Hello Everyone!

This was started before DH came out and so disregarded any canon from that book.
Since it came out, details have been included such as the death of certain characters and a few names.
In general, though, it is AU.

I started writing it because I missed writing Draco/Ginny.
The story is a love triangle between D/G and H/G.

The song in the prologue is one of my absolute favorites.
It's called Breath and it's by Breaking Benjamin.

I'd love to hear what you think! :]

<3 Kas

She walked the length of the drive and stood there her arms folded across her chest as she bit her lip and focused her mind on breathing. It would not do to let her emotions carry her away. She needed to stay strong for her daughter. She had no clue where she would find the strength but she would find a way. She had to find a way…

I'm waiting
I'm praying
Realize
Start hating
You take the breath right out of me
And left a hole where my heart should be
You've gotta fight just to make it through
Cause I will be the death of you.


next

Okay i don't like this one bit.. she can't leave Harry what did he do to her?

KaKe3535
Okay i don't like this one bit.. she can't leave Harry what did he do to her? that will be explained throughout the story.

and it's okay that you don't like it, this one i'm writing purely for my own sake as i miss writing a draco/ginny pairing. :]

<3 Kas

Grr, I wanna know why she's left him! *pouts* Aww I feel bad for Harry rather than Ginny. And to think, I know she'll run into the arms of Draco, grr, just grr. *laughs*

Voldys_dead :D
Grr, I wanna know why she's left him! *pouts* soon. :]

Aww I feel bad for Harry rather than Ginny. i feel bad for both of them, but see i had to come up with some reason for ginny to not be with harry... *sighs* sorry guys.

And to think, I know she'll run into the arms of Draco, grr, just grr. *laughs* haha oh no she won't be running into anyone's arms.

thanks for reading!

<3 Kas

BAH!! This is me telling you to keep me on the stalk list!!! I haven't read it yet because I have to go to school but I LOVE anything you write!! PLEASE stalk me!! *laughs* Gotta go!!

Kridten

Yes, keep me on the stalk list too. But I`m not fond of the fact that she left Harry after having his daughter, although I am curious to see how this goes.

I <3 Harry 4Ever
BAH!! This is me telling you to keep me on the stalk list!!! I haven't read it yet because I have to go to school but I LOVE anything you write!! PLEASE stalk me!! *laughs* Gotta go!! haha okay well i'll keep stalking you. not sure you'll like this one or not though. i don't think it's going to get much positive response at all. haha. :]


WeasleysWidow
Yes, keep me on the stalk list too. But I`m not fond of the fact that she left Harry after having his daughter, although I am curious to see how this goes. okie dokie i'll keep you on the stalks! yeah, i'm not fond of the idea either.. but yeah.. i don't even know if i like this story myself. eh we'll see.


i think i'll try and post a bit more tonight. :]

<3 Kas

okay so bear with me cause i do realize i'm writing about something i've never experienced and that's stupid of me but yeah. oh and that i wrote this before dh came out so obviously its not in line with canon. <3 Kas


Breath

She looked up from the Daily Prophet with a start at the loud sudden rapping on her window. She recognized the owl immediately as a Hogwarts owl and frowned. What could possibly be wrong? Lillie had only just started school a few weeks ago.

She let the owl in and detached the letter realizing after a moment that it was going to wait for a reply. She pointed at the empty cage where a bowl of water and owl food sat then returned to her seat at the kitchen table as the bird flew to the cage.

Slowly she broke the seal and opened the letter.

Dear Mrs. Potter,

I regret to inform you that your daughter has been involved in several altercations concerning a certain other classmate of hers. Today they were found engaged in a Muggle’s duel and as you very well know that is not permitted at Hogwarts. Both students come from good families and I wish to expel neither; therefore, I request your presence in my office for a conference on Thursday September 22nd at 7:15 p.m. Please respond via same owl if you can attend. I pray this meeting will clear up any issues between the two students and lead to a rather more peaceful rest of the year.

Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress


Ginny sighed. Only a child of she and Harry’s could get in such trouble within her first three weeks of school, she thought ruefully. Harry. She wondered suddenly if he was going to be at this meeting as well.

It had been months since she’d seen him. Several months. Nearly two years, in fact. Great. Just what she needed right then. A reunion with Harry. Oh well... It was for their daughter.

Pulling herself back to the present she quickly scribbled a reply to McGonagall and sent the owl away. She glanced at the clock and sighed. So much for her morning paper.

Clearing her breakfast dishes from the table she headed to her bedroom to shower. On the way her eyes caught on a picture of she and Lillie.

She had her mum’s flaming red hair, perhaps just a shade darker than Ginny’s but her face was all her dad. She had his brilliant green eyes and that smile that was just a bit crooked—just enough for it to be considered cute.

Ginny smiled sadly and yanked her eyes from the photograph.

As she stepped into the steaming water she mused over a subject that had never strayed far from her mind in the past seven years—her failed marriage.

It had been so wonderful in the beginning or at least it had been most of the time.

Harry had returned from defeating Voldemort with his own health rather defeated as well. Ginny had stayed by his side as he recovered in the year that followed and their elation at his return to health carried them through their three month engagement and wedding.

She had been barely eighteen at the time and while they had known they were young they had never given it a second thought. After all, they had been in love.

She should have realized even before they were married that some things were never going to change about Harry. The signs were there but she had either been completely oblivious or just simply ignored them—to this day she wasn’t sure which—because she’d married him believing everything would get better with time.

Time heals, she had always been told, but now she believed there were some wounds even time couldn’t heal and she was beginning to wonder, seven years later, if her heart contained one of those wounds.

* * *

She walked into work and greeted Madam Malkin as she went on her way to the back room. She had discovered a hidden talent for sewing with magic while altering Hermione’s wedding dress several years before and she’d put that ability to use to prove herself to Madam Malkin. Madam herself even agreed that her own dress roes didn’t compare to the ones Ginny created and now as she got on in years she mostly did the pinning and altering while Ginny did the sewing.

The day went by slowly for Ginny as her mind continued to linger on Harry.

The euphoria that his healing and their marriage had created had lasted barely a few months. Then everything had begun again. Ginny forced a pause in her thought as she nimbly pinned a ruffle before sewing it.

Ah, the day it first started… she remembered it like yesterday.


She awoke to the sound of her alarm and rolled over to wake Harry, too, to find the bed empty. Not yet worried she assumed he had just risen early and she climbed out of bed.

Walking into the adjacent bathroom she frowned. Nothing had been touched.

Pulling a robe on over her thin nightgown she walked out into the living room of their small apartment.

“Harry?” she said tentatively though it was obvious there was no one there.

Panic began to rise in her chest and she walked over to the kitchen.

Propped against the coffee maker was a small scrap of parchment.

I’m fine – Harry.

Ginny’s temper flared. That’s it?! He leaves alone this early in the morning without notice and all I get is an ‘I’m fine?!’

Glancing at the clock she realized she needed to start getting ready for work or she would be late.

As she got ready she fumed at Harry in her mind while she worried sick about him subconsciously. Where had he gone? What was he doing? Was he okay? What was wrong?

She apparated into the Atrium of the Ministry of Magic and made her way up to the fifth floor and down the hall to her office.

Pushing open the door she barely glanced at the plaque that adorned it.

Ginevra M. Potter
Secretary to the Head of International Cooperation

She sat down at her desk and for the rest of the morning did her best to concentrate on her work rather than Harry.

At lunch she headed down to the cafeteria convincing herself on the way what she had been trying to all morning – there was a perfectly good reason for all of this and she would be hearing it in just a few minutes when they ate lunch together.

Upon entering the cafeteria she looked around and couldn’t find him anywhere.

“Hey Ginny,” she heard a voice behind her say.

“Oh, hi, Lukas,” she said turning to face the man.

