Strength (H/D, PG)

[sesheta66]

Title: Strength
Author: sesheta_66
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~730
Pairing/Characters: Harry/Draco, Harry/Ginny (implied)
Summary: Harry finally gathers the strength to do what has been coming for years. DH compliant; epilogue ambiguous.
Disclaimer: The characters contained herein are not mine. They belong to JK Rowling and her publishers. No money is being made from this fiction, which is presented for entertainment purposes only.
Challenges: Written for the awdt's prompts of:
"Awwww, Mum! Do I have to?"
"Just stand there and don't speak, sweetie."
"I can't do this anymore."
"S/He could hear music in the background."
"Because I said so."
"You have an appointment tomorrow afternoon."


He could hear music in the background as he approached the sitting room door. Hoping Ginny was alone, Harry steeled himself for the upcoming conversation.

"Awwww, Mum! Do I have to?" he heard Lily whinge.

"Just stand there and don't speak, sweetie," Ginny replied in an irritated voice. Ah, yes, she must be measuring the dress for Saturday's gala. Harry sighed. Another gala. Merlin, but he was sick of them.

"But why, Mum?"

"Because I said so."

"But can't you just magic it right?"

"No, Lily, I can't, and you should know that by now. I need to measure and pin the dress first. Only then can I magic it right, as you so eloquently put it."

Harry walked away, knowing he'd need to choose a more opportune moment for this discussion.

~*~*~

"You have an appointment tomorrow afternoon," Ginny reminded him as he re-entered the kitchen, Lily having finally nodded off to sleep.

"I can't do this anymore," Harry said without preamble.

"Really, Harry, have you no tact?" Apparently Ginny had been expecting this.

Gritting his teeth and holding firm, he replied, "You know very well that I don't, Ginny, which is only one of the reasons this isn't working. I have no tact, you have no tact, and we snap at each other every moment the children aren't around. When they are in the vicinity, we are so ... artificial that I can't stand it. I need to --"

"You need?!" Ginny spat. "You?! What about me? What about the kids? What about --"

"Enough, Ginny. Haven't you had enough? How long can you live the lie? How long can you live like this, knowing that our love faded away years ago?"

"Until Lily goes to school, Harry, please," she pleaded.

"I can't do it, Gin. Not any more."

"What's changed? Why all of a sudden?"

"It's not sudden and we both know it. We've been miserable, or at least existing rather than living, for years."

"But we agreed --"

"No, Ginny, we never did. You said it and I gave up arguing with you. I had no compelling reason to fight about it then."

"And now you do?"

Harry took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. He knew it would hurt her, but he couldn't lie, not to Ginny. "Now I do."

Her lips pursed together, her eyes blinked back tears, and her face went red. Never a good sign. She took several long, cleansing breaths before looking him straight in the eye. "Who is she?"

Harry cleared his throat. "He."

"Excuse me?"

"Who is he?"

"Are you saying? You can't ... you're not ... ohmygod. I'm going to be sick." She ran out of the room.

"Ginny, wait. Let me explain."

"Get out!" she whispered, but for all the venom in her voice it resonated louder than a scream. "You want out? Fine. Leave. And don't ever come back." She ran up the stairs clutching her stomach.

Harry waved his wand and the few items he hadn't already sent on ahead flew into his hands. He knew Ginny was angry. He knew she was hurt. But this had been coming for a long time. He left her the note he had written three days ago. In it he explained that he had fallen in love, but that nothing had happened. Nothing would happen while he was with her. He knew it wouldn't make things easier, but at least she would know that he hadn't cheated on her. Well, not physically anyway.

She would eventually calm down. He doubted she would ever get over it, but he hoped she would do what was best for the children. And if not ... well, he had the best lawyer in town at his disposal, and he would make sure the children didn't lose their father.

Smiling as he entered the office of Draco Malfoy - Family Law, Harry felt lighter than he had in years. The man he loved, the one whose love had given Harry the strength to do what he should have done years before, looked up at him questioningly. Harry held up his belongings and nodded. Draco smiled reassuringly at him.

It would be a long and bitter battle ahead, he knew, but with Draco by his side, Harry had hope. And right now, that was all he could ask for.


.

Comments

[lire-casander.livejournal.com]

I really like this, that Harry wouldn't cheat on Ginny even if the love was dead long before he fell in love with Draco. Lovely read.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon. ♥

I'm definitely one of those that doesn't believe Harry would cheat, no matter what.

