finally real too. His touch was so gentle despite what others said. His words were loving and silken, lacking all the spite or cruelty that so many thought he had. They'll never see you as I did. They'll never know how much you suffered at his hands... or how much you didn't want things to turn out this way, she sighed softly. Without consideration, she took off the Invisibility cloak and held it close to her body. It was a present from him to her. It had belonged to him but he gave it to her, saying that she needed it more than him.

Suddenly, a pair of arms grabbed her from the back and held in a tight embrace. A familiar dreamy scent greeted her when she breathed deeply to shout. A smooth soft voice whispered into her ears, tickling them, "There's no one here. I checked."

Ginny sighed, closed her eyes and smiled to herself. All worries from the day were slowly eroding. Thoughts of her parchment for History being half a page short were the last to fade away before she turned around to look into his eyes. There was a sense of warmth and comfort, making her smile wistfully. "I missed you."

"You're still troubled," the tall boy replied, pulling her to the wall and sitting down. Ginny crawled into his arms and leaned on the smooth Hogwarts robe that covered his chest. She didn't say a word and he gently brushed away a stray strand of hair that had fallen across her face. Then he gently prompted her, "Was it Ron?"

Ginny did not want to move, being very comfortable in her position. Yet, her head nodded against her own will. He sighed and placed a reassuring hand on her head, closing his own eyes. Ginny closed her eyes too, feeling as though she had been transported into a dream. A wave of tiredness overcame her as it always did after a while. Then his gentle voice made her eyes open. "He still thinks you and Harry should be together?"

Her head snapped up to look at him. "That's what he thinks. He's not me. Ron's a pest. Even though he says he trusts Harry, the last time I went out to buy ice cream with Harry, Ron followed us. Stupid git. He'll never be able to trust anyone, I fear. Even if he does, I'm sure he won't trust you. He doesn't know you and yet I know he wouldn't be able to accept you."

"No one would be able to accept me-"

"I did!" Ginny protested. He smiled and shook his head.

"Not everyone thinks like you, Virginia. And I'm actually glad it's that way. 'Cos it allows me to truly know that I do care for you, my dear. And it assures me that you'd care for me, wouldn't you, love?"

"Of course I would," Ginny smiled. She liked the way he said her name, Virginia. He was the only person she had allowed to address her by Virginia. She snuggled against his chest again and his arms found their way around her slender waist. She grew tired again as she felt the energy slowly flowing out of her. They sat there wordlessly for a while before he spoke again.

"You do know that you'd have to marry when you grow older."

"I'd kill myself."

"I wouldn't allow that."

"Why not?" Ginny's eyes glared now as she looked in his eyes. He tried to speak but he found himself looking into her eyes, speechless by the beauty in her. Slowly but surely, he found his tongue.

"I wouldn't be able to stand the sight of you killing yourself. You're too... precious."

"So you'd rather lose me to someone I don't love?" Ginny now looked upset, tears stinging her eyes. He could only shake his head. Ginny turned away in pain, "You have no idea how much you've hurt me. I cried every night after I threw memories of us away. I panicked when I saw that Harry might have been talking to you. I knew he was going to hurt you. I had to take you away. Then I was willing to give you everything! I gave you my life! When Harry struck that tooth into the diary in the Chamber that day, it felt like he had struck it into my heart. I was glad to be alive but yet overwhelmed with hurt that I wasn't with you-"

"He freed me, Virginia. He divided Tom Riddle from Lord Voldermort-" Tom tried to say but Ginny interrupted him again.

"Later on, everyone thought I was crying because I was a silly little girl who was scared. No one knew my tears were for you, Tom. No one knew the heartbreak I was experiencing. Then when I finally revive the memory of you, you tell me to forget you and be happy with Harry? How could I? I worked so hard! Now that we worked together to forge you a body out of memory and my energy, you don't mind losing me? I do mind losing you! You're part of me."

"I can't keep stealing your energy just to be with you, Virginia."

"I want you to, as long as I love you, Tom," Ginny sobbed. She was growing very tired indeed. Tom narrowed his handsome brows and held her tightly. Then he kissed her forehead, brushed the tears away with his hand and planted his lips on hers. Everything seemed brighter for Ginny suddenly and the tears subsided. Through the kiss, she felt some of her energy seep into Tom, but she didn't mind. As long as I love you, she thought. Then Tom pulled away gently, ran his hand down her cheek and smiled.

"We'll be together, I promised. I'll never leave you. Now promise me that you'll rest tomorrow. I'll see you the next day. I've exhausted you too much tonight. Have a good rest for me?" Ginny nodded and smiled weakly. Then Tom kissed her cheek one last time and disappeared. Ginny felt her energy return but she was tired mentally. Throwing Tom's Invisibility cloak over her shoulders, she took a deep breath. His dreamy scent had always lingered on the cloak even though she had washed it a couple of times. Then Virginia Weasley returned to the Gryffindor Tower.