A/N: Well sorry to whoever moaned for me leaving it there, I did okay, deal with it! Grrrr! Hehe! You all know I'm kidding… I hope… So, moving on, sorry no Draco this chapter, it all focuses on Gin, Colin, and Poppy… oh, and Harry kinda. I'll get back on track next chapter, I know you're all missing your D/G fix from the last chapter.

Acknowledgements: To my reviewers for being patient with me at the moment… my minds stopped working! *sob, sniff*

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Chapter 8

Taking Everything Away

Kiss the rain

Whenever you need me

Kiss the rain

Whenever I'm gone, too long

If your lips

Feel lonely and thirsty

Kiss the rain

And wait for the dawn

~ Billie Myers, Kiss the Rain

He wasn't sure why he was going there, or if it would help at all, but a part of him needed closure. So as he stepped up to the doorstep his heartbeat quickened and he found himself a little dizzy. He was more hurt than he should have been by her actions. His actions. The problem was, he didn't know quite why. It was meant to all be in the past, a forgotten memory, a cloud in the back of his mind.

Leaning against the oak of the door, he felt it give under his weight. Strange, it was never normally left open. He made his way into the hallway and glanced around at all the pictures on the walls… he hadn't been alone here for a long time. Pausing to study the moving portraits of family members he undid the clasp on his cloak, and placed the ivy coloured material down on a chair. The girl in the picture of front of him suddenly grinned, her chocolate coloured eyes glittering in evening sun, she waved shyly and then went back to studying the flower she was holding.

Wizarding photo's, the people in them always wanted your attention, especially those of whom you knew. His eyes scanned the tens of pictures until one particular one caught his eye. She was stood in the middle of a cornfield, her gleaming hair blowing wildly in the wind, her eyes sparkling, and she was smiling like there was no tomorrow. Stepping up to the wall he watched as she spun around on the spot, laughing with contentment. If only things were still the same.

As he reached the end of the hallway, he took a cautious step into the kitchen in search of some kind of life. Nothing… only a jet of steam protruding from the kettle. So there had to be someone there. Reaching the kitchen table it was then he saw a piece of parchment laid out, he picked it up slowly and began to read.

Dear Ginny and Colin,

Good news, we've set a date at last. Millie wanted a Winter wedding, so the official date is now December 12th. Remember Mill still wants you as a bridesmaid, and Crystal can't wait to hold her Auntie Ginny's hand when her mummy gets married. That's what she said, seriously.

Colin, we need to talk ushers. How are you all? How's Pop?

Owl back as soon as possible,

Charlie xxx

With a sigh he put the parchment down again and stepped up to the backdoor, peering outside. And there was Colin sat in the middle of the grass, Poppy sat in front of him playing with her dolls. In any normal circumstances that would have been picture perfect, but this was different.

'Colin?' asked Harry as he stepped out on to the porch. Poppy froze and looked up, her strawberry blonde hair flying around in the wind. A moment later her father followed suit and looked around over his shoulder. Walking over Harry sat himself down beside Colin, and then smiled as Poppy ran to him, throwing her arms around him.

Beside him Colin laughed softly. 'I think she missed you,' he said quietly. 'She's running low on company other than mine at the moment, social butterfly our Pop is. I reckon she misses Jack too.'

Harry nodded as Poppy settled herself on his knee, she stroked her hair gently. 'Well Pop,' he began, looking at the little girl. 'Jackers misses you as well, you going to come and visit him soon?' Pop nodded enthusiastically and then almost toppled off his knee, Harry steadied her and threw a look to Colin, who only laughed again.

'I think we should stop those two being together all the time, they're going to end up getting married,' said Colin, as he got to his feet, brushing the grass off his trouser legs. 'Not ready to let her go just yet.' He smiled down at Poppy, who looked up in return and grinned.

Getting to his feet as well, holding Poppy, Harry studied Colin for a moment; he looked very tired, like he'd been having trouble sleeping… Of course that would be understandable, Harry wouldn't have been able to sleep if he was in the same position either. 'So,' he whispered warily, walking with Colin into the house, 'have you heard from her at all? Any word? Any decisions made?'

'She hasn't sent an owl… not visited…' answered Colin meekly, and he sat down at the kitchen table, resting his elbows on the table and his head in his hands. 'I never knew this would be so hard!'

Harry arched an eyebrow and frowned solemnly, seating himself opposite. Poppy ran off to her room to get her crayons. 'How could you know? No one can be prepared for that, no one.' He paused and sat silently for a moment, trying to think of something – anything – that could make Colin feel any better. His mind was blank. 'Colin, you should take a break, go to your brothers or something.'

Colin blinked and shook his head. 'No, couldn't go there, Eleanor would just spend the entire time I was there putting Ginny down. I can't cope with that right now… because no matter how hard I try, I just can't hate Gin… I love her, you know?'

'I know,' said Harry.

With a heavy sigh Colin turned away and looked over to window, if Harry could be sure of anything at that moment if was the fact that Colin looked as though he could cry. 'This has to be my fault in a way… I'm sure of it. I've done something to piss God off, 'cause why else would he put me through this hell? All along I knew she'd leave me for him, I always had this feeling in the back of my mind… no matter how much she'd say she loved me, I always knew she'd go running to him if she got the chance.'

'If it means anything at all, I know she loves you… it's always been obvious,' Harry told him quickly, hoping it had some effect. Colin just shrugged and slumped down to rest his head on the table top. A moment later Harry found Poppy's head resting against his knee, and she was holding out a picture to him. He took it from her tiny hands and looked down at it, on it there was a crayoned drawing of a cat.

Poppy looked up at him, her brown eyes glittering. 'Auntie 'Mione's cat,' she told him with a nod.

