I Promise

Chapter Eight: "Smile Like You Mean It"

A/N: gasppp you have no idea how much I love you guys !! thanks so much for all the reviews. You guys make me feel as if my writing actually means something. :) seriously, thanks so freaking much.

But I barely have any reviews on my other story ): could you guys please make me smile by reviewing my other story as well? I swear it's also good !! It's called "Loving You is My Deepest Secret."

Okay, so read this and then review this chapter… then go review my other story.

I LOVE YOU ALLLLLL <3

"Wait Ron, don't!" Hermione yelled, running after him. Her mind had finally started working again. She had to think of something quickly.

Ron froze, one hand on the closet, and turned around. "Everything alright, Mione? You look like you've seen a ghost."

Hermione walked over towards Ron and kissed him. Her mind was spinning. The only distraction she could think of was kissing him. She had to give time for Harry to apparate out of the closet. Surely he was smart enough to do that.

Ron forgot all about the closet. Glad that Hermione was showing some sign of affection, Ron decided to leap at the chance. He wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her keenly, praying that she wouldn't resist. Hermione knew it was wise not to stop so soon.

"Hermione," Ron breathed in between kisses, "I…love…you."

Hermione didn't answer. She just pressed her lips on Ron's, and prayed that her kiss was a good enough answer. A few minutes later, she broke away from Ron, using all her might to stop herself from looking at the closet.

"Ron," Hermione tried to sound sorry, "I have some errands to do. I'm sorry. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

Ron's face fell. He looked away from her, undoubtedly disappointed. "What about the dancing, Hermione? Come on, you don't want to do anything with me anymore. Please?"

Hermione gave Ron a quick kiss on the cheek, feeling very panicked. Her heart was racing as she thought about how close of a call that had been "Another day, okay? I swear we'll go dancing sometime soon. I have a bunch to do before work tomorrow. Work has been so stressful lately, Ron."

Ron sighed. He was trying very hard to keep his cool. There was no need to get into another fight with Hermione, but he couldn't help but wonder if work was always going to be more important than him. "I guess I'll find my own way out."

Hermione smiled slightly, her fingers crossed behind her. Her heart rate was slowly returning to normal. "I'm pretty sure you know the way, Ron."

Hermione watched a disappointed Ron leave her apartment. The second he shut the door, Hermione went over towards the front door and locked it. At that moment, there was a bang. Hermione turned around to see Harry emerged from the closet, a sock dangling from his head. Hermione couldn't help but giggle at the sight. Harry didn't seen very amused.

Harry obviously wasn't in a very good mood. He just tossed the sock off his head and stared at Hermione crossly.

Hermione looked at Harry, concerned. She hated seeing him so upset, but she had to admit that she missed his "mad" face. She hadn't seen it in ten years. "Harry, what's wrong?"

Harry looked at her, and told her softly, "You aren't going to break off the engagement. That's what's wrong."

Hermione stared at Harry, not saying anything. Was it true? Was she really not going to break off her engagement with Ron?

Well, there was the Cho thing. It wasn't as if she was the bad person in the situation. After all, she and Harry might not even be able to be together. If so, was there really any point in breaking off the engagement? Having Ron was better than having nobody. She had already lost Harry once, and she wasn't ready to lose her other best friend.

Harry gave her a small, helpless smile. He cleared his throat, and looked up at her. "Listen, I shouldn't have even brought this up. It's obvious that you need some time. I'll… uh be in touch."

Hermione watched helplessly as Harry headed towards the door. It hurt to know that she was the reason Harry was leaving, and that nothing she said would make him stay. He knew her too well. He knew that Hermione didn't want to break Ron's heart. Harry knew Hermione was too kind to do it.

"Harry," Hermione called, just as Harry was about to close the door behind him.

He stopped and turned around. "Yeah, Hermione?" he asked softly, looking up at her.

She went up to him and gave him a peck. Then she looked away from him. "Give it time, okay? I'll figure it out."

He gave her a half smile. "You promise, Hermione?"

She smiled, remembering how ten years ago she had promised to always think of Harry. She had kept that promise, hadn't she? There was no reason she couldn't keep this one as well. "I promise."

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

Ginny knocked on the door of the Burrow. It had been so long since she had been inside of it. Her mother insisted on having family dinners at least once a month, but everyone was busy. Usually, they ended up getting together twice a year. Ginny was swarmed with work at the Daily Prophet, and usually had to work very late hours. This was the only time Ginny had to catch up with her family.

