I Promise

Chapter Thirteen: "Empty Apartment"

A/N: This chapter is practically ALL CHO. You'll be learning a lot about her. Plus, she will have a run in with Hermione… (:

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Cho Chang brushed her long black hair in front of the mirror, taking out all of the tangles. She was glad she was finally going to get out of the house and go shopping. It felt like ages that Cho had been cooped up in her small apartment with nothing but a big belly.

"You'll be coming out soon," Cho whispered, rubbing her stomach, "Soon the three of us will be a perfect family."

Cho made sure she had plenty of muggle money before snapping her fingers and apparating to London's finest department store.

Cho arrived in the corner of the department store. She looked around at the deserted section of the large store, and realized that she was already in the right section- the baby section. Cho smiled, excited, as she ran over towards a pink laced crib. She fingered it, imagining Capella in it.

"Cho," a very familiar voice called nervously from behind her. Cho turned around and saw Hermione Granger standing there, looking surprised.

Cho looked over Hermione. She hadn't seen Hermione in approximately ten years. Although Cho knew that Harry and Hermione were still friends, for some reason, Harry never invited Hermione over to their house.

Cho felt a twinge of envy as she stared at Hermione's beautiful brown locks of hair. Her eyes were intense and vivacious. However, Hermione didn't look very pleased to see Cho. Cho couldn't imagine why, for she was going to marry Hermione's best friend. Maybe.

Cho sighed. When was Harry going to propose? The baby was due in a month, and she was hoping they could get married and settled before then. Although Harry and her already lived together, it just wasn't the same. Cho had a feeling that Harry was postponing on purpose. Was it possible that there was another woman involved in Harry's life? Cho shook her head. Harry wasn't the type of person to cheat.

"What brings you here, Hermione?" Cho asked pleasantly, "Merlin, it's been a long time since we last saw each other."

Hermione attempted to smile. "I've been moping around the house too much, and I thought it would do me some good to get out of the house."

Cho nodded, relating completely to what Hermione was saying. After all, Cho wasn't able to go many places because of Capella. "Yes, having little girl in my stomach makes it hard to go places. I've been in the house way too much as well. It's good to get fresh air once in a while, don't you think?"

Hermione stared at Cho's stomach. "I didn't even realize you were pregnant. You're so thin!" Hermione tried to wipe out the image of punching Cho right in the stomach.

"Aw, Hermione, you're too kind." Cho blushed slightly. "I'm really not that thin, though. I'm due in a month."

"Oh," Hermione looked a little more interested. "Then you must know who the father is, right?"

Cho looked at Hermione curiously. Had Harry failed to mention that he and Cho were having a baby? How could Harry not tell his best friend something like that? Unless, having a child wasn't that important to Harry… Cho tried to erase her ill thoughts about Harry. Harry had probably not spoken to Hermione recently.

"I can't believe Harry didn't tell you!" Cho smiled widely, "Harry's the father of the baby."

Cho waited for Hermione to get excited and congratulate her, but that didn't happen. Instead, Hermione just stared at Cho, her eyes wide.

"Hermione?" Cho asked cautiously.

Hermione opened her mouth to say congratulations, but no sound came out of her mouth. She just couldn't bring herself to it. She couldn't pretend to be happy for her lover and his girlfriend who were having a baby. This meant that Harry and Cho were probably going to get married…

"Uh, congratulations," Hermione managed to say, not looking at Cho, "Does this mean you and Harry are engaged?"

Cho looked at Hermione weirdly. "I still can't believe you didn't know this. Have you talked to Harry recently?"

Hermione felt the need to defend her best friend. "No," she lied, "I haven't heard from him in a few months. We were actually planning on getting together with Ron later this week. We were having dinner, his treat. Maybe that's when he was planning on telling us." Hermione felt quite pleased with the lie she had come up with. She said it with such innocence that anyone would have believed her.

"Well," Cho started, her face looking a little sadder, "Harry hasn't proposed to me yet, and I'm starting to get a little impatient. I really want us to get married before the girl is born. Anyways, if you do see him this week, can you hint to him to propose? It would mean a lot to me, Hermione."

Hermione bit her lip, biting back the urge to shout in despair. Now the girl Harry was going to marry was asking Hermione to help the two of them out? Hermione held back a glare. She could pretend to be happy for them, but no way would she in her right mind help them.

"Sure," Hermione heard herself say, "I'd be glad to give him the extra push. He's probably just a little shy."

Hermione scoffed. If Harry really wanted to propose, he would have already done it. Hermione smiled to herself. This meant that Harry still had feelings for her. It all made sense now. He didn't want to see Hermione anymore because he knew that Cho was having his baby. Hermione sighed.

