A long forgotten promise

Chapter 1

August 31st 1999

Crisp winds blow though the air causing the first few autumn leaves to fall from the trees onto the cold pavement of the London streets. The stars were beginning to shine in the dark sky. The street lights illuminating and brightening what would have been an otherwise dark and dingy looking pub.

Inside the pub sat four friends sitting around a small table, laughing happily with each other, reminiscing about the years past. Atop the table sat many empty glasses and bottles of butter beer and a few bottles that once contained fire whiskey.

The four people were sitting there with a purpose, the purpose being to have one last farewell drink with one of their best friends. A certain bushy haired know it all witch.

"I can't believe your leaving me with these two Hermione" said Ginny as she motioned to the two boys sitting on her left and right. One had messy jet black hair and bright emerald eyes, the other with vibrant red hair and crystal blue eyes.

"Ahh, come on Ginny it won't be that bad. I'm sure you of all people can handle it. Besides it won't be for that long" replied Hermione

"That long! You're going for 4 years Hermione not 4 weeks" gasped Ginny "well I just hope you'll be thinking of me, especially when you're at this big American wizard university doing Merlin knows what with Merlin knows who. All the while I'll be here having to listen to these two go on about quidditch and all the other boring stuff they talk about. I really will be surrounded by testosterone"

"Hey Ron do you ever get the feeling that these two a completely oblivious to our existence" piped up Harry

"Yeah mate I do and I also resent the fact that they think the stuff we talk about is boring" said Ron with a mock look of hurt on his face.

"Well anyway" spoke Ginny, brushing off the boys last comments "so back to this university stuff. I hear that people can be quite scandalous in their first year there."

"ok this is where I draw the line on your girl talk, I do not wish to hear about my female best friends plans of casual sex with random blokes thank you very much" said Harry with a look of pure horror on his face at the current path of conversation.

Hermione's face had turned bright crimson at the suggestion both Harry and Ginny had made about her becoming one of those scarlet women she had heard about from various people. Truth be told she would and could never become one of those women, truth be told she only ever had those types of thoughts about one particular boy, one who just so happened to be sitting next to her.

Ronald Weasley.

Ron was sat there with his eyes directed straight at the glass of fire whiskey he had in his hand. His fingers were tracing the rim of the glass, a blush slowly creeping up on his ears. He certainly didn't want to think about Hermione being with guys. Guys who would be just as smart as she was, good looking guys who probably had a lot of money and fancy up bringings, guys who were worthy of her. Guys who simply weren't him.

"Well as much as I would love to sit here and talk about what you guys think I will be getting up to at university I really should be leaving. After all tomorrow is going to be a busy day and I need to get up early." Said Hermione

"Yeah you're right Hermione." Harry said as he pushed himself off of his chair, he legs wobbled slightly as an affect of not using them for awhile as well as the amount of fire whiskey now circling his body.

The four stood and each made their way towards the door of the leaky cauldron. Ginny was the first to approach Hermione and wrap her in a sisterly hug. Harry was next and pulled her into a back breaking hug and placed a sweet kiss on her cheek before grabbing hold of Ginny's hand and entwining her fingers with his.

"You coming Ron" asked Harry as he held open the door of the pub.

"You two go ahead I'll just apparate Hermione to her parent's house and I'll meet back up with you at the Burrow" replied Ron

"You don't need to do that Ron, I'm quite capable of apparating there on my own."

"I know you are but still"

"What Ronald" said Hermione, her voice rising slightly at the idea that Ron still didn't think she was big enough to take care of herself.

"hey you guys, it's your last night together in a while, I know you two like to argue but can we not end the night that way" piped up Ginny who really didn't want to see her best friend and brother fighting on the night before Hermione left for America.

"Fine Ron, you may apparate me home, but I'm only doing it because I have had quite a few drinks, not because I need you to look after me. Ok?" stated Hermione, secretly however she liked to idea that Ron was so protective of her.