“Harry said to tell you he’s not going to make it to lunch today,” he said as he stared at her.

She cringed slightly under the intense gaze. Harry refused to believe that the man had a crush on her but it was rather painfully obvious to everyone but her husband.

“Oh.” Ginny said, as her mind jerked back to Harry and that morning with a suddenness that was almost painful.

“And to remind you we’ve got an Auror meeting tonight so he’ll be late for dinner,” Lukas added.

She doubted that Harry had told him to remind her of that as they had discussed it the previous evening but she nodded anyway.

“Thank you, Lukas,” she replied as she plastered on a smile.

He nodded and stood there for a moment longer before shaking his head slightly and turning to bounce away.

Ginny stood there lost in thought as her temper slowly rose once more.

Ooh that Harry Potter was going to be in for it when he got home. All the worry she had harbored all morning vanished at the realization that he wouldn’t even meet her for lunch like he did every other day.

Too angry to eat she returned to her office and distracted herself by filing several huge stacks of paper that her boss had given her.

That evening could not have come too soon for Ginny. She cooked dinner like usual and set the table as she waited for him to come home.

He finally arrived at around 8 o’ clock and she set the hot dishes on the table as he was walking in.

“I’m not very hungry,” he muttered as he headed for the their bedroom.

“Oh no, Harry James Potter, you get back in here right now,” Ginny replied, a hard edge to her voice and a glint in her eye.

Harry turned around slowly and walked wearily back into the kitchen, sitting down heavily in one of the two chairs. Despite his comment about not being hungry, he piled food onto his plate and began eating in silence.

Ginny followed suit as she waited for him to speak but he never did.

“Where were you this morning?” she asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

“I went into work early,” he replied tiredly.

Lie # 1 Ginny noted mentally.

“What about lunch?” she asked.

“I had a lot of work to get done for the meeting tonight,” he replied without meeting her eyes.

Ginny sighed.

“Why don’t you tell me what’s really wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” he answered.

Lie # 2.

“Then why won’t you look at me?” she asked.

He glanced up at her before looking back at his plate.

Biting back the sarcastic response this gesture brought to mind Ginny sat back in her chair to study him.

He looked tired and worn; nothing like a twenty year old should. His typically messy hair coupled with his darkly shaded eyes and slightly hollow cheekbones only added to the image that he hadn’t slept or bathed in weeks. She couldn’t believe, as she sat there staring at him, that she had missed how truly awful he looked.

Was it their marriage that had brought about this change for the worse? She didn’t think so, but then it obviously had been no more help than hindrance either.

Ginny cleared the table and put away the leftover food while lost in thought over her husband. By the time she climbed into bed that night the only conclusion she had reached was that she would figure out what was wrong so she could try to make it better.

“Ginny? Ginny, dear?”

Ginny started out of her reverie.

“Hon, maybe you should take a break,” Madam suggested.

“No, I’m fine,” Ginny said glancing down at the mass of material in her lap as she tried to figure out what she was supposed to be doing with it.

“You’ve been adding ruffles to that hem for the last 10 minutes,” Madam told her.

Ginny realized guiltily that she was right.

“Oh what a mess,” she muttered as she began feverishly undoing the now layered ruffles.

“Let me do that,” Madam told her as she walked over and took the gown from Ginny. “You go take that break.”

Ginny nodded. “Thanks,” she said quietly before grabbing her purse and heading outside.

She headed for the coffee shop rather distractedly as her mind threatened to wander again. She hadn’t thought of Harry like this in years, she thought, frustrated. Why now, right before she would see him again?

She got a cup of coffee then headed back to the shop. She suddenly just wanted to finish her work and be back home as quickly as possible.

next

stalking: I <3 Harry 4Ever, WeasleysWidow

Hey Kas,

I'm in the middle of a move at the moment *grimaces* So I cannot give you a real extensive comment, let alone read this short story with the attention it deserves, but I will get to it once I've settled in my new hometown ;) Oh, and unpacked all my boxes *big sigh*

So keep me on the list :)

*glomps*

~* Mara *~

Couple of questions: What does Molly think of this 'seperation'? I have a feeling she won`t be entirely pleased. Also, if this is AU, is it the same people who are dead or will you make changes there too?

