Promises

The four companions had been walking for nearly three hours and they had barely exchanged more than a few words between them. Harry continued to replay his conversation with Mohamier in his mind and the others knew that whatever he had learned had put him in an ominous mood.

As if in reaction to Harry's thoughts, the wind was starting to blow and thick storm clouds were gathering overhead. The sky was becoming very dark even though sunset was still several hours away and the others had stopped walking; Harry did not notice until he felt a tug on his arm.

He heard Hermione say, "…don't you agree?"

Puzzled, Harry asked, "Don't I agree with what?"

He now noticed the forest had grown dark and the trees above them were swaying in the increasingly strong wind.

He said, "Looks like a storm is coming. Maybe we should set up the tent before it starts to rain."

He saw them looking at him with odd expressions on their faces.

"What?" he asked somewhat irritably.

Ron replied, "Earth to Harry. That's what Hermione just suggested. And the tent is in your backpack."

"Oh, right," Harry said and un-slung the backpack from his shoulder.

He pulled out a moss-colored bundle of heavy fabric wrapped in twine and performed the counter-charm to put it back to its normal size. He untied the cords and the others helped him unfold it so that it resembled a large, round blanket covering the ground.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped away from the tent and Harry gently grasped Ginny's elbow to pull her back. The fabric began to ripple and then inflate like a large balloon. Soon a circular tent stood before them that was not much higher than the top of Ron's head.

Lightning struck a short distance away, followed by a loud peal of thunder. The sky chose that moment to open up and a heavy rain begin to fall as they quickly entered the tent.

Hermione lit several lanterns that hung from the walls and Ginny saw the tent had been charmed to enlarge the interior. They had entered into a round living room formed by deep-red velvet wall hangings that swayed slightly due to the wind. There were three closed doors evenly spaced around the room, presumably leading to bedrooms, and thick oriental rugs covered the entire floor. Two comfortable couches of a golden hue sat on either side of a round stone hearth where Ron had just conjured a warm, smokeless fire. On the far side of the room was a cherry wood table surrounded by six matching chairs.

Ron took a seat on one of the couches to warm his hands by the fire and Hermione sat next to him. A sudden gust of strong wind made the walls of the tent sway and then another loud crack of thunder made them all jump.

"Don't worry," Hermione said, seeing a look of concern cross Ginny's face, "we borrowed the tent from Charlie who placed quite a few charms on it. I think it could stand up to a band of mountain trolls."

Attempting to ignore the raging storm outside, Ginny began to pull what remained of their food supply out of the backpack. She had watched Harry heat up their meal over the fire several times so she felt confident to try it herself.

Harry had remained standing just inside the doorway; he knew they were waiting for him to explain what he had learned from Mohamier. He was not opposed to letting them in on it, but he had not decided how much he wanted to tell them yet.

Ginny was having trouble setting up the caldron so Harry decided he had better help before what little food they had left ended up in the fire.

"Here, let me show you," he said as he knelt down by the hearth.

A few minutes later, Harry had secured the cauldron in place and was holding out a wooden spoon to Ginny. "Now all you have to do is stir it once in a while."

The smell of the stew along with the warmth of the fire soon permeated the tent, giving it a cozy feeling.

Harry finally sat down on the couch opposite Hermione and Ron. Hermione curled up next to Ron and rested her head on his chest. He brought his arm around her to hold her close and they both stared quietly into the light of the fire.

Ginny positioned herself on the carpeted floor between Harry and the hearth so she could more easily stir the contents of the cauldron. She leaned to rest her back against Harry's legs and after a few moments, he shifted his position so she could sit back more comfortably between his knees. Harry watched the reflection of the firelight dancing in her hair and he reached out to run his fingers through the silky strands. Ginny sighed at his touch, then rested her head on his thigh, and contentedly watched the fire.

In the comfortable silence, Harry found himself wondering what it would be like if the events that had molded his life had been different. If there had been no prophecy. If he had grown up with parents. If he was simply camping with his two best friends and his girlfriend. What would it be like if he did not have to one day face the most powerful Dark Wizard of the age, again, knowing that his odds of survival was likely very low?

Harry mentally shook himself; dwelling on such thoughts would not change the past nor would they help him with what lay before him.

Soon the stew was warm and Ginny passed around bowls to each of them. They ate without talking and by the time they finished eating, Harry had made up his mind about how much of his conversation with Mohamier he was going to tell them.

"I guess you are all wondering what Mohamier said to me," Harry said, his voice sounding loud after the long stretch of silence.