"Yes sir" said Ron, who had straightened his back and saluted her in a military fashion. Hermione chuckled at this.

"Right well we'll see you tomorrow at the airport tomorrow Hermione. 9 o'clock sharp." Said Harry

"Yep, see you then" with two faint pops Harry and Ginny were gone, leaving Ron and Hermione standing outside of the pub.

"so ... grab hold" said Ron as he held out his hand for her to take, which she did, both suddenly feeling a rush of warmth flow through their bodies at the slight contact.

After the familiar feeling of being pulled through a tight tube the pair found themselves standing outside of Hermione's parent's house. A two story chocolate box cottage in a little village outside of London.

Hermione walked up to the red front door and rested her hand on the brass handle, she turned her head back around to say thank you to Ron for apparating her home. Ron stood behind her and pulled out a long black box wrapped in white wrapping paper.

"What's that" Hermione asked when she noticed what Ron was holding

"It's just a little going away present for you"

"Ron you shouldn't have the joint present from you, Harry and Ginny was more than enough" said Hermione with a smile on her face.

"I know but I wanted to get you something just from me" shyly said Ron as he handed her the box.

Hermione slowly took to unwrapping the present. She opened the box and her eyes immediately began to fill with tears. Inside of the box was a solid silver quill, one that she had desperately wanted since first seeing it in the window of the little shop in Diagon alley.

"So do you like it" asked Ron apprehensively.

Hermione took her eyes off of the quill for the first time since opening the box, her eyes immediately found Rons, unable to speak she merely nodded her head, this caused one of the tears to slowly fall from her deep brown eyes.

"I thought you would, the man in the shop engraved it for me see" he said as he pointed towards the stem of the quill. The mind is a terrible thing to waste. "Remember you told me that once when I was down about revising for our NEWTs and I just wanted to give up, but you said that and after that I tried really hard to revise. Thanks to you I didn't completely fail."

At this Hermione was no longer able to keep the tears from falling from her eyes.

"Why are you crying Hermione I thought you said you like it. If you don't I could always take it back and get you something else"

"No Ron I love it, I truly do" the ability to form words finally coming back to her. "It's just I suppose it's finally hit home that I'm leaving tomorrow. How much I'm going to miss you, miss everybody"

Sobs suddenly took over Hermione's body. Her body trembled with the emotions she was feeling. Rons long, strong arms encircled around her waist and pulled her flush against him.

"Shh don't cry. After all America really isn't that far away and there are owls. Plus you've got the holidays and stuff" he said trying to sooth her, whilst his hand was smoothing over her hair. His eyes also full of tears.

"I know and you're right. God Hermione pull yourself together" she said whilst pulling away from Ron's hug. "Sorry about this, I don't know what came over me. Well goodnight Ron, I'll see you tomorrow"

"Yeah, tomorrow. Honestly Hermione you'll be fine."

"I know I will" she said whilst brushing away her last few tears.

She looked at Ron and stood on her tip toes to place her lips on his cheek when at the last second he moved his head so that their lips met. Both tasting her salty tears on their lips. She pulled away from the kiss that she had been waiting so long for to look up into Ron's eyes. His lips went to speak, she never found out what because she stopped the words with her lips.

At first their kiss was slow and new, new feelings that neither of them wanted to stop feeling. However the embrace quickly became one of passion, untold feelings and lust. Their lips moved in perfect sync with each others. Their tongues dancing together. Only when the need for air became too great did they separate.

"Hermione" whispered Ron. Hermione bought her fingers up to Rons pink swollen lips, effectively silencing him.

"will you stay with me, stay with me Ron." She spoke in a tone so soft that Ron had to pay extra attention to make sure he heard her correctly.

"forever" he answered quickly before bringing his lips back in contact with hers. I promise

The pair opened the door to Hermione's house and stepped in from the cold. The large door closed silently behind. Effectively shutting themselves off from the world for one night. One night where it would just the two of them together.

