Hey all! I want to welcome you to If you knew...the sequel to my story Your Faith in me.
I want to thank all the reviewers I had for the Your Faith in Me, good and bad :) So thank you to all! Fenriswolf, I do appreciate your now chill pilled review lol and I actually do agree with you on alot of what you said and I do feel I could have done more with the ending and maybe someday I'll go back and edit it all up. In my defense however, the story was written like a year ago now almost and I do hope I have grown in my writing since, especially with this new story.
I do love constructive reviews, I do not however appreciate rude reviews and flames. So you really cant out your comments in a constructive way then please don't review :)
I do hope I won't get as much grief from the H/hr fans in this one since they are now together :D
Siriusly_Snuffles
Chapter One
A Broken Promise
A cool breeze whipped passed her body as she made her way down the darkly lit stone street. Arms crossed, her brown eyes darted from side to side as if to make sure she hadn't been seen. She had been paranoid these last few months, extremely paranoid, and she couldn't afford the risk of getting caught. Things were going too well to blow it now.
Reaching her destination, she came to a small side street that was tucked away in between two large brick buildings. Infact, it appeared to be more of an alley way than a street. One could pass right by without even a glance. However, the truth was that no matter how many times she walked down this alley, each and every time it made her stomach churn with nervousness. It reminded her vaguely of a street you'd see hiding between the gloomy buildings down in Knockturn alley. But, none of this mattered to her. In her heart she knew that she was doing the right thing. For once in her life she felt she was right where she belonged.
Inhaling a sharp breath, she stopped at a wooden brown door that rested on the right side of the grey brick wall. Raising her fist, she let two soft knocks sound. It was several seconds later that the door creaked open to reveal a pair of familiar eyes.
* * *
Tap, tap, tap...
tap,tap,tap...
tap, tap, tap...
" Oh honestly, I'm coming" Hermione groaned, throwing her body out of bed and making her way over to the bedroom window. Cranking it open, she wasn't shocked to see Hedwig, Harry's beautiful snowy owl, perched agrivated on the sill. Every morning since he left to teach at Hogwart's, last month, Harry would send a letter to her at the crack of dawn. And every morning she'd curse him him for disturbing her wonderful dreams, which in truth, were mostly about him. However, she really couldn't complain...not only did he come back home on his free weekends, but she could see him during the week whenever she needed to with the drop of floo powder. It could have been worse, he could be out on some dangerous auror mission un-able to contact her for months on end. Besides, getting woken up with a love letter from your boyfriend every morning really wasn't all that bad.
Things really couldn't have been going any better for the couple. After Ron's wedding, Harry insisted that Hermione stay with him permanently and he even got offended when she offered to pay rent to help out. " My girlfriend is not paying me rent" he had gasped. It was at that moment that Hermione's heart burst from her chest...although it didn't really need confirming, she couldn't help but be happy by this statement...girlfriend....they were officially a couple. So, the weekend following the wedding, Hermione had permanently moved in, boxes and all.
Snapping away from her thoughts, she grabbed the neatly folded letter from Hedwigs leg and stepped quickly aside just as the white owl opened her large wings and flew past her and into the room towards her cage.
" You thirsty, girl?" she asked " Here..."
Heading into the bathroom that was attached to what was now their bedroom, she quickly retrieved some fresh water and set it carefully infront of the owl before turning back to Harry's letter.
Tearing it open, she began to read...
Hermy,
I can see you now... still in your favourite flowered pink night gown, curly hair sticking out at odd angles, and a grumpy look on your face because I have woken you, once again, this early. I apoligize...well, no... actually I don't...you look bloody cute when you're angry.
A slow smile spread to her rosey lips as she looked down to see that she was indeed in her favourite pink night gown...gosh, he knew her way to well!
Now, before you go and jinx me to a million pieces (which I know you could do) there's something important that I need to discuss with you that I feel wouldn't be appropriate through owl post. If you could please meet me in the Three Broomsticks at 1 during my free period, I'll tell you everything. See you soon.
Love you always,
Harry
That was odd Hermione thought to herself. What could be that important that he had to do it in person. With her thoughts whirling like a tornado in her brain, she headed to the bathroom and began to get ready.
* * *
Harry paced nervously in his office at Hogwarts as he kept both of his eyes on the clock. 12:30...he had half an hour.
Palms sweating, he shook his head and took a seat at his deak, letting out a slow breath. How was he going to tell her?
He couldn't tell her, he knew he couldn't...but he had to...he needed to.
" Harry?"
Looking up, he saw Albus Dumbledore standing tall in the doorway. " Are you almost ready?"
Sighing, Harry looked around at his office. He was no where near ready, in more ways than one.
" No, not really..." he mumbled.
The old wizard gave him an encouraging smile as he made his way into the room, coming to a halt at the medium sized window.
" She'll understand, Harry" he said. The sunlight pouring through the window seemed to splash onto his worn face as he said this.
" She won't, I know she won't...she's given me her opinion on this subject matter numerous times before...she just doesn't understand, sir."
" She may not understand your choice fully but she cares about you and whatever your choice is she'll accept" Dumbledore said wisely.
Harry sat quietly for a second pondering what he had just heard. He knew Albus was right, the old wizard was always right, but he still couldn't help but worry. And most of all, he dreaded seeing her face when he broke the news to her.
* * *
A big smile spread across Ginny Weasley's face as she stepped out from Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes and onto the sunny street. Looking around at the hustle and bustle of Hogsmeade, she couldn't help but think of how anyone could not be as happy as she was at that moment. Of course, this surge of happiness had been caused by one thing, love. Well, if love could make a person feel this good, everyone in the world should try it.
