I Promise

Chapter Three: "What Happened to Us?"

A/N: Thank you SO MUCH for all the reviews. Really, you guys don't know what it means to me. I won't have internet access for the next 10 days so please, leave me lots of reviews so that I update as soon as I have internet access again.

Hermione crossed another day off her calendar. There was only another week until the Hogwarts Reunion. One more week until she saw Harry Potter again. It had been ten years since she had last seen her best friend, and she longed to see his caring face and beautiful smile.  

      "One more week," Hermione whispered under her breath. "Do you miss me, Harry?" 

      Hermione picked her picture of Harry up slowly to kiss it. Just as she was about to do so, however, someone banged on her front door. Startled, Hermione dropped the picture frame. The glass shattered into tiny pieces.  

      Hermione swore under her breath and dug through her pocket for her wand. She quickly repaired the shattered picture frame. The knock came again. "Who is it?" Hermione called, exasperated. She silently hoped it wasn't Ron. She was in no mood to go out with him.  

      "It's Ginny," a small voice called from just outside the door. Ginny paused for a moment. "Is this a bad time?"  

      Hermione smiled slightly. She hadn't talked to Ginny in a few months. "I'm coming, Ginny. Just give me a moment."  

      Hermione put the picture back on her nightstand before standing up. She headed towards the door with a small smile on her face. It had been ages since she had seen her friend. She opened door, and saw a blur of long red hair. The next thing she knew, she was in the embrace of Ginny.  

      "Oh, Mione, I've missed you like crazy," Ginny grinned, hugging Hermione, "I don't know when the last time I saw you was." 

      Hermione felt her mood brighten a bit. Ginny had a way of making everyone feel so much better. "Okay, okay," Hermione laughed, "You're cutting off my circulation, Ginny."  

      Ginny pulled Hermione down onto Hermione's couch. "So tell me, Hermione. How's everything? We haven't talked for ages." 

      Hermione shrugged, propping her feet up on the coffee table. "Things are fine. Work is getting hectic. The kids I teach are getting more and more restless now that the school year is almost over." 

      Ginny nodded. It was obvious to Hermione that Ginny wasn't referring to work. She was talking about Hermione's love life. If there was one thing Ginny was interested in, it was love. Ginny herself had dating far more people than Hermione had.   

      "And," Hermione added quickly, "Ron and I are doing great. We're going on what… our third year?" 

      Ginny smiled slightly, yet the smile wasn't totally convincing. She looked slightly concerned. "I'm happy for you if you're happy, Hermione. Are you sure you're happy? You look so… worn out." 

      Hermione tried to give Ginny her cheeriest face, but was having trouble doing so. "I'm completely happy with Ron, Ginny. It's just… we've been bickering a bit lately, and I hope we resolve everything." 

      Ginny put her arm around Hermione. "It'll get better, I promise. Ron talks about nothing but you. He really does love you, Hermione." 

      "Yeah, I know." 

      Hermione sighed. Why did Ron have to love her? There were so many other people he could have chosen; yet he chose her.  

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      Ron listened to the phone ring, his heart beating fast. Why wouldn't she pick up the phone? 

      "Ginny… pick up the bloody phone," he muttered under his breath. Finally there was an answer.  

      "Hello?" Ginny's voice came on the line. She sounded out of breath.  

      "Ginny. Hi. It's Ron." 

      Ginny sounded surprised. "And why may I ask are you calling me? I'm your sister, if you haven't forgotten." 

      "I want to propose to Hermione," Ron blurted out. Ron knew he probably shouldn't have gone right to the point, but he couldn't help it. Ginny was Hermione's best female friend, and Ron needed her input.  

      "Well… Ron," Ginny said slowly, "This is quite a surprise." Ron tried to read the expression in her voice, but there was none. 

      Ron sighed. "Yeah, I know, Gin, but I really love her. And I'm not planning on having the wedding anytime soon. It's just… I want to know she's mine forever. I can't risk losing her." 

      Ginny paused for a moment. "This is about Harry, isn't it? You're afraid once Hermione sees Harry at the reunion, she'll take off with him. Aren't I right?" 

      Ron didn't answer. He didn't want to admit that, like always, Ginny was right. She always was right when it came down to dating-related situations. Ron, on the other hand, knew nothing about dating. He just didn't understand girls.  

      Ginny laughed. "You know I'm always right, Ronald." 

      "Fine, fine, I admit it, Genevra," Ron answered crossly, "I want to keep her to myself. Is that too much to ask?" 

      "If she truly loves you, she'll stay with you, Ron. You don't need a ring to keep her faithful if she really does love you," Ginny answered simply. 

      Ron groaned. Ginny wasn't being at all helpful. "So are you telling me that I shouldn't propose to Hermione?" 

      "I'm telling you to do whatever you want to," Ginny answered, "I'm just merely giving my input on the situation. And by the way, I went to go see Hermione today. It just so happens that we discussed you." 

      Ron's interest perked up a bit. Ginny had gone to see Hermione? How come Ginny hadn't told him sooner? How come Hermione hadn't told him this? He then realized that he hadn't even talked to Hermione today. "Ginny, you've got to tell me. What did she say? I knew it, she loves Harry more…" 

      Ginny scoffed. "Do you want to make up what Hermione said, or would you rather hear what she actually said?" Ron could detect that Ginny was getting a little impatient with him. 

      "Fine," Ron answered impatiently, "Tell me." 

      "She says that she's really happy with you, Ron," Ginny responded honestly, "She just wishes that the bickering between the two of you ends. She thinks that the two of you argue too much, and feels that she can't have a relationship with someone she doesn't exactly get along with." 

      "I won't argue anymore," Ron answered quickly, "And I'll always agree with her. No matter what. God, Ginny, I don't want to lose her." 

      "I know you don't, Ron," Ginny whispered, "But would you keep her from someone else just so that you don't lose her?" 

      Ron didn't answer that comment. Instead, he hung up the phone. He didn't even want to think of the possibility. At that moment, Ron felt sick in the stomach. He really didn't want to go to the Hogwarts Reunion.  

A/N: Okay, so its obvious that the reunion is coming up soon. More reviews = Update as soon as I come back (: Love you guys <3

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