[luci0logy.livejournal.com]

Good for him! Their first night together will be all the sweeter because they waited. So, do we get a companion piece with Draco telling Astoria?

FYI, in the UK there is a difference between barristers and solicitors (http://www.swarb.co.uk/lawb/genBarrSoli.shtml).

[kaykayen.livejournal.com]

I loved the way Harry handled this. And that he hadn't cheated and that he was honest with Ginny about having a "compelling reason to fight" about it now and that the compelling reason was a he... and could I write a longer less incomplete run on sentence? :D

I've always liked Draco as a lawyer (though I'd love to read a story with Harry as one).

[piratesmile331.livejournal.com]

That is always a horrible kind of conversation to have with someone (especially someone you once loved), but the relief is so wonderful afterwards!!!
And Harry gets Draco to boot! Lovely story. And I agree that Harry wouldn't cheat.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree. Besides, I just can't see Harry cheating. Not so sure about a companion piece though. *ponders*

Hmm. How about "Attorney at Law"?

[enablelove.livejournal.com]

Aww that was an angsty one.

But yay for Harry finally getting his butt in gear :D

[winter-june.livejournal.com]

Good for Harry for deciding to live instead of surviving in a lie, and GOOD for how he decides to achieve it!

[lijahlover.livejournal.com]

This was beautifully written thank you!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon. Yeah ... he would respect her enough (even if he no longer loved her) to wait until after they split. *nods*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Yup, yup. Did enough pure fluff and needed a break. But a hopeful ending anyway. :)

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

It's a hard decision to make, but you can only put your life on hold for so long.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, I don't see Harry as the cheating kind, but at some point he'd have to break free and take his life back.

enchanted_jae just wrote a lawyer!Harry fic. You should check it out.

[accioscar.livejournal.com]

Ooh, angsty yet hopeful! *is torn*

I'm glad Harry didn't actually do anything until after he ended it with Ginny, though. *is not a fan of infidelity!fic*

Very well done! x

[nillaskye.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it would be hard for anyone to have to do what Harry did. Good for him for not wanting to live a lie anymore(I still feel bad for Ginny, though). And, yeah, I liked that, as much as Harry loved Draco, he didn't cheat on Ginny.

Great job! <3

[thrnbrooke.livejournal.com]

Oh I so soooo soooo want more! Much more!

[psyko-kittie.livejournal.com]

Great read.

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

Oh, I feel so bad for all of them, really--even shrew!Ginny. *sighs*

But go you on the prompts!

[katkim.livejournal.com]

This was great! Break-ups are always so nail-biting and painful, but I liked that Harry didn't cheat, I love that he was realised he had no tact and neither did Ginny, I adore the idea of Draco as a lawyer, which sort of gave it a lightness. I really enjoyed reading this <3

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

v. v. sweet. [*smishes*]

[lasting-melodys.livejournal.com]

This was wonderful! I really liked it and I do like that you didn't have Harry cheating on Ginny. :]

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I just can't picture Harry cheating. *nods*

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. You're supposed to be torn. *g*

I'm not big on infidelity!fic either, unless there are repercussions. I don't see Harry cheating on anyone.

Thanks.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Hurting someone you once loved and knowing it's the end of a marriage and the family as you knew it is never easy. I feel for Ginny too, since she just wanted to hold onto her family. She was (obviously) unhappy too, but didn't have a pressing reason to walk away.

Harry wouldn't cheat. *is convinced*

Thanks ♥

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks. But I don't think this one will continue. You could view it as the kick-off point for lots of fics. :D

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Aw ... she's not really a shrew in this. I think she's reacting pretty normally under the circumstances. After all, she's not happy either, but is willing to stay (of course, she doesn't have Draco waiting for her).

Yay me!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah ... break-ups are never fun. And I just can't see Harry cheating.

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, the H/D is sweet, even if the break-up wasn't. *sighs*

[nocturnali.livejournal.com]

Lovely the way you used all those prompts.
Why can't they all live together in peace and harmony and one big extended family? ; )

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hon. [I had to catch up somehow].

Hmm ... as long as that doesn't include living together under one roof, it's a great idea.

[svgurl.livejournal.com]

This was great! I felt sorry for Ginny but at least Harry was upfront. And I'm really glad he didn't cheat and had respect for both Ginny and Draco to wait. That seems like a very Harry thing to do. :)

Wonderful job!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I just can't picture Harry ever cheating. It just doesn't work for me, with him having such a thing about family.

Thanks for reading. (I think I'm half caught up on your comments now). ;)