The door finally opened after Ginny rang the doorbell for the third time. Ginny's father, Mr. Weasley, opened the door. He was panting hard, and it seemed as though he had run all the way to the front door.

Ginny studied her father, and realized that he was definitely aging. He wasn't the same enthusiastic person he once was. There were wrinkles on his face, and his hair was now gray. However, he still had the same loving smile on his face that he had when Ginny was in Hogwarts.

"Ginny dear," he greeted her, "So nice to see you again! Molly is running a little late on dinner. Fred, Angelina, George, Alicia, Ron, Hermione, and Harry are waiting for you in the living room."

Ginny knew what her mother was up to right away. She spotted her mother in the kitchen, and gave her a disgusted look. "Mum, I told you to stop trying to set me up with Harry! I'm not interested in him. There are plenty of guys in this world. Why do you have to keep pushing me with him? We are way over. I haven't talked to him since I graduated from Hogwarts."

Mrs. Weasley sighed, looking upset that her daughter wasn't interested in Harry. "Ginevra, please. You haven't seen a single man since you and Harry broke up. I'm sure he's still interested in you. If the two of you could just sit down and talk for a few minutes, I'm sure-"

Ginny had heard enough. She pushed passed her mother and headed towards the living room. To her dismay, the only seat left in the living room was the one on the couch beside Harry. As Ginny took her seat, she saw Ron give her an obvious wink. All Ginny could do was sigh loudly.

Harry gave Ginny an apologetic look. "Sorry Gin," he whispered to her, "Mrs. Weasley forced me to come to dinner, and since I haven't seen anyone for ten years I kind of had to accept."

Ginny gave Harry a warm hug. "I've missed you so much, Harry," she murmured softly, "It's great to see you again."

Harry smiled at Ginny. Hermione coughed very loudly, and it was obvious to Ginny that it was a fake one. Did it bother Hermione to see Harry talking to Ginny, even though Harry had no interest in Ginny? And why wasn't Hermione excited to see Harry? Was it possible that they had seen each other recently?

Ginny shook thoughts of Hermione and Harry away. She turned to Ron and noticed that he was glaring at Harry. Now Ginny was totally confused. Harry and Ron had definitely not seen each other… or at least, that was what Ron had said. Was it possible that the three of them had met? Or was Ron just angry with Harry because he thought that Harry was going to steal Hermione away?

Ginny knew one thing for sure: there were way too many questions. If she didn't answer them soon, she'd go mad with curiosity. Then again, she didn't exactly tell her family everything. For instance, she hadn't told them that she had recently started dating someone. That was only because they wouldn't approve, though. It was to protect them from having their heart broken, not because she was ashamed of telling them. Although, Ginny admitted to herself, she was slightly afraid to tell them…

"So Harry," Fred exclaimed, apparently excited that Harry was back, "How was defeating Him?"

Harry shrugged. Ginny realized that he didn't exactly want to talk about Voldemort. He probably just wanted to forget about it.

"So Fred," Ginny interrupted, trying to change the subject, "How's the joke shop coming along?"

That question seemed to do the trick. Fred and George yammered on and on about the sales, and how they were making more money than Ron and Ginny put together out of the joke shop.

Harry gave Ginny a grateful look, and she whispered, "No problem."

A few minutes later, Mrs. Weasley came in announcing the start of dinner. Everyone got up and went into the dining room to enjoy the meal.

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

"Dinner was excellent, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione told Mrs. Weasley politely, "Thanks so much for the invite."

Mrs. Weasley beamed. "It was the least I could do for my new daughter-in-law."

The news took Hermione aback. Of course, she realized, of course Ron would have told his family about the engagement. Being engaged to someone was pretty big news. Hermione hadn't realized how serious the engagement was. Breaking off the engagement would mean not only hurting Ron, but also his entire family.

"Bye Mrs. Weasley," Harry told Mrs. Weasley, refusing to look at her. Harry looked at Hermione, and Hermione could tell that he was trying to say 'Call you soon.' She nodded, and he headed out of the door.

"Night Ron," Hermione said softly, giving him a quick peck. However, Ron looked as though he was about to explode.

"When and where did you see Harry?" Ron demanded, his nostrils flaring. He looked like he was about to burst from anger. "Don't lie to me, Hermione. I know you've seen him recently."

A/N: Don't call me evil, because I already know it. :)
Sorry about another cliffhanger, but…
its to get you guys to review !!
More reviews = faster update.
It always works the same way.

<3

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