I Promise

Chapter Fourteen: "She Will Be Loved"

A/N: Here's chapter fourteen. I have finished writing this story and it will be EIGHTEEN CHAPTERS. :( That means the story is almost over. -sniffs- Oh well, I'll just enjoy it while it lasts.

So, enjoy the story and please remember to leave a review.

Harry stared at the door, confused. He started banging on it madly, wondering why Hermione had acted so coldly. "Hermione, open up the door!"

"Why?" Hermione called from the other side of the door, angrily, "Why should I open the door, Harry?"

Harry pondered his answer, wondering if it was a trick question. "Uh, because we're best friends?" Harry asked hopefully. He stopped pounding on the door, and waited for Hermione's response.

"I thought best friends told each other everything," Hermione told Harry softly. Harry could tell that she was crying based on the sound of her voice.

"Mione…" Harry sighed. It was obvious that somehow, Hermione had found about Cho having Harry's baby.

"Go home," Hermione choked, "Cho and your child need you more than I do. They're your family, Harry…"

Harry shook his head vigorously, even though Hermione couldn't see him. "I didn't ask for this to happen, Hermione," Harry pleaded, "Please understand. I don't want this."

Hermione scoffed. "You have no idea what you want, Harry. You have everything in the world."

Harry's heart thumped, and he sat down on the cement, leaning his head on the door. "I don't have the one thing in the world that I want, Hermione. And that's you."

Hermione's remarks were silenced. She had nothing left to say. All she wanted now was to fall into Harry's arms and have him whisper sweet words of reassurance and love to her. All she wanted was him.

"I love you, Hermione," Harry told her quietly, when Hermione didn't respond.

Hermione's heart stopped. Her fingers trembling slightly, she slowly opened the door. Harry stood up and Hermione stared into his green eyes with longing. If only things had been different.

"Oh, Harry…" Hermione whispered, tears forming in her eyes, "I love-" Hermione was cut off by Harry's lips.

Harry put his arms around Hermione protectively, holding her close. "It killed me to see you with Ron," he confessed, "I want you to be mine forever."

Harry's shirt soaked up Hermione's tears, as she cried in his arms. "It's killing me to see you with Cho, and it's going to kill me to watch the two of you raise your daughter," she whispered, her voice muffled by Harry's shirt.

Harry kissed Hermione passionately, and Hermione ran her fingers through Harry's raven-black hair. Hermione clung onto Harry as if holding on with her life. She promised herself that she'd never let go of him.

Harry trailed kisses up Hermione's cheek, whispering 'I love you' over and over to her until finally, he pulled away from her. Harry sighed regretfully, and Hermione felt herself screaming for Harry to kiss her again.

"Call me for real, this time?" Harry whispered in Hermione's ear, as he turned around to leave. Hermione nodded slightly.

"I promise."

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

Ginny watched the movie lazily on the couch. Her breakup with Draco was affecting her greatly, and she hadn't been out of the house since they broke up. Ginny was constantly paranoid about running into Draco that she decided to avoid going out of the house all together. The only time she headed out was to stock up on junk food and movies to watch.

Ginny stuffed the popcorn in her mouth, tasting the butter between her teeth. She didn't care if she gained a hundred of pounds. There was nobody to impress with her body, anyways.

Ginny lounged on the couch, lying on her back. She put the popcorn down and started sipping her soda in long gulps. Her pizza was due any minute, and Ginny was still hungry after devouring the chips, popcorn, and chocolate she had put out for herself. Ginny glanced at the clock.

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Ginny took a minute to pull herself up off the couch and drag herself towards the door. All Ginny wanted to do was sleep and watch movies all day. There was nothing left in life for her. Draco was gone, and so were her dreams.

Ginny realized that her hair was probably a mess. Not wanting to scare the delivery man away, Ginny ran her fingers through her hair before opening the door. Instead of a man in a white uniform standing there holding a small pizza, there was a boy with blonde hair and intense gray eyes.

"Draco," Ginny gasped, shocked. She was probably a mess! If only she hadn't stayed in her pajamas all week. And she hadn't showered in two days, either. Her hair wasn't brushed, her teeth weren't brushed, and she definitely had no makeup on. Basically, Draco had caught her on her worst day.

Draco looked down timidly. "Mind if I uh come in, Ginny?"

