/Author's Note/

Well, this is the sequel to Fate. If you haven't read Fate yet, I suggest that you go to my page and read it first, it will make it a lot easier to understand what's going on as it gives you more details.

Promises

Chapter 1- Bitter Reality

A young man sat at the table of the house that he now shared with his wife. He was poring through a file of a case that was a year old, trying to figure something out. His emerald green eyes flitted over the words, and though he was showing signs of fatigue, he continued poring through the file.

'There has to be something… I'll find it soon.'

He was getting frustrated, and that frustration was accompanied by stress.

"Harry? It's getting late, are you coming to bed?"

He looked up as her sweet voice invaded his mind. He already felt calmer, more relaxed… she always seemed to do that for him.

He grinned, closing the many files that scattered the table. Then he stood up, walking over to the beautiful woman in the doorway that led to their bedroom. He slipped his arms around her, pulling her close to him as he took in the flowery scent that always lingered around her. Well… almost always. Just last year that scent had faded, those bright green eyes now looking at him warmly were hollow…

"Of course I am. Can't you see that I'm coming right now?"

She giggled softly as he lifted her thin frame into his arms and carried her into their bedroom. He set her down gently on the bed, took in the fact that she was already in her pajamas and quickly changed into his own before sitting down next to her.

She smiled softly as she moved closer to him, but it faded slightly when those bright brown eyes met his emerald green ones. She could see the stress in his eyes, the worry on his face.

"What's wrong Harry? You haven't brought work home with you for a year… since David's trial."

She frowned at the memory. It had been an entire year since David Thorne had ordered for her to be captured, but she could still feel the vile man's lips pressed to hers, could still feel the ropes bound tightly around her wrists to keep her from moving…

She was brought out of her memories by a sigh from Harry.

"I know that I haven't brought anything home in awhile, but if I don't find something else I can charge him for, he'll be released in three days time."

The bitter reality of his words hit her hard, and her eyes widened.

"They'll release him? But… he's only been locked away for a year…"

Harry nodded.

"There isn't much we can charge him on. Honestly Gin, we're lucky that they've kept him for this long."

She looked at him like he was crazy.

"What about kidnap, or murder?"

He shook his head.

"He found a way to avoid a harsh punishment. He only ordered for you to be captured, and there's no solid proof that he ever killed anyone."

She bit her lip.

"What about using the Unforgivable Curses?"

Again, he shook his head.

"There's still no solid proof. Whatever he used on you wasn't the Imperius Curse, because you knew what you were doing."

Ginny sighed, and then bit her lip again.

"What… what about what he did to me, what about what he was going to do to me?"

He sighed again, shaking his head.

"I tried that. They can't punish him for simply kissing you, and they can't charge him for planning to take it farther than just a kiss."

He sighed, lying back onto the pillows.

"So… they're just going to release him?"

She shifted closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Mark would have been locked up for longer than he was."

She closed her eyes. She didn't like this. She didn't like it at all, and though she would never admit it, she was scared. David wouldn't be able to use her for the Ritual he had originally wanted her for, but she was the one who had gotten him locked up… she was the one that got away, and if he was going to be released… who was to say that he wouldn't go after her again?

Harry sensed this and wrapped his arms around his wife, kissing her tenderly.

"I'm sorry."

She looked at him, confused.

"You didn't do anything Harry."

He shook his head.

"Yes I did. I should have killed him when I had the chance."

Ginny sighed, kissing him lightly.

"It's not your fault Harry."

He said nothing for a minute.

"There's no need to worry about it love. I'll protect you… I promise."

She smiled softly.

"And you always keep your promises… except for one."

He frowned.

"I thought we agreed that we were never going to talk about that again."

She smiled again.

"Don't worry about it Harry. It's all in the past."

He kissed her again, and after a few more seconds of talking, they were both fast asleep.