Ginny turned to face him and Hermione said, "You don't have to tell us unless you want to."

Harry replied, "I think you should know…"

Harry related what he had learned about Tom Riddle working with Mohamier and about their research. He told them about the ancient Dark Sect creating the old Dark mark. He also told them about the tablet and how its pieces had been hidden in Muggle artifacts. Ron and Ginny's faces darkened considerably when Harry explained this was the reason Death Eaters had been threatening their father.

Harry told them about the key that turned the tablet into an encyclopedia of dark spells and that Mohamier thought Voldemort had tried to use one of its dark spell on him at the cave. However, Harry could not bring himself to explain that the reason the spell did not work was due to his blood tie with Voldemort. Instead, he let them believe the reason was that Voldemort did not have all the pieces of the tablet.

Once Harry had finished, Ron asked, "You-Know-Who knows Mohamier has the other pieces and the key, so what is Mohamier going to do? Where's he going to go?"

Harry replied, "He said it was best for me not to know."

"He was right not to tell you," Hermione said firmly. "Then no one can force you to tell them where he went."

Ron said, "Well, wherever they're going, it really better be somewhere that You-Know-Who can never find him."

Ginny had not said a word during his explanation and Harry noticed she was watching him closely. When their eyes met, she frowned slightly and then looked away.

Harry had a feeling she wanted to question him about some aspect of what he had just told them, but before she got the chance, he stood up from the couch.

Grabbing at an excuse to avoid answering any more questions they might have, he said, "It's getting late so I'm going to bed."

He brushed a like kiss on Ginny's lips and said, "I'll see you in the morning."

She looked at him questioningly but only said, "Okay, goodnight."

Harry took a lantern off the wall and went into the first bedroom. He placed the lantern on a nightstand and marveled at Charlie's skill with charms as he looked around the room. Not only had he charmed the tent so that there was a furnished living room and dining room, but each bedroom had a four-poster bed, a nightstand and a small fireplace.

The accommodations were extremely comfortable; the only reason they did not use the tent every night while they were camping was that it took a very long time to pack up again, even when using magic.

The room was chilly so Harry conjured a warm fire that immediately began to crackle within the fireplace. He could still hear the storm raging outside, and the tent walls continued to sway with every strong gust of wind.

Harry sat down heavily on the bed and stared into the fire, feeling tired but not sleepy. He hated not telling Ron, Hermione and Ginny the full truth; but he knew if he did, they would insist even more adamantly that they continue to go after Voldemort with him.

He had already decided that when they got back to the village, he would ask Ivan to continue training him in advanced magical defensive and offensive tactics. If he worked hard, it should only take two months or possibly three to learn as much as he needed from Ivan. Then it would be time for him to go after Voldemort alone; after what Mohamier had told him, he knew it was too dangerous for the others to continue helping him any longer.

Not having Ron and Hermione at his side was going to be difficult, and ending his relationship with Ginny again was going to be much harder. The thought of leaving her sent a sharp jab through his heart, but he knew that was nothing compared to what her capture or death would feel like.

Lost in this morose thought, he did not hear Ginny enter the room until she politely cleared her throat. His head snapped toward the door and he saw her watching him.

She said quietly, "I thought I'd come to bed, too."

"There's another bedroom on the other side of the tent…" he said reluctantly. "Wouldn't you be more comfortable there?"

She replied, "I'd rather stay with you… unless you don't want me to."

Harry did want her to stay; very badly in fact. However, spending the night alone with her in the tent was not the same as camping. Without Ron and Hermione's presence next to them, it would be harder to keep his hands to himself; something he knew he should do, especially if their relationship soon had to end.

He looked away from her. "It's not that… it just might be better if you didn't…"

She came over to sit next to him on the bed; he was expecting her to argue with him to let her stay.

Instead, she asked softly, "What else did Mohamier tell you?"

His eyes came back to her quickly and he lied unconvincingly, "Nothing… why?"

"Because something else is bothering you. You told us Mohamier thinks Voldemort wants to use you before he tries to kills you. He's used you before and you have known since you were eleven that he wants to kill you. So there must be more to what Mohamier said."

He was about to deny any truth to her conclusion but changed his mind.

He said, "Since Voldemort used my blood to regain his body, he can't use the dark spells on me unless I am willing to allow it. That's what it says on Mohamier's pieces of the tablet. That's the real reason the spell didn't work when he captured me before."

Ginny raised her eyebrows in surprise and asked, "But that's good, isn't it?"

She saw a frightened look come into Harry's eyes as he replied, "Only if he doesn't realize that he can force me to cooperate so that the spells will work."