Ginny didn't say anything. She was in such shock that her lips wouldn't move. After several deep breathes, Ginny stammered, "Yeah...uh…sure, Mal- Draco. Yes, come in."

Without a second glance, Draco pushed passed Ginny into the living room. He stared at all of the junk food in disgust. "Ginny, what are you doing to yourself?"

Ginny shrugged, looking embarrassed. "I might as well eat all I want. I don't have anyone to impress with my figure."

Draco nodded, agreeing. "You're right about that one at least, Ginny."

Ginny looked at Draco angrily. Her flaming red hair was all over her back and shoulders. "What do you mean?" Ginny demanded, "Are you saying that I'm never going to date again?"

Draco shook his head. "I'm saying," Draco started calmly, "That you don't have to worry about impressing anyone because I'm already impressed."

Ginny faced Draco, her eyes slightly wide. She sat down on the couch, crossing her arms. "I'm not going to be one of your million playthings, Draco."

Draco nodded. "I know you aren't, Red. The way I treated you was disgusting, and if I could change anything in the past, that's the one event I'd change."

Ginny softened. Draco could sense that she was starting to give in. "How can I trust you? You gave me your word and then you broke it. It really hurts, Draco, to see you with another woman."

Draco crushed his lips into Ginny's, pulling her into him. Ginny's breath stopped, and her heart raced. At that moment, she forgot the past and remembered why she was so in love with Draco. He could talk Ginny into anything, and even though he looked like a man who couldn't love, Ginny knew that he loved her.

Draco continued to kiss Ginny zealously, until Ginny finally pulled away.

Draco looked at her, confused. "Oh God, Ginny… did I do something wrong? I'm so sorry."

Ginny shook her head firmly. "No Draco, you were perfect as always. It's just, I haven't showered or brushed my teeth, and I've eaten nothing but junk food. God, I'm such a mess."

"You're a beautiful mess," Draco winked, kissing Ginny's cheek. Ginny's face flushed.

"I'll…I'll call you tomorrow, okay?" Ginny whispered, "Because right now I have to shower, brush my teeth, work off all this fat, and then clean-" Draco put his lips to Ginny, silencing her.

"Ginny," Draco laughed, pulling away from her, "Don't worry about it. I will call you tomorrow evening. That'll give you plenty of time to work out, even though you don't need it, shower, brush your teeth, and clean."

Ginny bit her lip, looking down at her feet. "You're too good for me, Draco. I don't deserve you."

Draco shook his head, kissing her slowly. "You're wrong. You're the one that's too good for me. I'm lucky you're giving me a second chance."

Ginny looked at Draco pleadingly. "Now go, please? I need to shower. All I can smell is myself."

Draco kissed Ginny one last time. "I…I love you, Red."

Ginny's heart melted as she heard Draco utter those words to her. She knew that everything was going to work out. "You've been through so much with me, and I've never felt so attracted to anyone. Now I know what I was missing out all along."

"And?" Draco prompted.

Ginny smiled, pressing her lips against Draco's. "And I love you too, Draco. I promise. Now go."

Draco vanished into thin air as Ginny made a mad dash towards the shower, tripping over her own feet.

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

Hermione sat at her desk, writing her romance novel on parchment. She chewed her tongue as she concentrated hard, trying to get all of her thoughts on the paper when the phone rang.

"Perfect timing," Hermione muttered sarcastically. Annoyed, she threw her pencil on her desk and snatched the phone from its receiver.

"What?" Hermione snapped into the phone.

There was a pause.

"Who is it?" Hermione asked impatiently, tapping her fingers on the wall. She didn't have all day. Maybe she should just hang up and get back to her novel…

"Hermione?"

Hermione froze. It was Cho Chang.

"Yes, Cho?" Hermione asked, her heart thumping wildly. Did something happen to Harry? Why was Cho calling Hermione? And how had Cho gotten Hermione's number? Had Harry given it to her? There was so many questions whirling around in Hermione's mind.

"I need to discuss what's going on between you and Harry."

A/N: cliffhanger (: haven't really had a good one of those in a while. So what did you guys think? Please leave me a review. It only takes about a minute and it will MAKE MY DAY. Thanks so much. DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW.

Love you guysss xP

-- H/Hr Love

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