Marauding Mara
I'm in the middle of a move at the moment *grimaces* So I cannot give you a real extensive comment, let alone read this short story with the attention it deserves, but I will get to it once I've settled in my new hometown haha don't worry about it. i'm not particularly expecting any positive comments on this fic. and i know how huge moving can be! good luck with getting everything unpacked and such!!

So keep me on the list :) okie dokie. :]


WeasleysWidow
Couple of questions: What does Molly think of this 'seperation'? I have a feeling she won`t be entirely pleased. yeah, she's not, but what can she do? i think i mention that briefly at some point soon. haha soon cause i really dont have all that much written for this.

Also, if this is AU, is it the same people who are dead or will you make changes there too?umm i havent really thought of it. if i feel like someone should play a role then they will appear? i really haven't thought this one through very much. and i'm not expecting it to be much good. it's really just when i get bored something i can write that will be challenging.


anyway thanks for reading/stopping in! :]

<3 Kas

-the phoenix-
Hey Kas...please keep me on your stalk list...this sounds like it will be interesting...and by the way, I do like your writing, even your comments to others.

Lynn

Hey Kas...please keep me on your stalk list...this sounds like it will be interesting...and by the way, I do like your writing, even your comments to others. aw *blushes and smiles* thanks, lynn. my first actually positive comment! hehe.


another [very] short update!
stalking: Bambylyn, I <3 Harry 4Ever, Marauding Mara, WeasleysWidow



When Ginny arrived home that evening she found an owl waiting just outside the door of her small home. She opened the door and let the owl inside before following it in herself. Dropping her bag into an armchair on the way, she walked into the kitchen where the owl had perched on the back of a chair.

She unattached the letter and offered the owl some water before opening the window over the sink to let him out.

She finally sat down and opened the parchment letter.

Dear Mrs. Potter,

This is to verify that we will meet in my office at 7:15 tomorrow evening. I look forward to resolving this matter quickly.

Sincerely,

M. McGonagall
Headmistress

Ginny nodded to no one and set the letter back on the table as she went about making herself dinner.

The house was so quiet without Lillie there, though she was used to it, she supposed, because of the times Lillie went to Harry’s.

She had figured out a simple system long ago that enabled her daughter to see both parents without them having to see each other.

She brought Lillie to either her parents or one of her brothers’ homes and Harry picked her up from there. This system had worked for the past seven years bringing them together only on holidays when Molly couldn’t bear to not have either of them there.

Their breakup had probably hit her parents hardest, Ginny mused as she sat to eat her supper.

She found herself thinking of her little girl’s smile and her mischievous green eyes until suddenly she was thinking of Harry again. Her thoughts somehow picked up where they had left off earlier as her mind slid easily into the past.

She had sworn to try and make things better but to her utter confusion the next day began as if the previous had never happened.

“Morning, beautiful,” Harry murmured as he kissed Ginny on the forehead to wake her.

She opened her eyes to see him smile down at her before he walked away.

She frowned at the sudden change but decided to just be grateful for it as she climbed out of bed and dressed.

Harry was cheerful all the way through the day and by the time Ginny apparated back home that evening she had come to the conclusion that she would forget the previous day and hope to Godric there was never another like it.

However, as she lay beside him in bed that night staring at the way the moonlight illuminated his face she couldn’t help but notice that his cheeks still held that slightly hollowed look and his eyes were still darkly shadowed underneath.

Months passed after that and Ginny became pregnant and she and Harry celebrated at Ron and Hermione’s.

It wasn’t until a couple of weeks after they shared their good news that another “sullen spell” hit.

Ginny awoke to an empty bed and she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach and a violent feeling of déjà vu in her mind.

