Ask Me to Stay

"What's wrong, Love?"

Ginny jumped at the sound of Harry's voice behind her. She glanced over her shoulder at him and saw that he was leaning on the door frame with his muscled arms crossed over his chest. She turned back to surveying the London skyline from the balcony of their flat. She leaned against the railing as she heard him join her there. Absentmindedly, she toyed with the thin silver band on her wrist.

"Nothing. Everything's fine," she answered, looking away from him.

"Not having any second thoughts, are you?" he joked. Ginny forced a laugh, cringing at how close he had come to the truth. He continued, "Just think, in a week's time, you'll be Mrs. Ginny Potter." He stood behind her, pulling her to him with his arms around her waist and his chin on her shoulder. He felt her tense and he frowned. "Really, Gin, what's the matter?"

"It's nothing," she answered quickly, brushing past him into their bedroom. She went to her wardrobe in search of a pair of pajama pants and a top. Harry watched her in silence as she readied herself for bed. He noted how she fiddled with the chain on her left wrist. She hardly ever took it off. He had asked her before where she had gotten it but she had always dodged the question, quickly changing the subject. He decided to try again as she began brushing out her soft red gold curls.

"Where did you get the bracelet, Gin?" he asked as nonchalantly as he could. She stopped her rhythmic brushing as her eyes glazed over with things remembered.

"An old friend," she whispered so softly he almost missed it. She shook herself, setting the brush down on her dressing table.

"Who was he?" Harry asked, an icy edge creeping into his voice.

"Why the sudden interest, Harry?" she stood quickly, suddenly irritated, turning to face her fiance.

"Because you obviously still have feelings for him!" his voice rising as his temper flared.

"That's ridiculous! I'm marrying you, aren't I?" she scoffed.

"For what reason? Because you love me or because that's what everyone expects from you?" he sneered down at her. She glared at him.

"Why do you suddenly care about my past boyfriends? Why do you suddenly feel the need to question our engagement?"

"So you did date him, then? The one who gave you the bracelet?"

"Yes. . . " it was like the fight had suddenly left her as she sank onto the mattress. She stared forlornly into nothingness.

"What happened? He obviously isn't here now, so why'd you hold onto the bracelet? You still have feelings for this long lost boyfriend but you're marrying me?" Harry was annoyed beyond belief. His fiance was in love with some random bloke and he didn't even know this guy's name.

"He left. He just walked out on me. Told me he was coming back one day. Here we are ten years later and he's still not here. Not a single letter in those ten years. Not even a phone call, a note. Nothing. After about three years of no contact, I gave up. I needed to move on." A single tear rolled down her alabaster cheek.

"Why do you keep the bracelet? It's just a reminder of what's gone. Why do you still like this guy after he just up and left you?" Harry was almost at a loss. Here he was, engaged and she was mooning over some guy she hadn't seen or heard from in ten bloody years.