Promise

It's been six years since he left. Six long agony-filled years. I know he's dead. I watched him die. Yet, every time there's someone in the fire or someone at the door, I jump and hope that it's him. It never is. I'm just going crazy, and everybody knows it.

I still wear the 'ring.'

I remember when he gave it to me. We were on the train headed back home. It was the end of my sixth year but his seventh. Ron and Hermione were in another compartment talking to Luna and Neville about various aspects of dating. Harry and I were not interested in talking about relationships, so instead we sat talking about Quidditch and the like. Anything that wasn't about the war. I don't understand why no one was talking about it. Maybe I did only because I was so near Harry at that time. I didn't want to think about it, or about how we could both die. But then Harry stopped talking and looked at the ground. I just watched him. We stayed that way for what seemed like forever, but it was probably only two minutes. Finally he spoke, and it wasn't what I expected to hear.

"Ginny," he said, quietly, nervously. I don't think he really wanted to say it, but he needed to. "Ginny, I don't want to die."

That was all he said. Then he looked at his feet again. I was shocked. Why would he die now? He'd survived this long. Besides, the Order would defeat Voldemort before long. They had to. I couldn't see it ending any other way.

"Why on earth would you die?" I finally asked.

He glanced up at me, thoughtfully. "Ginny, you remember the prophecy? Back in-"

"How could I forget!" I cut in. "Why? Do you know what it said?"

He merely nodded, and all was silent for a few minutes. I didn't press the issue. When he was ready to tell me, he would. I must admit I was very proud of myself because Harry was talking to me like I was Ron or Hermione. Maybe I had moved up to 'friend' rather than 'best friend's little sister.'

Finally he looked up again. But he wouldn't look at me, only out the window. And then he told me about the prophecy. I just sat there quietly and wished that he were making it up. It wasn't fair for Harry to die and Neville to live! I realize now I was being rather one-sided. I didn't want to admit it to myself, but I was still smitten with Harry. I just could control my display of it by now.

I was afraid that Harry would start crying because I was on the verge of tears myself. I wasn't sure I could take that, at least not without displaying my feelings, which I certainly didn't want to do. Actually, when it came down to it, I wasn't sure what I did want to do.

"Harry," I finally blurted out. "You can beat him. I know you will. You have to."

"And why is that?" he said sounding sad, and maybe a bit angry.

"Because," I said it without thinking, "I love you." I felt stupid the moment I realized I'd said it. How thick was I? Had Harry not been there, I would have smacked myself. But I just sat squirming and hoping I hadn't really said it. But I knew I had. I'd confessed everything I'd been working so long to hide. Nice move Ginny.

Harry looked at me, slightly bewildered. "I thought you were over me. That's what Hermione said."

"I...I was never really over you," I replied, "I just tried not to show it. I told Hermione a little lie that, so that it made it seem more real. But actually Harry, I guess I've loved you all along. I just didn't want to admit it, even to myself."

His stare petrified me. Why, oh why had I told him? Then, he started to laugh quietly. That was even worse.

"Ginny," he continued to chuckle. "I thought you didn't like me anymore. You went out with Michael, then Dean, and quite frankly, I was too scared to ever ask you out. I thought that you'd blow me off. I guess it took me a while to see how wonderful you really are. But during fifth year especially in the Department of Mysteries, I realized exactly how much I care about you. I was trying to hide it too; I didn't want you to know."

He got up, came over to my bench, and sat next to me. Then he put his arm around me. I remember when I got my first wand. The warmth. The glow. That was how it felt when he sat next to me.

Ginny Weasely, I thought to myself. You may be a fool, but you're a lucky fool.

If only it had lasted forever. We sat there talking to each other. Finally, I knew I had to bring up Voldemort again. I did, and told him that he'd live. He looked skeptical.

"Harry, I want to promise you something, and I want you to promise me something in return," I said very seriously, and he nodded in response. "I don't know how much we'll see each other after this summer. You're done with school now, and off to do who knows what. So Harry, I want you to promise me that no matter what happens you'll wait for me, and you'll come back. You have to go and fight, but you promise me you'll come back! And I'll promise you that I'll be waiting. I'll be waiting, Harry. I promise."

He took my hand carefully, looked me in the eye, and said, "I promise, Ginny. I promise." And that's when he first kissed me. Just lightly, but it was a kiss. He promised me with his heart. Then he took out his wand. "To help us remember...until I can get us something nicer," was all he said. I was confused at first, and then he muttered something, and a silver ribbon came out of his wand. He took some, tied it around my ring finger, and the rest went around his matching finger. They were our promise rings.

He spent most of the summer with us that year, or more specifically, me. But Ron and Hermione were too busy with each other to notice much. It would have been the best summer of my life had it not been for the knowledge that he would have to leave to fight Voldemort soon. But we enjoyed it all the same. I told him things that I'd only confided to my second year diary. And he cared. I finally had not only a place in somebody's heart, but I had their mind and concern as well. By the end of the summer thoughts of Voldemort had long vanished. I wish that summer had never ended.

I remember before school started he took me to meet the Hogwarts Express It seemed that we had all the time in the world for each other in that moment. Nobody ever thought then that Voldemort would strike us there, But he did. He came out of nowhere. Death Eaters surrounded us almost instantly. Harry, foolish and brave as he was, covered me rather than protect himself. He pushed me towards the wall portal onto Platform 9 and ¾. He pushed me through, but I looked back just in time to see the green light. Just in time to watch Harry crumple to the floor. Dead.

I remember crying, realizing I wouldn't see him again. I knew it was over. There was no school that year. I never finished. Voldemort is still in power, and there's little anyone can do to stop him. I'm still waiting for Harry to come back.

I lived with Ron and Hermione for a while, but when they had triplets I moved out. Neville asked me to marry him a few times. But I can't. I'm waiting for Harry. After all, I promised. Whenever Ron visits, he yells at me to take off the stupid ribbon. But I can't. I promised. He doesn't understand. Nobody understands. Harry promised to come back, and he will. And I promised to wait.