Disclaimer: Characters belong to JKR.
A/N: I hate this ship so much. But I've been asked to write this story, so I'm going to try. If it's obvious how much I hate the ship, please let me know and I'll work on it.
"Okay, here goes. I was, er, thinking about . . . asking Ginny to marry me."
A scream pierced the night sharply but Harry, fast and prepared, whipped his wand through the air and silenced Hermione before, hopefully, much alarm was caused.
"Shut up," Harry hissed at her as she clapped her hands over her mouth. Ron shot him a reproachful look, but wrapped his arm around Hermione's shoulders and squeezed.
"Hermione, everyone's asleep," Ron said gently. "We need to be quiet."
Harry glanced quickly around the living room of the Burrow, where they sat. It was just past midnight on New Year's Eve, one day away from the year 2001. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had come to the Burrow to celebrate Christmas and New Year's; even though they all worked at the Ministry, they were all too busy to spend as much time together as they would have liked, especially since Ron and Hermione's wedding in 1999. This was the first chance Harry had to talk to them about his idea of proposing to Ginny, although, admittedly, it had only really entered his mind about a week ago.
Ron turned back to Harry. "We used Muffliato, did you really have to silence her like that?"
"Well, it's been a long time since I used that spell, I wasn't sure—wait, no, missing the point," said Harry, and he waved one hand around his head impatiently. "I want to ask Ginny to marry me."
Ron's expression did not change. Hermione, still silent, had tears pouring down her face. Harry noticed and rolled his eyes. He looked back at Ron.
Ron shrugged. "What do you want me to say, mate? Go for it?"
Harry blinked. "I'd like your blessing. I mean, traditionally, I would just ask your dad if it's okay with him, but I don't think he's the only one I should be concerned with here."
"You've always had my blessing, Harry, you know that." Ron paused, then took a deep breath and sat back, as though he had suddenly realized something huge. "Oh God. You're going to ask Ginny to marry you."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "How much mead did you have earlier?"
Hermione lifted her arms and waved them around hysterically, furiously glaring at Harry. Harry pointed his wand at her again and a moment later she said, "Thanks." She wiped the tears away with her sleeve and sniffed. "Oh Harry . . . how long have you been thinking this?"
"Not long," he admitted. "I mean, I guess I always knew we'd end up together, but actually thinking about proposing is a new thing. Well, I thought about it when you guys got married, but it didn't feel like the right time, so I shrugged it off, but now . . ."
"Oh, this is so wonderful!" Hermione squealed, but she carefully kept her voice down. She beamed at Harry in the candlelight. He reluctantly smiled back at her.
Ron shook his head slightly and seemed to recover. The other two looked at him, waiting for him to speak. Ron looked at Hermione for a moment, and then looked at Harry. Finally, he said, "She really makes you that happy?"
"As happy as Hermione makes you," said Harry.
"Mate, that's not saying much," Ron muttered to him. Hermione punched his arm angrily. He glared at her, his mouth agape, until she turned away. Then a grin crept over his face and he winked at Harry while wrapping his arm back around her. Hermione looked up at him and smiled grudgingly. Harry chuckled.
"See, I want that," said Harry, gesturing at them. "Except without the violence."
Ron and Hermione laughed. Knowing each other as well as they did, both Harry and Hermione could tell Ron had more to say and so they looked at him again expectantly.
Ron sighed, unsure of how to word his thoughts, and looked down.
"What's wrong?" asked Harry, resigning himself to the worst, though he could not see why; he had expected Ron to embrace the idea.
"It's just . . . it's always been the three of us," said Ron, looking at him again. "I mean, you're my best mate . . . and Hermione, you're my wife," he said, looking at her. "And that's how it's always been. Well, not always, I mean, we haven't always been married, but . . . no, I don't know what I'm trying to say, never mind."
"No, if there's something wrong, I want you to tell me," said Harry.
"Not wrong exactly, just weird I suppose. It seems like things would change so much, because it wouldn't just be the three of us anymore. . . . Does that make sense?"
"No," Hermione said curiously.
Harry sat back in his chair. "Things are always changing," he said, a bit confused. "Things changed back in sixth year, when Ginny and I started dating. Things changed on the Horcrux Hunt, and during the Battle. Things changed when you guys got married."
"I know, I know," said Ron. "But it's still us. We're like this unbreakable Trio, and it feels . . . weird . . . to think about you getting married to someone else."
Harry and Hermione still looked undeniably confused.
"So . . . you think I should marry Hermione?" Harry asked.
Ron shrugged again. "At least then, it would still just be us." After a moment, he grinned. "I'm kidding. Harry, you know I support you dating my sister, and if you want to marry her, I'll support that, too. I think it will just take some time for me to get my mind around the idea."
Harry and Hermione slowly nodded.
"Okay. Thanks," said Harry.
Hermione suddenly whipped around to look at Harry. "When are you going to do it?"
"I don't know, I don't have any real plans yet. I'm still just thinking about it."
"There's always her birthday," Ron said, "if you wanted to wait eight months."
"Oh, yeah, I forgot. What's traditionally the amount to spend on an engagement ring?" asked Harry. "In the Muggle world, it's something like . . . three months salary." He looked at Hermione for confirmation.
"Two weeks to three months, yes. It's relatively the same in the Wizarding world. It depends on your plans for the future—if the couple needs to buy a house or something, it's wise to only use about two weeks salary, but you already have a house."
"But three months of my salary is a hell of a lot."
"Let me know when you want to go shopping, I'll go with you!" Hermione said excitedly. "We'll find the perfect ring!"
"Sure, okay."
Hermione was bouncing in her seat, obviously too excited to sit still, and Ron had leaned back on the couch. He looked exhausted and Harry noticed.
"Hey, I'm going to bed," said Harry. "You guys should too. We can talk more in the morning."
"Cheers, mate."
"Good night, Harry!"
Hermione swiftly gave Harry a kiss on the cheek as she passed him, and Ron clapped him on the shoulder. Harry waited until he heard their door close upstairs before sitting back down. Despite what he had just said, he waved his wand to extinguish the candles and sat in the dark living room for a long time before going up to bed.