Looking across the stoney street, she noticed the one person that had just been on her mind. Making a mad dash, she quickly criss-crossed her way through the people and towards him.
" Hey you" she grinned, kissing him softly on the lips. He then gave her a sly grin and placed a strong arm around her shoulder.
" Where've you been all day?" he asked casually as they made their way down the street.
" Just helping Fred and George set up their new display...you should see their new product, it's great! Fizzing Stench Powder" she giggled.
" Must be thrilling.." he replied dryly, not even glancing at her. This caused a small frown to cross her lips.
" Honestly, I wish the lot of you would just grow up and get along, I mean, it shouldn't be that difficult!" she scolded, crossing her arms infront of her.
" Tell that to them..." he replied.
She was about to respond with a hot headed comment when a voice sounded from behind.
" Ginny?"
Turning around, she saw a familiar face staring back at her.
" Harry? What are you doing here?" she smiled, giving him a friendly hug.
He shrugged in responce and stuffed his hands into his pockets. " I was just on my way to The Three Broomsticks to meet with Hermione. What about you?" he asked, noticing for the first time the tall man lurking behind her.
" I was just helping out Fred and George with some stuff actually" she began, " Oh, how rude of me...Harry this is my boyfriend Greg. Greg...this is, well...this is Harry"
The tall man seemed to observe Harry sternly for a moment before finally sticking out a firm hand.
Shaking it, Harry grinned back.
" Well, it's finally nice to meet you."
" Likewise" Greg replied, flatly.
There seemed to be a few seconds of awkward silence before Ginny broke the ice.
" Well, we should get going. We have reservations at the Dragon's Dungeon tonight."
" Oh, that sounds nice, I'll-er-see you later then? It was nice meeting you Greg..." he added politely.
Grabbing ahold of his sleave, she sent Harry a big smile before they continued on in their direction.
" You're a prat you know that" she grumbled, storming a few feet ahead of him. Following behind her, he let out a heavy sigh and jogged to keep up.
" Look, I'm not good at meeting your brother's, alright? They are overprotective of you and I can just feel the Big Brotherness radiating from their freckled faces everytime I see them" he confessed.
" The big brotherness? They aren't going to jinx you, you know. Ok, Fred and George might but you just have to accept that when it comes to my lovelife they always feel they need to be involved.." she grumbled, " But that doesn't mean you have to act the same way to Harry!"
Greg shook his head in disbelief.
" Ginny, whether you think so or not...he is your brother. He looks out for you like one, loves you like one...heck, he's so tied in with your family he's probably sprouting Weasley DNA."
This comment made a small giggle escape from Ginny's mouth. It was true...Harry really was a Weasley.
" Ok, you have a point."
" Let's just go and have a nice dinner, ok? "
Interlocking her fingers with his, she planted a soft kiss on his lips and nodded.
" Ok, let's go, I'm starving!" she said.
* * *
As Harry stood there watching the retreating backs of Ginny and Greg he couldn't help but think that something was
off. Granted, having known Ginny for as long as he did, he did have a tendancy to be a tad overprotective. But it
wasn't that. He didn't know what it was but one thing he did know was that he didn't like this Greg fellow
she was now dating.
Pushing his thoughts back to what was at hand, he gazed up at The Three Broomsticks. Taking in a deep breath he slowly entered the familiar building and scanned it's surroundings. It was then that he spotted her, sitting alone at a small table in the far right corner.
" Hey" he said, heading over to her and kissing her gently on the lips.
" Hey" she smiled anxiously, returning the kiss. " So what's going on? What do you have to tell me?"
This was it. This was the moment of truth. Mentally encouraging himself to spit it out, he began to speak.
" Look Hermione, it's like this....well..."
" Yes...?" she prodded.
" I'm needed on an important auror mission" he finally confessed.
Hermione sat speechless for a few moments before deciding to speak. It was hard to read her face at the moment but he knew that she was not happy.
" An auror mission? Where? How long?" she questioned.
" In France for, well, I don't know how long."
A look of dissappointent came onto her face as she looked down towards her hands.
" I thought you said you wanted to settle down for a bit, to stay at home?" she asked, barely above a whisper.
He sighed heavily. " I know I did, it's just that..."
" Just what?" she asked, " I don't understand Harry, I really don't. Haven't you had enough of this? Haven't you been through enough?"
Frustrated, she ran a hand through her bushy hair, looking at him straight in the eyes. " Harry, don't you want to just be able to be you? To be able to enjoy life without running off to catch some dark wizard? You can't extinguish all evil, Harry! It can't be done"
Anger was beginning to bubble in his stomach as she said this. Is that was she thought? That he was doing this because he needed to continue being a hero? Sitting back in his chair he began shaking his head from side to side, a huff of angered laughter coming from his lips.
" I knew you wouldn't understand..." he retorted.
" Not understand? Harry, I'm trying to here, really I am-"
" Then just please understand that I need to do this!" he shot back.
She sat speechless in her chair, finally nodding.
" Ok."
Softening his face, he slowly reached for her hand. " Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you. I do understand and appreciate your concern but it's not that simple, Hermione. I can't just give it all up like that, I thought I could but I can't" he confessed.
" Why?"
" Because it's all I've ever known..."
Hermione's heart broke for him at that moment. He had been fighting evil for so long it was like he couldn't do anything else. He couldn't just sit in one place and be happy...how could he when he never knew what being happy was?
" I'm sorry, Harry but I can't stop worrying about you no matter how old you get. I just, well, I love you..."
Lifting her hand into his, he softly kissed it and smiled. " I love you too, Hermione. And I promise, I won't leave you..never."
" I know, Harry" she smiled, " I know.."