"You've always been so kind to me," Cho gushed, looking grateful, "Even at Hogwarts. You are always looking out for everyone else's happiness."

Yup, that's what I am, Hermione thought silently, the girl that sacrifices her own happiness for the sake of others.

"Nice running into you," Hermione said shortly, pushing past Cho. "Make sure you invite me your wedding," Hermione added mordantly.

Cho however didn't catch the sarcasm. "Oh, you'll definitely be invited! Even if I didn't invite you, Harry would insist on you coming."

Hermione looked away, and chose not answer Cho's last statement. Instead, she walked into a fitting room stall and apparated back to her house. It had been a long day, and Hermione was definitely not going to be calling Harry tonight.

*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*

Cho apparated inside of the hospital, and began to waddle as quickly as she could towards the check in desk. She checked her watch and groaned in frustration. She couldn't believe she was already ten minutes late for her baby's checkup.

Cho reached the front desk, panting. The nurse standing behind the desk gave her an odd look. "Maternity ward, I presume."

"Uh…" Cho wasn't exactly sure how to answer that, because it wasn't exactly a question but it wasn't exactly a statement either. Cho just nodded, feeling very tired from her quick walk.

"You'll be in room 309, where your healer is already waiting. You can give him your excuse about why you're late." Cho glared at the nurse and then trudged past her without thanking her.

Cho made her way slowly towards the room, her heart picking up speed with every step. The doctor was supposed to take a DNA test today for her, and Cho was afraid of the results.

Sighing, Cho couldn't believe she had lied to Harry about the baby. The truth was, two weeks ago when she had gone in for her checkup, they were unable to test the baby for DNA. Cho was afraid of losing Harry, so she had told him that the baby was his. Well actually, it wasn't exactly a lie. The baby might be his.

Cho knew that if Harry ever found out about this, he would be right in mind to let her go. She had never been this horrible in her life, and Cho had to admit that she did it because she loved Harry.

The door of 309 was open slightly. Cho hurried inside of the room, looking down at her feet as she did so. She stood there for a few moments before looking up. A male healer was standing there, obviously completely irritated by her tardiness.

"You're late," he told her coldly. Cho bit her lip.

"I didn't realize it would take me so long to walk," Cho lied, "I didn't realize how big I've gotten."

The healer raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything more. Instead, he changed the subject. "Take a seat, and you can tell me and specific concerns you have."

Cho's heart began to flutter rapidly again as she took a seat. She waited till the healer took a seat, before she said, "I'd like a DNA test."

"Oh." The healer stared at her for a moment. "I'm sorry, you can't test the baby for DNA until it is born. You're going to have to wait until then."

Cho couldn't take it any longer. She stopped fighting back tears. Instead, bit her lip and then began to sob.

*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*---*

"Cho, I'm going to be back. I have to run some errands," Harry told Cho as she entered the house, "I will hopefully be back by tonight."

Cho pouted, pursing her pink lips. She pulled Harry towards her body and kissed him longingly. Harry flinched slightly under Cho's aggression, but allowed Cho to kiss him. Then she pulled away from him slowly. "Was that enough to make you stay?"

Harry felt a pang of guilt, realizing that he hadn't exactly been the best boyfriend lately. He was always off at Hermione's or doing something else for his Quidditch team. He really owed Cho.

"It's important," Harry sighed, "I'm so sorry. I swear I'll be back as fast as possible, okay? Then I'll make it up to you."

"You'll make it up to me and Capella?" Cho asked softly, looking up at him with her innocent eyes, "Are we going to be a family?"

"In time," Harry promised, "We'll be a family in time."

Harry nuzzled Cho and then apparated to the apartment of the one girl Harry was always in the mood to see. Once he reached the apartment, he rang the doorbell. He usually called before he came over to Hermione's place, but he was pretty sure Hermione had nowhere better to go.

Sure enough, Hermione opened the door, looking her beautiful self. Her wavy brown hair was straight, and pulled back in a high ponytail. She was dressed in her pajamas, and was holding a book.

Hermione looked up from her novel and stumbled backwards in shock. "Merlin, Harry. Don't surprise me like that!"

Harry smiled slightly, eager to hear more of Hermione's voice. He loved the way she looked, talked, and acted. He loved everything there was to Hermione Granger, and knew that Cho could never compete with such a perfect girl.

"Well, was it a good surprise?" Harry asked playfully, giving Hermione an amused grin.

To answer Harry's question, Hermione glared and then slammed the door right in his face.

A/N: To sum it all up: Cho doesn't know who her child is & Hermione is angry with Harry. This story is rapidly approaching its end. ): I won't tell you guys exactly how many chapters are left, but expect about 5.

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