The Broken Promise
Chapter 1
Hermione sat there looking out the window of her room at the Burrow. It was break and the Weasley's insisted on having her and Harry over for their last Christmas before graduating Hogwarts. She looked down to see her two good friends talking and using their wands to make colors in the snow. Ron made an area of snow say "Happy Christmas" with red and green colors. She knew they would soon be leaving school and off making their own separate lives. She didn't like the thought of not being with the two of them as they are now. She knew one way or another their friendship would fall apart. She was mostly afraid Harry would forget about her and they wouldn't be friends after graduating. She hasn't been able to stop thinking about Harry in particular. This year he's become more of a man than she's ever seen him before. They've been constantly flirting but never more than a few jokes. Hermione put the thoughts out of her head and walked down into the kitchen. There, Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, were preparing dinner.
"Can I help with anything?" Hermione asked. Mrs. Weasley turned to see her and said,
"Of course dear, you can help Ginny prepare the salad." Hermione stood next to Ginny and started to chop the lettuce. She talked with Ginny about classes and activities they could do during the last few days of break. Not to mention Fleur and Bill's wedding which was only two days away. Fleur was out with Bill buying last minute wedding pieces. Ginny could care less about Fleur but she had promised not to pull any pranks on the bride for Mrs. Weasley was keeping a close eye on her. When Ron and Harry finally came in for dinner the two girls had finished the salad and were cleaning up the mess they made.
"Your snow designs look wonderful out there!" Mrs. Weasley said happily. "Dinner's almost ready, so wash up."
Harry and Ron walked over to where Hermione was using a charm to move dirty pots and pans into the sink. Harry reached her first and leaned over her where their eyes met. They paused for a brief moment before Hermione turned the water on for Harry. They gave each other a smile and she giggled.
"Bloody hell, can we give it a rest already? We all know you two like each other, can't you just admit it." Ron cried with everyone around looking surprised that he had said something about the whole topic. Ron and the others had noticed their flirting this year, but no one dared to mention it. Ginny looked at her brother and gave a smirk as if to say, 'this should be interesting'. Harry looked at Hermione and gave his concerned smile. Hermione had an idea of what would happen, Harry would just try to ignore it and walk away from the situation. Which is exactly what he did to Hermione's amazement. He stepped out of the kitchen and headed for the stairs. They all watched as he climbed the stairs slowly with a straight face. Hermione wanted to follow but Ginny come over to comfort her.
"What a git." Ron said under his breath.
"I'm sorry he did that. He can face a dark lord but he can't even talk about a fancy for someone." Ginny said to her best friend. Hermione gave a small smile before Mrs. Weasley spoke,
"Lets have supper. If Harry wants to eat he'll have to come down on his own time."
But Hermione had something else on her mind and knew what she had to do. Quietly she followed Harry up the stairs without looking back. Once she reached the top, she walked down the hallway to Ron's room where he and Harry stayed. She didn't knock but she put her ear to he door to listen. He was breathing hard, however nothing else was heard but silence. Hermione waited a moment than opened the door to find Harry sitting on his bed with his back turned toward her. He didn't notice she had entered until she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Hermione… I didn't hear you come in," he said once he stood up to face her. "You startled me."
"Sorry, I'm can be quiet when want to." She told him with an awkward silence to follow. Then Hermione spoke again, "Harry, please tell how you really feel about me. I know you have something to say about this. But every time your chance comes, you run away from your feelings. ……Harry… I know that I love you, but I'm not so sure you feel the same about me." Harry hung is head but then looked into her glistening brown eyes and he could tell she needed to know the truth.
"I do love you… but I can't. I wouldn't want to put you in the danger of my enemies, like Voldomort. There just too much of a risk, and I don't want to have to find out its my fault for letting him get to you. You are my weakness," He told her sincerely. Hermione thought about what he said for a moment. It sounded like he really cared for her and didn't want to take a chance of the possibility of harm towards her. But it dawned that she couldn't be with him for his safety and her own. Thinking this brought tears to her eyes but only one single drop rolled down her rosy cheek. Harry wasn't sure weather to give comfort or to let her be. He reached out for her hand and lightly held it. He thought about what she must think of him now. He didn't like to see her upset over what he had said. He loved this girl and wanted to be with her.
"I want to conquer this together. You have to do what you must and I want to be a part of it. I've helped you before why can't I help now?" Hermione said breaking the silence. Harry sighed but thought hard about what he was going to say. Anything he said wouldn't be what she wanted to hear.
"Because my feelings for you have changed and I know Voldomort will stop at nothing to get to me. Even if that means he has to kill you." Harry winced at the thought of Hermione never coming back to him. "But I promise you this, when I have defeated, Voldomort and his followers, I will come back to you. When it is safe again and this war is over. Only then can I trust you will be out of harm's way. I know you can handle yourself but there is a chance you could slip and I could lose you forever. I do not wish that upon you or myself." Another long silent moment shared between the two before Hermione wants to give it one more try, but Harry catches her.
"I beg you not to fight this because I will not give in. I love you and I would like nothing better, than to be able to love you freely and to let the whole world know. But Voldomort is in this world as is his followers who would be grateful to know how he could simply kill me in place of you. I would give up my life for you to be able to live one more day." At this Hermione nods then burst into free flowing tears and sits on the bed. Harry knows now to comfort and calm her. He puts his arms around her and holds her close. Hermione can feel the warmth of his body as she leans in towards him. He gently lays his head on hers and she feels he is holding in his own tears. They sit like this for a while until Hermione stops her crying. She looks into his sparkling green eyes then wipes away the new tears that are forming in her own. She barely gives him a smile as she heads for the door to leave. She turns one last time and Harry stands to watch her go. Hermione reaches for the doorknob when Harry walks over to her and speaks,
"Please don't leave yet. It doesn't feel right to just let you walk out of it like this. I can see I've hurt you and I don't like to see my friend overcome with sadness. I want to continue our friendship but you will know there is more to it than just being friends. We just won't share our feelings with other people. I want you find love in someone who can be with you safely. Please don't think that you have to wait; you're free to do as you please. Don't let me hold you back from moments in time you could miss because I won't be there to share it with you." Hermione hasn't a clue what to say to him but he has longing in his eyes that she can't quite place. She doesn't say anything but reaches out to caress his face. Slowly she leans forward when Harry closes his eyes.
"Hermione…I…" but his words are replaced by a breathtaking kiss. Harry puts his arms around her waist pulling her closer to his own body. For the two the world has stopped and nothing matters but the one beautiful shared kiss they have both been longing to have. To them ten seconds felt more like ten years the kiss lasted. And when they finally parted it was Harry with a tear coming down his cheek.
"I just needed to know how it would have felt with you." Hermione said with a small smile. With that she opened the door and was gone.