The Promise

Hermione found herself walking down an unfamiliar street in Watford named Phoenix Road. It was a quaint street, large oak trees on the pavement and iron gates surrounding the beautiful houses, your typical, average neighborhood. But Hermione didn't just wander onto this typical street by chance. She apparated to Phoenix Road after lying to her family and fiancé who thought she was going to have some time to herself to prepare for her wedding.

Now only a few houses away from her destination, Hermione was about to reunite with her old best friend and ex-lover, Harry Potter. She hadn't seen him in ten years and had only recently found that he lived in Watford, a short distance from her, while reading an article in the Daily Prophet. Apparently Harry had finally settled down and after years of travel, bought a house of his own. Hermione wasn't sure why but something inside her yearned to see Harry and what it was that caused him to give up his travel.

Now as she approached the gate leading up to his house Hermione wondered if she had made the right decision coming here. It wasn't ever often you magically reappear at your friends doorstep after ten years of silence. Still she craved to see him and she hadn't come this far to turn around without at least a look at him.

Putting her apprehensions behind her, she walked up the small path, which lead to an iron gate. As she went to open the gate a man's voice asked:

"Name?"

"Hermione Granger", she said quite startled, yet not surprised at Harry's security. She thought for sure she would never be allowed in and was shocked when the voice replied:

"Access granted, welcome Miss Granger."

Once Hermione stepped inside the gate she instantly froze. She was really going to do this. She was going to see Harry for the first time in ten years. Suddenly she wondered why she had come in the first place. Was it to reunite her and Harry's friendship or was there more? Had she hoped to rekindle her lost love? What about Charles, though? Was hers and Harry's love stronger after ten years of speaking than that of the man she was going to marry soon? Hermione was unsure of the answers, and knew there was only one way to find out. With that she took a deep breath and nervously climbed the steps that led to Harry's front porch. Raising her hand, she clasped the gold lion doorknocker and waited to see what would happen.

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Harry sat outside in his garden reading a new novel he had just bought at the small muggle bookstore in town. The advantage to living in a small town was not only the convenience of not having mobs of witches follow you everywhere but the close proximity of stores and shops.

Deciding it was time to eat, Harry closed his book, and went to standup when a small bubble appeared in front of him, letting Harry know some one had entered his estate. Despite the privacy he had, Harry felt it necessary to have security at his house. He placed a spell on the gate, which would only let the people's name he requested enter. The bubble would simple appear when some entered the gates. Today, he assumed it was either Sirius dropping by for bite to eat (which he often did), or Neville realizing he'd forgotten his coat he's left when visiting on Wednesday. Either one would be welcomed of course, as Harry often found himself alone. He had yet to find a job and despite the fact he had just moved in, was already unpacked. Lately he read books in his garden or walked into the town centre.

After hearing a knock at his door again, Harry quickly got up from his chair and headed towards the door. Turning one of the brass knobs to the double doors he opened it, wondering if his earlier guess had been right.

Expecting to see either an elder man or a plump dark haired man, Harry was surprised to see a beautiful women in an attractive, thin yellow sundress glaring back at him. This was no beautiful stranger, the warmth in her eyes reminded him of someone he'd lost long ago, but could it be? Had she really returned after all these years?

"Hermione?" was all Harry could breath out as he saw what seemed like a ghost standing at his front door.

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