The Promise

Chapter 1: Memories

Today was a good day, thought Harry as he walked out of the gardens and into his new house. It was only yesterday the press was lining up outside his door, waiting for a peak inside.

After avoiding the press for ten years Harry felt it was time for a little publicity. Plus, he wanted the world to see he wasn’t squandering his parents money away on a large mansion, quite the contrary. He lived in a comfortable two floor house with a typical first floor and four bedrooms on the second. Although the house was impressive, it was the gardens surrounding it that caused Harry to buy the house. At the very end of the gardens, in a small grove, there was even a nice sized river where you could swim or boat.

Harry stepped inside the back door and went into the room on his left. There was a large fireplace in the middle of the room with a gorgeous cherry-wood mantle. The room was empty except for a painting above the fireplace and a picture in an iron frame on the mantle. Harry knew that as long as he had these two items the house could contain nothing and still fell like a home to him.

The painting depicted an angel ascending into heaven, a smile on her face but tears draining from her eyes. She has brilliant red hair that stood out on her pale face and brilliant green eyes staring down.

While the picture had personal importance to Harry, what really made it exceptional was the artist. Hermione had taken up painting one summer during a visit to France and it had become quite a hobby. She had painted Harry the picture after Dumbledoore had explained why Voldermort had targeted the Potters. It was always like her to cheer Harry up when he was felling low. That’s really were their love developed.

Ron died right before the start of their seventh year. Voldermort was growing stronger and attacks were occurring more frequently. The Weasleys’ were key targets with two people working for the Ministry of Magic and Harry being Ron’s best friend. There was no surprise when The Death Eaters showed up at the Weasley’s one night during dinner. Ron fought them off the best he could and in true Gryffindor spirit sacrificed himself in return for the lives of the eight other Weasleys’.

After Ron’s death Harry and Hermione became closer than ever before. They felt as though there was no one else in the world that shared their sorrow and clung to each other for support. They cried to each other countless nights, even months after the event. Everything seemed to remind them of Ron, from Chocolate Frogs at Honeydukes to Devil Snare in Herbology.

One night while the two sat alone in the common room everything seemed to changed. Hermione was feeling particularly upset that night and Harry was comforting her in his arms. Harry stared into her eyes trying to give some sort of reassurance. Before either one knew what was happening they were clad in each others arms, kissing away the tears falling from both of their eyes. Some fell for the loss of Ron and the others for the happiness of what they both had both discovered that night. To say they fell in love only through their grief would be deceiving. The feelings were always there, plain to sight for everyone except Harry and Hermione.

Harry sighed and picked up the picture on the mantle. Unlike the painting, the picture was taken using a wizard’s camera and played back the memory for Harry’s eyes. It was taken on a stone wall out side of Hogwarts a short time before the end of Harry and Hermione’s seventh year. The picture showed the two of them sat side by side facing towards one another. Their eyes twinkled as they slowly leaned together and gently kissed.

Its been ten years since Harry had talked to Hermione. He sent her letters and postcards for about a year after they left Hogwarts but after no response he figured she was over him and didn’t even value his friendship like he did. He then backed down, and stopped writing her with a very regretful heart. In fact, losing her was the one thing he regretted the most.

Harry dated a few girls over the years but in his heart knew he would never find a love like that he shared with Hermione.

Coming back to reality Harry placed the picture back onto the mantle and climbed the stairs to his bedroom alone.