It was the perfect way to say goodbye.

Four years later

Hermione Granger nervously made her way up the old meandering stone path towards a place she would always think of as a home. A place, that in reality she hadn't stepped foot in for 4 years.

She took a long look up at the lopsided house and its many levels, to this day it still held a special place in her heart and made her believe a little more that magic was real. There were still muddy boots outside the front door and the odd gnome would run across the path.

Hermione didn't know why she felt so nervous, she had always felt at home here. She supposed that after 4 long years away some things were bound to change. Despite her nerves she walked up to the front door, her heels knocking loudly on the stone path. Everybody had arranged to meet at the Burrow for a sort of welcome back party in her honour.

She couldn't understand why she was so anxious at the prospect of seeing everyone again. It wasn't as if she hadn't heard from them in 4 years, she regularly exchanged letters with Harry and Ginny. Mrs. Weasley would always write her a long monthly letter explaining the comings and goings of each member of the family. She even received one letter from the twins, sure they had sent it in the form of a howler but it was still a letter asking her how she was.

Then suddenly she understood why she was feeling so nervous. Ron. He had written her numerous letters, ones asking how she was, ones telling her about his new job as keeper for his favourite team the Chudley Cannons. Letters asking her to every single game he played, letters asking her to come to England on her next break from university. To all of which she would never reply. Not once did she write back to him.

She would often tell Harry or Ginny to say hello to Ron for her but she would never do it herself.

The last time she had spoken to Ron was when she said goodbye to him, even then he was sleeping soundly in her childhood bed.

Not wanting to dwell on that morning 4 years ago she raised her hand to the old, rusted door knocker and knocked the door.

All of her nerves left her body when the door literally swung open, she wondered how it had managed to stay on the old hinges, revealing an older Mrs. Weasley. Upon seeing Hermione at the door Mrs. Weasley squealed her delight and wrapped Hermione in a bone crushing hug. Tears stung her eyes when she realised that she was stupid for being nervous.

"Hermione, come in child. Ohhhh we've missed you" said a chocked up Mrs. Weasley, who pulled Hermione through the door towards the awaiting crowd in the Burrow kitchen. "look who's back"

As soon as Hermione entered the kitchen there was an eruption of cheers. Hermione was bombared with 'hello's, 'I've missed you's and 'welcome back's.

"make way, make way, best friend coming through" shouted Harry as he pushed he way through the crowd to get to Hermione.

"Harry" Hermione practically screamed as she saw her best friend. She literally jumped at Harry and wrapped her arms around his neck. She hadn't truly realised just how much she had missed him until she saw him again.

"ok, calm down Hermione, I haven't missed you that much" chuckled Harry as Hermione released her death grip from his neck

"shut up Harry" Hermione said as she playfully punched his arm.

"well I've missed you that much" said Ginny was ran at Hermione and hugged her. Both girls stepped back from each other looking each other up and down and the suddenly just began to scream like a pair of banshee's and jumping on the spot.

"I don't know about you Harry but I'll never fully understand the workings of the female mind"

This voice made Hermione stop dead in her tracks, it was Ron. An older looking, more muscled Ron but still the same Ron, with his bright blue eyes and lopsided grin.

"Ron"

"Hermione" he sheepishly said before stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her, his hugged lifted her from the ground. "It's been way too long" he whispered so that only she could hear. He placed her back onto the ground. Hermione seemed to be locked in a trace that was only broken by the sound on the Burrow door closing.

"ohhhh I've missed the big surprise haven't I" asked a pretty blonde haired witch. She had on robes of aquamarine that showed off her heavenly figure. She made her way towards the four people who were stood in the centre of the kitchen. "well are you going to introduce me Ron" she said as she offered her left hand to Hermione.

Hermione took her hand into her left one and gently shook it, feeling the coolness of metal on her palm.

"Hermione I'd like you to meet Christina... my fiancée" smiled Ron.