Confused, Ginny asked, "Force you? But how could he…?"

He saw the dawning on her face. "It's what I've been afraid of since we were at Hogwarts. If he finds out about us, he will come after you. He will use you to force me to give him whatever he wants."

She took his hand into hers and said, "You can't start worrying about that again."

Harry started to protest, "But I can't let—"

She placed her fingers to his lips to stop him and said, "It's not your decision. I want to stay with you; I want to help you. And I don't want to hear how you need to know that I'm tucked away safe somewhere."

"Ginny, this isn't a game we're playing!" He felt himself starting to get angry with her. "Now Voldemort has a reason to come after you. I won't take the chance of you or Ron or Hermione being hurt or killed because of me. I've already decided that after we leave Romania, I am going on alone."

Ginny's temper was also starting to rise and she gave him a hard look, "Even when you know you stand a better chance with us helping you?"

"I have no choice!"

"You always have a choice!" Ginny retorted. "You can't keep trying to protect everyone by making their choices for them! Accept that we want to help you and protect you, too!"

Harry argued, "Too many people have already died because they tried to help or protect me!"

Ginny was glaring angrily at him; he looked into her eyes and continued more calmly but firmly, "I will not put you in a position where you could be next."

They sat in silence for a moment, then Ginny asked with a heavy sigh of resignation, "How much longer are you planning to stay in Romania?"

Harry replied, "Probably about two months; maybe a bit more. I'm going to ask Ivan to help me train up on a few things. But…"

She asked, "But what?"

"Well, er… now you'll want to head back to England I guess…?" he phrased it more as a question than a statement.

Ginny answered, "I'd rather stay in Romania as long as you are here."

Harry said, "I figured now that you know I plan to go on alone you'd want to go back home."

Ginny replied, "Before we came here, you said you wanted to spend as much time as we could together. I still want that, too; even if you do continue to be a too-noble-for-your-own-good prat."

She tried to make her words sound heated, but the expression on her face belied her anger.

Now, for the second time that day, Harry saw the same feelings he had for her shining back at him in her eyes; the intensity scared and thrilled him at the same time. As they held each other's gaze, Harry could not stop himself from leaning toward her until his lips met hers passionately. He closed his eyes to savor the taste of her and the pleasurable feel of her body moving under him as they lay back on the bed.

In the farthest recess of his consciousness Harry knew they should stop; if they continued down this path tonight, it would only make it that much harder for both of them when he had to leave her behind again.

Gathering up what little resolve he had left, he broke their kiss and was surprised to see tears flowing unchecked down her cheeks.

"Gin?" Harry said in concern. "What…?"

He frowned in confusion when she buried her face in his chest.

He said slowly, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have started anything tonight… not after I just told you that I have to leave…"

He began to pull away from her but she stopped him and sniffed, "It… it's not that."

Harry relaxed back against her and wiped away one of her tears, "Then why are you crying?"

"Because…" She looked deep into his eyes and said sadly, "I love you."

He stared at her with a mixture of surprise and confusion. Harry was not sure what he had expected her to say, but it was certainly not that. He also thought that if he was ever lucky enough to hear her say those words to him, it would not be said so sorrowfully.

Ginny wiped the tears from her face and continued, "You aren't the only one who wants the people they care about to be safe. If you go on alone, I need to know you will come back because I can't lose you again… You have to beat him…"

Harry heard the fear in her voice and it nearly broke his heart. Finally, he stroked her face gently and said, "That's not a promise I can make, no matter how much I want to."

Ginny placed her head back on his shoulder and said, "I know. I'm sorry… I shouldn't be crying."

As he held her, Harry realized something that he had actually known within his heart for a very long time.

He placed his finger under her chin to get her to look at him, "But here is something I will promise: No matter what it takes, I will do everything in my power to beat him so I can come back to you… because I love you, too."

Ginny looked back at him in amazement. Then Harry saw a smile light her face and she gently caressed his cheek.

She whispered, "I want to stay with you tonight."

Harry never wanted anything more in his life but he swallowed hard and asked, "Even though I'm going to leave again?"

Ginny continued to look tenderly into his eyes and answered, "Especially because you are going to leave." She smiled almost sadly, "I want you to know and remember what you'll have waiting for you when you come back."

Her hand moved from his cheek to behind his head and she pulled him to her. Their lips met once more, and their passion drove them onward until they were lost in a world all their own.

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A/N- This chapter may have been a tad bit fluffy, but I hope no one minded a little fluff before some more action…