Disclaimer: If I owned it I'd be writing Book 7, not spending my time writing fan fiction, as fun as it is.
A/N: As the prologue this is only short, other chapter will be much longer. It's set a few years after Hogwarts graduation, Voldie's been defeated and, since I never write present characters, they will more than likely be out of character so we're going to say this is very AU. Ah well, I think it'll be good…Let's get on with it…
My green eyes surveyed the crowded building tiredly. I was exhausted both physically and emotionally and still my friends had brought me here. My last night of freedom was to be spent in this hellhole of a place with half-dressed strangers and too-drunk-to-care friends. It was dark and head-splittingly loud and the heat was far too great for my tastes. I'm a girl with simple pleasures and even simpler needs. If I'd had a say in this night we would have had a quiet night in with a few bottles of something but as my friends had said – I hadn't been out in a while and this was my last chance to do so before needing permission.
Taking another sip of my drink I was reminded why I hadn't gone out for a few months. Last time I had a night out, I returned home to find my boyfriend in a rather compromising position with my secretary. It had taken my alcohol-clouded mind a long while to realise I'd caught them both naked in my bed, their clothes scattered everywhere. I shuddered, just the thought of it made me take another mouthful of my drink.
We tried to give it another go when it had happened but the trust had been broken and I just couldn't get past it. So why then were we getting married the next day? Especially after what I'd gone through in the past few months.
"Hey, Curls, I'm talking to you!"
I scowled at my so-called friend; the once bushy-haired brunette who was now my brothers wife.
"Mi, don't call me that," I whined like a child.
The excited laughter of my drunken friend made me scowl a little more.
"What's up with you?" the excited voice came once again. "You're supposed to be happy," she emphasised the 'y', dragging it out a little. "You're getting married in the mooorning."
"Yeah," I knew I sounded distracted and not at all excited.
"What's wrong Curls?" she asked in concern.
I shrugged and stood up, putting my coat on as I prepared to leave.
"I don't know, Mi. Maybe I'm just tired; I'm going to go home before I get too wrecked. Don't want me looking half-dead on my photos now, do we? See you first thing." I laughed before downing the last of my drink.
I bid goodbye to my friends and apparated home from the club bathrooms. I did the usual pre-sleep routine before taking off the little jewellery I was wearing. It was as I was putting it away that my hands instinctively moved for another piece; a simple silver chain with a star hanging from it. I read the inscription on the back, though I knew it by heart by then anyway, feeling the familiar mix of feelings that she associated with such a simple decorative object. Excitement, nervousness, fear, sorrow, love, it was all there with the memories that stung at my heart.
I blinked back tears as I clasped the necklace around my neck, feeling calm spreading through me instantly. Before I fell asleep to dream the memories my subconscious was forcing me to remember when all I wanted was to forget them, the inscription came to me once more:
The choice is yours, Ginny. I'll always be here for you. Draco x