She found the same note in the same place and for several long minutes she attempted to tell herself this wasn’t happening but by the time she had gotten to work she knew it clearly was.

Their conversation that evening was eerily similar to the past one and Ginny was vaguely beginning to realize that this wasn’t going to go away.

But the next morning she was woken by a smiling Harry, and she forced the day before from her mind as she vainly tried to convince herself it wouldn’t happen again.

Ginny realized with a start that she had been staring at an empty plate for several long minutes. Shaking her head slightly she stood up and cleared the table. She did the dishes quickly as she tried not to get lost in thought once more.

next

Hey Kas,

So I finally found some time to sit down and read this. I like the story, but it is still all very vague to me - I'm assuming that is how it's supposed to be? Why did Ginny leave Harry? Why was he so depressed?

Anyway, I'm up to date now... You're right when you say that Dr/G is not that popular among most fan fic readers (I'm one of them you know that), but your writing is so engaging that I want to read it anyway. Keep up the good work :)

*glomps*

~* Mara *~

Marauding Mara

So I finally found some time to sit down and read this. yayy! :]

I like the story, but it is still all very vague to me - I'm assuming that is how it's supposed to be? Why did Ginny leave Harry? Why was he so depressed? yes, i think it gets explained little by little... let me know after a couple more updates if you're still confused. :]

Anyway, I'm up to date now... You're right when you say that Dr/G is not that popular among most fan fic readers (I'm one of them you know that), but your writing is so engaging that I want to read it anyway. *blushes* thanks mara! i know no one likes my ship.. and i know this story wont be anything of the quality loyalty was i dont think [not that that particularly says much] but anyway.. i appreciate you reading anyway! :]

*glomps*

<3 Kas

i havent really thought of it. if i feel like someone should play a role then they will appear? i really haven't thought this one through very much.

Hhmm..well hopefully maybe one will still be alive in this so...I`m still a bit lost as to what is happening, so naturally I have all the same questions that Mara had. So I will wait for another uppie to see what happens!

Hhmm..well hopefully maybe one will still be alive in this so...I`m still a bit lost as to what is happening, so naturally I have all the same questions that Mara had. So I will wait for another uppie to see what happens! yeah. sorry everyone is lost. i hope the confusion clears up soon. if not, eh, let me know and ill try to clarify. :]

and seeing as how this is totally uncanon since it was started before dh.. i probably wont have the same people dead. for instance, im fairly certain fred will still be alive. ;]

<3 Kas

and i forgot to stalk you, nat.
*grumbles at self*
i'm so forgetful.
anywho... stalking WeasleysWidow.
*points to above post*

<3 Kas

yeah. sorry everyone is lost. i hope the confusion clears up soon. if not, eh, let me know and ill try to clarify. :]

It`s ok, no hurry, well there is a bit of one but y'know..

and seeing as how this is totally uncanon since it was started before dh.. i probably wont have the same people dead. for instance, im fairly certain fred will still be alive. ;]

*giggles* Aw, how did you know that I wanted Fred to be alive? Hehe...*should totally be obvious* Good to see, I like reading stories that follow on from DH but still some characters do get missed. I hope that isn`t too silly for me to say. *shrugs*

the updates for this fic are going to be short. sorry.
please continue to let me know what you think, whether good, bad, or somewhere in between. :]
<3 Kas

stalks: Bambylyn, I <3 Harry 4Ever, Marauding Mara, WeasleysWidow


The next day passed incredibly slowly for Ginny as she forced herself to concentrate on her work. She was able to, for most of the day, lose herself in the task of designing and creating a set of dress robes that would be a couple’s wedding garb.

Inevitably with the subject of weddings on her mind Ginny couldn’t help but think once more about her ex-husband and their marriage. She thought bitterly to herself that he probably hadn’t been on her mind this much since their marriage had ended and she found herself curious as to why this might be. Why was she suddenly so consumed by him when she hadn’t even seen him in almost two years?

