Hermione Granger was not the kind of girl to get giddy about a boy. But here she was, squealing with two of her closet girlfriends – Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley – about a boy. Ron Weasley had finally, after six years of dating, gotten around to proposing.
"How did he do it?" asked Luna.
Hermione replied, "Well, it wasn't anything extravagant. He asked while we were at dinner at the Leaky Cauldron."
"Wait, what?" said Ginny in the fiery tone that meant trouble. "I specifically told him that he should do something special. Not just propose over dinner. And the Leaky Cauldron? What was he thinking? I know he's my brother and whatnot but Merlin he's stupid."
Luna let out a small chuckle that clearly meant she agreed with the redhead.
"It's not that bad. I mean, I have imagined that it would be a more one of a kind moment, but it was very Ron," Hermione said, defending her now fiancé.
"You deserve a unique proposal. You're a unique girl. But I'm so glad he finally asked. I know I was getting impatient, so surely you were!" Ginny joked.
"I was starting to think that the Nargles that are always floating around his head were affecting his decision making abilities," Luna speculated.
"I don't know about Nargles, but I was getting concerned about his decision making too," added Ginny.
Hermione smiled at her two friends. They were right – it had taken Ron a long time to propose compared to her friends. She knew that six years wasn't all that long, but it seems like it is when everyone around you is getting married. Harry and Ginny had gotten married first just two years after the war was over. At this moment, Ginny was seven months pregnant with their first child. Luna had married Neville Longbottom just two months earlier on Hogwarts grounds where Neville had just taken a teaching position in Herbology. George proposed to Angelina Johnson and the two were set be wed the coming summer.
Hermione left her two friends sitting at the Burrow's kitchen table to go for a walk. She knew there was nothing she could do to convince Ginny that the proposal was a good one, even if it was stereotypical. As she approached the willow tree near the small pond, she felt herself relax for the first time since dinner the night before.
Fred Weasley was running around the shop he owned with his twin like a mad man. There was an influx of customers due to Hogwarts recently letting out for the summer holidays and it was very obviously taking a toll on him. His twin was nowhere to be found in the shop which told Fred that George had once again snuck away to see Angelina at Quality Quidditch Supplies where she worked.
Fred was trying to round up the Pygmy Puffs that some upcoming second years had somehow managed to release from their cages. He also noticed an older student knock down the Wonder Witch display while obviously trying to flirt with a giggling blonde a row over.
Fred loved his shop, but somedays, like today, he wished he could get away for a little while. He was in a foul mood and didn't know why. He should be happy! His little brother had finally wised up and proposed to Hermione but yet, he just wasn't able to feel the joy he knew he should.
He finally rounded up the last Pygmy Puff and quickly waved his wand to right the Wonder Witch display as he walked towards to cash registers. At the same time, George came bounding through the doors with a smile as wide as the Atlantic Ocean.
"Oh Forge! It's such a beautiful day!" George bellowed.
"It'll be even more beautiful when you actually get to work," Fred quipped.
George laughed, "Ah, don't be a tosser. I was only gone for an hour."
"More like three," Fred mumbled as he checked out the last customer in line.
"Besides, we close in an hour! I expected it to die down a bit. And Angie needed me to help her decide what to wear tonight."
"What's tonight?" Fred asked.
"Ron and Hermione's engagement party at the Burrow, remember? Mom was so excited about them getting engaged, she already had the whole thing planned for about a year. All she had to do was add the date and time to the invitations and send them out." George joked.
"Right. Well, you finish up down here and I'll go skive off for an hour," Fred said as he tossed his twin a set of Magenta robes. "See you later!" Fred bounded up the stairs to the flat that he and George shared. He couldn't believe that in just a few months he would be living here alone.
