I Promise

Chapter Fifteen: "Right Where I Belong"

A/N: (: Chapter fifteen is up !! The chapters are a bit shorter now, because we are rapidly approaching the end of this story :( Three more chapters left to go after this one. -hands you a tissue- It's okay, don't cry.

Haha, so please enjoy the chapter and don't forget to leave me a review :D

Hermione's pulse raced, as she gripped the phone tightly. Her heart hammered, and she felt as though she couldn't breathe. Under no circumstances would she have ever suspected to be talking to her lover's girlfriend on the phone. Or at least, not voluntarily. Hermione panicked. Had she seen Harry with her?

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked innocently. Yes, she had decided, it was best to play dumb. Maybe Hermione was overreacting for no reason. Maybe Cho just wanted to ask Hermione advice on Harry, or something like that.

"Did Harry tell you about my uh current situation?" Cho inquired, choosing her words very carefully.

Hermione felt hot as she remembered what she had tried so hard to forget. Cho's pregnancy. "Of course. Harry told me about it," Hermione answered, trying to sound pleasant, "Congratulations! A baby…how exciting. Then again, you filled it me in on it when we ran into each other."

Cho sighed in relief. "Oh thank God he told you about our child. I thought he might be hiding it or something from you. For some reason, he doesn't seem very comfortable with Capella."

"Capella?" Hermione interrupted, jealousy surging through her. They had already picked out a name for their baby! Now all that was left was… their marriage.

Hermione swallowed, not able to digest this. So this was why Harry wanted to break up. It wasn't because he didn't love Hermione, but because he knew the news would hurt her. Hermione laughed bitterly. It hurt even more now, hearing it from the woman that was holding Harry's baby.

"Yes… oh it was supposed to be surprise," Cho muttered, "But it's okay. You are Harry's best friend, after all. It's okay I you know. We plan to name our little girl Capella. Isn't that the sweetest name?"

"Sweet. Yes." Hermione couldn't take anymore. Not caring that she was being rude, Hermione slammed down the receiver. How could she talk to Harry again after this? She was just coming between Cho and him. She couldn't keep him away from his child. Hermione put her head in her arms and cried until there were no more tears.

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

Ron sat at his office in the Ministry, fiddling with his quill. It was his lunch break, and he had nobody to share it with. Typically, he'd be out with Hermione, but considering the fact that they weren't on speaking terms…

This was pathetic. Ron wasn't the type of guy to sit around, hung up over a girl who obviously never cared for him. He stood up, putting on his cloak. He was going to go out and do something interesting. Just when he was all ready to leave his office, however, his cell phone rang.

Who would be calling Ron on his cell phone? Ron picked up his cell phone, and in bewilderment, realized that it was an unknown number. Ron opened his phone, and answered it with his most formal tone. "Hello?"

"Ronald, hi!"

Ron's eyebrow lowered in thought, as he tried to figure out who the familiar voice belonged to. It was a girl definitely, and kind of dreamy-like…

"Luna!" Ron exclaimed loudly as he realized who he was talking to, "Luna Lovegood… where in the name of Merlin did you get my number?"

"The Ministry gave it to me," she replied, her voice wistful. "You see, Ronald, I work at the Quibbler and was asked to interview the sports department on the Golden Cup Tournament. Considering you're the only one I personally know in the sports department, I thought it was a fantastic idea to interview you. After all, we haven't talked in ages."

Ron listened to Luna's voice, not believing it was her. Somehow, although her voice was still dreamy, it had evolved from that kiddish voice to a much more womanly voice. Her soothing voice put him in a trance, and Ron found himself not blinking.

"Well Ronald?" Luna asked, waiting for his response, "Are you free for me lunch right now? We can start the interview and maybe finish it tomorrow or something."

Ron blinked, refocusing on the subject. He remembered hearing Luna saying something about having lunch with her for an article in the paper. Well, Ron didn't really care about the paper part, but having lunch with Luna seemed like a great time. Come to think of it, the last time Ron had seen Luna was at the reunion. He had danced with her once or twice, but had been so drunk that he couldn't quite remember how she looked or how she had acted. Has she been a good dancer?

Ron cleared his throat, pushing away all thoughts of the reunion. "Yes, I happen to be free right now."

It felt good to have somewhere to be again.

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

About half an hour later, Ron was seated across the table from Luna at a local wizards café. Luna had brought her quill, parchment, and her stunning appearance. Ron stared at Luna intensely, slightly dazed. Had she always been this beautiful? There was something about the way her hair fell to her shoulders that intrigued Ron. And in addition, Luna now wore just a touch of makeup. It made her look, well… pretty. Ron flinched slightly by his own thoughts, not believing them. Loony Lovegood, pretty? Ron blinked and then stared at Luna again. Yes, her beauty was unmistakable. Ron wasn't just hallucinating.

"You look… nice," Ron complimented Luna with a genuine smile. He looked at her admiringly.

Luna flashed Ron a shy smile. She brushed her hair back. "You look better than usual as well, Ronald."

There was an awkward silence during which neither one knew what to say. Ron cleared his throat loudly. "Uh," he flushed, "Call me Ron."

Luna smiled slightly, putting her pen to her paper. "Alright. If that's what you want. Now, uh, we should probably begin the interview."

Ron nodded, not looking away from her intense eyes. What had he been missing out on all of these years?

"Okay, so why did you decide to work at the Ministry?" Luna asked.

Ron opened his mouth to respond, hoping the interview would last quite a while.

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

Ginny wrapped her arms around Draco's neck. "Mmmm," she murmured, her lips crushed against Draco's. Ginny was certain there was nothing better than that moment. She loved everything about Draco, and couldn't even picture herself with another guy.

Ginny closed her eyes as Draco deepened the kiss, losing herself in him. Suddenly, Draco jumped away from Ginny, causing Ginny to fall forward without his body to lean on. Why had Draco jumped away from her? Had she done something wrong?

Ginny looked at Draco, hurt and confused. He pointed behind her, unable to speak. Ginny turned around slowly, coming face to face with a fuming Ron Weasley.

"I had a feeling you were seeing someone, Ginny, but I had no idea it was Malfoy!" Ron exclaimed, stamping his foot. He shook Ginny violently. "How could you do this, Ginny? How could you?"

Draco walked over and shoved Ron away from Ginny. "She's a big girl, Weasel. I think she's a pretty good judge of character. After all, she never got dumped at her engagement party, has she?"

Ron growled, lowering his glance. "Who told you about that?" Ron hissed, his eyes trying to burn Draco's flesh. Draco didn't flinch. He maintained his cool smile, shaking his head so that his blonde hair went behind his head.

"It's all over the wizarding world," Draco laughed, "I bet it was even in the paper; 'Weasel was dumped by his ugly Mudblood girlfriend at their engagement party, and she didn't even do it in person. Plus, she ditched him for Potter.'"

"For your information, she is not going out with Harry," Ron replied, his ears pink, "So she didn't break up with me for Harry. They are just friends."

Draco, trying to piss Ron off, put his lips on Ginny's, kissing her passionately. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Ron's face go from pink to red to dark crimson. Ginny pushed Draco away, not wanted to upset Ron anymore.

"Ron, Draco and I are in love," Ginny told him furiously, "And nothing you say or do will change that. Just because you're single doesn't mean you have to try and ruin my love life."

"You're making a mistake, Ginny," Ron told her heatedly. He pulled out his wand. "And I'm not going to let you make this mistake."

A/N: :O Ginny was caught… by RON. We'll see how it all turns out in the next chapter. Also coming next chapter: a small H/Hr scene.

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