Harry smiled and lifted the little girl onto his knee. 'You like Crookshanks don't you?'

'I love Crooky,' said Poppy with a giggle, 'Uncle Ron doesn't like him, he shouts at him all the time… Auntie 'Mione says he's just silly.' Poppy smiled again and then nuzzled against Harry, burying her head in his robes.

He looked down at her and then glanced over at Colin, who only smiled weakly. 'He is,' Harry said in agreement eventually.

Luckily he didn't have to think of anything else to say because the sound of keys in the door came from the hallway. Following that he heard Ron's voice, 'Come on, you've lived here the past four years… open the door! It's freezing!'

Harry looked at Colin seriously and watched as the mousy-haired boys face lit up a little, his eyes glittering. He jumped out of the chair he was sat in and made a run for the hallway. Deciding it was probably best to follow Harry raced after him, picking Poppy up as well. He reached the living room door that went into the hallway as Colin opened the front door, and there huddled up in the cold were Ginny, Ron, and Hermione.

Ginny almost leapt back, her eyes wide as saucers. 'Colin! Hi! Hey, how are you?' she blurted out, it was all so fake sounding, and she looked as nervous as nervous could be. 'Everything good? How's Pop?'

He didn't answer though, Colin just stepped from the door and walked back to the kitchen. It was then Harry felt eyes on him and Ginny was staring at him, her eyes watery and glassy. 'I think you should follow him,' he said quickly, and then walked back into the living room with Poppy.

Ginny nodded and did just that.

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Ginny was scared, she wouldn't deny it, there was no point. She didn't want to hurt Colin, she had to hurt him. Because the fact was that if she didn't she'd kill herself very slowly. It was selfish, but unfortunately that was something she'd learnt from Draco… she'd picked up on too many of his traits, way too many. Jealousy, greed, sarcasm, among many other annoying little things.

So as she stepped into the kitchen she knew she'd be able to hold her own, after all, Draco would be able to. Placing her hand against the doorframe she watched as her husband came to a stop in front of the sink, leaning over it, his grip on the surface so strong it made his knuckles go white. Moving closer Ginny let her hands fall to her sides and she stepped up behind him cautiously. She placed her hand on his shoulder. He didn't move.

'Colin,' she whispered, moving her hand in a little circular motion. 'Talk to me please…' He still didn't move, so she rested her head on his shoulder. 'You have to talk to me, I'll force you into it.'

He seemed to relax a little and turned his head a little so he could look at her, Ginny smiled gently. 'You can't force me to do anything!' he snapped suddenly, stepping away from her and walking to the kitchen table.

Ginny bit her lip and slumped against the counter. He was right, she couldn't force him to talk to her, she couldn't force him to do anything. 'I know, but I just wish you would… we have a lot of things to talk about, and I know they're not good. But we need to talk them through.'

It was that moment in which Colin looked at her, he leant against the edge of the table and trailed his hands back and forth the wood. 'I know Gin, fact is… I feel like I can't talk to you, like you don't understand me anymore.'

'I haven't changed,' whispered Ginny weakly.

He shrugged his shoulders, and then locked his eyes with hers. 'You think that, but you have changed… and I mean a hell of a lot, you're a different person suddenly. He's changed you.'

'No.' Ginny spun around and folded her arms, letting her eyes fall upon the refrigerator. Now he was saying that to her it sunk in how Draco had changed her, she'd never planned to change, not for anyone.

'The fact that you can't face it only makes it worse! That's why I can't talk to you right now!' Colin said to her, she could tell he was stepping closer to her, his eyes burning into her back. 'It hurts to do it, and I just don't think you understand at all how I'm feeling! Because if you did you wouldn't be so insensitive, and try and take away the only thing that I have…' he stopped, his voice trailing off.

Ginny closed her eyes tightly and rested her head against the refrigerator door. She wanted to cry, every time she'd been in that house recently she'd wanted to cry. 'I'm not trying to take Pop from you, but she's my daughter as well… so I have rights to see her.'

'You're not having full custody, no way in the world. I'm not having my daughter growing up around him.' Colin's voice was full of malice and he spun Ginny around to face him, she only looked to the floor her heart sinking. 'The last thing I want my daughter to be is a cold-hearted, uncaring, You-Know-Who worshiper, she's already going to have a screwed up childhood, let's not make it worse.'

'You can't say that,' Ginny replied, pulling back from him, and crossing her arms around her protectively. 'I'd never let my daughter grow up like that.'

Colin stepped back again, suddenly looking ashamed, he lowered his gaze, whispering, 'I know you wouldn't… I just—'

'Hate Draco? I already know this, I know you all hate him… half the time I think I do…' She sighed and slowly felt her knees give way, she sunk down to sit on the floor, curled up beside the refrigerator.

'So why, Gin?' he asked gently, also sinking down to sit on the floor. 'What's going on in that head of yours?'

Shrugging Ginny felt a tear slip down her cheek and she crawled over to him, resting her head on his lap. She edged a little closer and rested one of her hands on his legs, silently letting the tears fall. 'I'm sorry,' she whispered hoarsely, 'I'm sorry I'm putting you through this.'

She knew he wouldn't answer her, but it gave her some reassurance to say it to him. Taking in a few deep breaths, she smiled to herself as she felt Colin's hand stroking her hair. Her mind began to slip back in time and she relaxed against his touch, just feeling contented with the moment she was stuck in… it was suddenly time to forget.

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More A/N: Officially the shortest chapter of Promises Kept… who hates me? Raise your hands! Hehe! Granted that was very mean of me… but I had to give you something to go on as I'm struggling with my writing at the moment. Anyway, go on, go REVIEW!

Oh, did I mention there are only about 3 chapters left after this…? Well, now you know…