Title: Bittersweet Chocolate

Chapter One: Promises

Author: Allegra Cadence

Rating: PG for mature themes

Author's Note: Just to let you know, my chapters will hopefully lengthen, they will definitely never be as short as the prologue and probably longer than this. I prefer to put the author's note at the beginning so it doesn't "ruin the ending" or whatnot.

I really appreciate reviews! Whenever I get a review that is signed or leaves their email, I will always personally write them back thanking them, and will add them to my address book to notify them of when the next chapter is out (if they liked it). No flames please, only constructive criticism, and even if you liked an eensy weensy bit of it, tell me! You have no idea how much it means. I hope that's incentive enough for the readers.

Much love,

Allegra Cadence

Chapter One: Promises

"Harry! HARRY! Stop! Please, I'm gonna barf!" She screamed, giggling between words. Harry slowly stopped spinning and she closed her eyes delicately, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping her legs around his waist.

Time seemed to stop. The world drifted into place and everything seemed so unexplainably right. They were two puzzle pieces that found each other. She could hear his rhythmic heartbeat when she pressed her ear to his broad shoulder and realized their heartbeats were in tune perfectly, like the invisible metronome in a symphony.

Hermione giggled again, breaking the silence and opening her eyes. She grinned like a maniac and said, "Someday, you're going to launch me into space doing that."

"No," he paused, "I would never let you go."

She smiled and looked down. Her cheeks tinged pink, and she fluttered her long eyelashes a couple of times. Once again, she grinned and wrinkled her nose like a little girl, and said, "What if you had just put on lotion?"

He sighed, exasperated, and put Hermione down on the couch next to the fire. She sat up and he plopped down besides her, staring into the fire. "Well, we'll just have to superglue you to me, that way, you'll never leave."

He put his head in her lap and she ruffled his hair, bending down to kiss his forehead. Her soft hands caressed the side of his face with loving adoration. He looked up at her and his eyes opened wide. His eyebrows rose slowly and he looked in awe. She was an angel, she truly was.

"This is surreal, Harry." she whispered, looking at the fire. The flames reflected in her chestnut eyes, creating an aura of peace.

"What is?" He sat up and reached for her hands.

"This!" She pulled away her hands and waved them in the air quickly. "This! You! Me!" She touched the scar on his forehead. "Us! It can't be true! It's too wonderful; it's too sweet! Some things, you cannot help but wonder- are they too perfect? Where is the snag in our own quilt? What is the catch, Harry?"

He held her hands once more and looked at her forcefully, if there were such a way to look. "Although I cannot promise no 'catches', there is one thing I am sure of. This is real, Hermione. Believe me this is real. I can feel it! It's electric! It's like a current flowing from me, into you, and you likewise. That is what love is!" He paused, "Promise you will never forget me. How our love is. Please."

"I promise." She leaned backwards against his chest so her head was right under his shoulder, near his collarbone. He, in turn, slowly leaned back into the couch so they were both comfortable. She fluttered her eyes shut, and he fell asleep soon after. Those were the good times.

*

Hermione tossed in her sleep, huddling in the few blankets she had. The floor was damp, cold stone. There was no way to be comfortable here. She opened her eyes, focusing on the puddle forming on the floor. Wonderful, she thought, I'll drown before I can get out of here. She closed her eyes again and wrapped herself up tightly in the covers to go back to her dreams. Her memories. That was all she had left.