She began packing up her things as she thought back to the beginning of their marriage once more.

It had been Lillie that saved them at first. The months of Ginny’s pregnancy and the first year of Lillie’s life had been the happiest of the entire four years they were together. They had named their beautiful daughter after both her grandmothers --Lillian Molly-- and they had both devoted all their time and energy towards her.

And then the third occurrence of Harry’s depression took place and this time was worse than the others.

This time Harry didn’t come home after work and he didn’t get home until nearly three in the morning.

“I’ve been worried sick about you,” Ginny hissed only to receive no answer. “Harry James Potter, please explain!”

“I ‘uz fine,” he muttered and Ginny realized suddenly, as harshly as if she’d been slapped in the face, that he was drunk.

It seemed so unlike him that she felt certain there was a reasonable explanation for this, but he offered none.

The next morning he admitted to a pounding head, but was otherwise back to normal. It was at this point Ginny began to realize these days were not going to go away, rather they were getting progressively worse.

She bit her tongue once more as she watched Harry laying on the floor with Lillie making the little girl giggle. She swore to herself then that this was going to be the last time she let it go.

She could only go through the days of worrying sick over him when he was really fine, so many times.

“Bye, Madam!”

“Bye, Ginny, dear,” the older woman replied.

Ginny disapparated back to her home and immediately began making herself a quick sandwich. She was going to need to hurry if she wanted to make it to McGonagall’s on time and look decent in the process.

She ate hurriedly then headed in to shower.

In the ten minutes following her shower she probably tried on half her wardrobe before she settled on some navy robes that complemented both her figure and her brilliant hair.

As soon as she was semi-satisfied with what she was wearing she began automatically drying her hair with her wand, leaving it down around her shoulders, a rarity these days. She quickly applied a light touch of makeup before finally shutting off the bathroom light wondering what had gotten into her… she rarely wore makeup anymore either.

Shaking her head slightly she reminded herself that she was going to deal with the misbehavior of her daughter not to see her ex-husband.

With a sigh she took a handful of floo powder and tossed it into the fireplace muttering, “Here goes nothing,” and stepping in after it.

“Hogwarts, Headmistress McGonagall,” she announced as she closed her eyes and braced herself for the spinning.

Moments later she stepped into the large circular room that she remembered as Dumbledore’s office and quickly dusted herself off.

Behind the desk sat Professor McGonagall looking slightly older than the last time Ginny had seen her. Then her eyes fell on the two girls who had turned to stare at her.

The first was her daughter with her long dark red hair and sparkling emerald green eyes. She had Ginny’s slight build though you could hardly tell by her uniform which was slightly too large for her.

“Mum, you look niice,” the redhead said as she grinned up at her mother with raised eyebrows.

Ginny resisted the urge to smile as she instead replied with a stern look. She was here because Lillie had gotten in trouble, not just to visit.

“Ginevra, it’s been too long,” said Professor McGonagall. “Have a seat.”

Ginny smiled at her old professor and took the seat to the left of her daughter as her eyes caught on the dark eyes of the other child.

Her eyes held Ginny’s defiantly and Ginny noted wryly that her mother must have been stunning because she’d inherited long dark hair and huge dark eyes that clearly weren’t her fathers, made obvious by the arrogant way her small pointed chin jutted out and the look of absolute defiance unmistakably marking her a Malfoy.

Ginny drew in a deep breath. Well, that would just complicate matters once the girls’ fathers arrived. She glanced at McGonagall and they exchanged a look clearly stating without words that they were thinking the same thing.

Just then the fire turned green again and Ginny wasn’t sure which man she was dreading seeing more when Draco Malfoy entered the room.

next

Great update, Kas, give just a tidbit and leave me wanting more.
Uh, oh, Draco! I thought it might be his daughter Lillie was having trouble with.

Kas, you need to stop apologizing for your EXCELLENT writing...long or short! You always put so much emotion into your work that I feel like I'm right there in the same room as your characters.

Looking forward to more.
Lynn