Ginny was pulled from her early morning dreams by her door creaking open, followed by soft footsteps on her threadbare rug. She turned from facing the wall to her guest, and she smiled at his sheepish expression.

"Sorry for waking you."

"No, that's all right." She moved over to make room beside her and lifted the covers as an invitation for him to climb in, which he did. Harry put an arm around Ginny's shoulders and kissed her forehead, making her sigh contently.

"Did you have a nightmare again?"

Harry laughed softly. "No, but Ron snores quite loudly."

"Well, so do I."

"Yeah, but I love you, so it's worth the trouble."

"Gee, thanks," she said with pretended annoyance, but she kissed his cheek anyway. "I can't believe mum's making you sleep in Ron's room. We've been together for five years!"

"Four actually, you always forget me being away for a year."

Ginny huffed. "Nine months actually, and what are you doing siding with her?" Harry laughed. "But honestly Harry, she must realize we've slept together before."

Harry sighed. "Yes, of course she does, but she's a bit old fashioned, and I don't think it's worth starting a fight over. Especially not at Christmas."

Ginny turned around on her stomach and rested on her elbows so she could look into Harry's eyes. "You don't think it's worth it?" she asked with raised eyebrows.

Harry looked back pleadingly. "Oh come on, Gin, you know I didn't mean it like that. But it's only one or two nights every Christmas. You stay over almost every other night of the year."

Ginny bit her lip and her eyes became unfocused. Harry watched her think, trying to figure out what was turning her cogwheels.

"What are you thinking?"

"About how to make sure mum doesn't make you sleep in Ron's room the next time we stay over."

"Just let it go will you?"

"No, because I have a solution." She smiled brilliantly, making Harry smile back.

"What?"

"What?"

"What is your solution?"

Ginny smiled even wider, bending down to kiss his lips tenderly before looking at him again. "Marry me."

Harry laughed once, not quite believing his ears. "Are you serious? Is this you proposing?"

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, what do you say? It's not out of the blue, if that's what you're worried about. And it's not about this. But I do want to share a bed with you every night – even the holidays at mum and dad's. And I want to be with you every day, because I love you. So, do you want to marry me or not, Potter?" She smiled, caressing his cheek with her thumb.

Harry looked adoringly at her, reaching up to cup her face in his hands. "Yes, of course I do," he said before pulling her down for a kiss. Ginny smiled so wide she almost burst out laughing, and kissed his face all over while he pulled her on top of him. Ginny paused a few centimetres before kissing his lips again.

"As in this summer, not some distant future?" All she could see was his smile.

"Yes. The sooner the better."

Ginny kissed him lovingly and buried her head in his shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent. They lay like that for a while, both smiling contently, Harry stroking Ginny's back. After a while, he spoke.

"You know, I was going to propose to you."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry."

Harry laughed and kissed her again. "That's quite all right."