Before You Go [Ginny]

[James Charlus Potter]

James knew Ginny was about to leave. She had become more distant in the last weeks.  He had a feeling that it was some sort of Order business (she gets to go on missions but not him?  Unfair!), though he had a feeling the Order wasn't having her actually go on a mission and it was by her own volition that she was going away.  They had been friends since their breakup and while he still had feelings, he also had feelings for the lovely Lily, and began feeling conflicted.  But he knew that he and Ginny couldn't be and had accepted it by this point despite his feelings and all of that. 

And so, he had left her a note earlier to meet him on the covered bridge.  Of course, he didn't want it to be too mellow of a parting, so he rigged the entrance with a magical prank that would soak her with water the instant she entered the covered bridge.  The bridge was a special place to James when regarding his relationship with Ginny.  They spent several days between classes talking here when they could.  When she was upset or when he was upset, the view and the atmosphere here lent itself to more serious talks with add ins of joking and such. 

Now he waited, hoping Ginny would take his invitation so he could at least say good-bye to her.

[Ginny Molly Weasley]

Ginny stared at the note James had somehow magicked into her dorm room.

Meet me at our spot after the feast.
~J

She felt tears prickle in her eyes... he knew. He had to know. Why else would he have picked today of all days for a meeting at their favorite place, the covered bridge. Where they spent hours talking and joking, crying and laughing. Today was to be her last day at Hogwarts. Her months training with Dumbledore and Harry were about to leave her in the worst situation. She was to become an official, full member of Voldemort's death eaters. As a Hogwarts student, she was not yet permitted into all Death Eater meetings, but the Dark Lord would allow her in more after she left Hogwarts to fully pursue his ideals. Unfortunately, becoming a full member was necessary for her to help Harry in their task of destroying Voldemort.

She sighed and finished packing with a flick of her wand. She quickly ran a brush through her short brown hair and pulled her shirt straight. Her current attire was one that screamed Slytherin. She was wearing a skin tight black v-neck that clung to her curves, a pair of silver skinny jeans, and a pendant with the Slytherin logo on it. She wore her Slytherin robes over top while still on Hogwarts grounds. Ginny put all of her stuff into the magical bag Hermione had once given her, which could hold her trunk and all her supplies while seeming the size of a coin purse. With one final glance at her dorm room, she walked out and down to the covered bridge. With a glance to be sure no one saw her, Ginny walked swiftly over to her ex and close friend, "James," she murmured when she was within earshot.

[James Charlus Potter]

James was too busy reminiscing about his time with his friend and ex-girlfriend to notice anyone going by.  Sure things had become harder as Ginny became more Slytherin supporting, but he knew it was all an act.  They would still hang out when they could though always away from the general populace, because James had a feeling she was trying to set up a good distance between her and the Gryffindors and him, especially.  At first he had thought it was because it was awkward being around him with their relationship ending the way it had, quite emotionally and he didn't want it to end, but she had ended it.  Then he came to realize it was an act and she was trying to do something that was extremely dangerous and he didn't want to make things worse by ending up blowing whatever cover she was trying to build. 

James chuckled and didn't turn to meet her gaze.  Not yet.  That would probably make things harder here at the first.  Once he got going he would be able to keep on going with it, but if turned and met her eyes, he would ask her to stay and he didn't want to do that.  He knew whatever she was going to do was extremely sensitive and important.  And she really wanted to do it or she wouldn't have changed her appearance and attitude so drastically. 

"Hey Ginny," James replied simply.  Now how was he going to say it?  Simply good-bye?  A hug?  Would that be too much?

[Ginny Molly Weasley]

Those two simple words shattered her heart... not so much what he said, but the way he said them. She wasn't sure if he noticed how little emotion lay in those words. Maybe he was fighting himself to not try and keep her, or maybe he just didn't love her anymore. The idea of that broke her heart. Yes, she still had Harry to chase, but she loved James with everything she had. He was everything she loved in Harry and so much more. She knew that when she returned home, she would be settling for Harry. She loved him, but he wasn't her James. No one could know how much she had fallen for her prankster, and how much leaving him had broken her heart. She tried to hide the hurt from her face, though she wasn't sure it mattered. He wasn't even looking at her.
"How are you," she asked, fighting to keep her voice even.

[James Charlus Potter]

His heart had already broken long ago, and recovered from it.  Last year in fact.  But it hadn't full recovered and he was doing his best to not let it break again, though still in a fragile state as it was, and so he couldn't let his feelings for her do anything lest they crush his heart again and he return to square one.  He needed to keep this short and sweet and to the point, but it was difficult and he wasn't sure if he could prevent his heart from breaking again.  Why did it have to so hard?

"As well as I can," James said continuing to look away, but he could tell she was trying to force her voice even.  That was not the point of this meeting.  He didn't want to hurt her.  He turned around to meet her gaze and he could feel the pressure building in his chest right around where his heart was.  "I wanted... to say good-bye.  And good luck."

[Ginny Molly Weasley]

His eyes, oh his eyes, those beautiful hazel orbs just melted her. She steeled herself, forcing her months of Occlumency to work. She had to keep herself strong, she couldn't ruin everything now. She looked at him, memorizing his face, his eyes, the way he held himself. This might very well be the last time she would ever see her James again.
She struggled to answer him. She wasn't even sure what to say. "Thank you, James," she finally managed. "I only hope that it won't be our last goodbye." She hoped she would see him again, after it was all over. Wish him luck with Lily, and thank him for everything he did for her.

[James Charlus Potter]

He couldn't control the impulse.  James walked up to Ginny and hugged her tightly.  He wanted to hold her for what could be the last time, though he sincerely hoped not.  Oh the smell of her hair, the feel of her in his arms.  He would miss this.  He had missed hugging her. 

"I know I'll see you again," James said.  That was it.  He knew he had failed his task as his heart broke under the pressure.  Damn it.  Now how was he going to get on with his life?  He knew he really cared for Lily, but Ginny was his number one in his heart at the moment. 

[Ginny Molly Weasley]

Ginny stiffened when he hugged her, not because she didn't like it, but more of surprise. And her recognition that she was now at her most vulnerable and she couldn't let her mind slip. If the dark lord happened to choose now to probe her mind, she couldn't afford him seeing any of this. "James," she murmured. She wanted to keep this in her mind. The feel of his arms, the smell of his cologne, the warmth of his body against hers. Finally, she felt she had complete control of her mind again and she let herself melt into him. They melded perfectly together. Her head fit just beneath his chin, her arms wrapped perfectly around his chest. "I miss you," she whispered so quietly that she wasn't sure he would hear. She wasn't sure she wanted him to. She couldn't reply to what he said. She feared that he was wrong, and she couldn't break his heart like that... not again. She hated this, she hated Voldemort. She hated the fact that James's life was pretty much pre-determined. If she stayed, either he would eventually pick Lily anyway, and she would be completely heartbroken, or Harry would never have been born, and a paradox would occur as she was who she was because of knowing Harry... Just thinking about it made her head hurt. She wished that she could simply complete her task, destroy the dark lord, and then come back here, to James. Because he was everything she ever wanted in a guy. Strong, intelligent, brave, a touch stubborn, a total prankster, confident, and attractive. Why did he have to be so impossible to keep?