CHAPTER 1

ENGAGED

Harry told Ginny that he was taking paperwork to Kingsley's office. He knew that she knew enough about the ministry to know if he went or not. So, he made his way to the Minister for Magic's office. When he got there, he noticed that Kingsley wasn't there. He was probably downstairs already.

Harry made his way to the lifts. He pushed 'Atrium' and got lost in his thoughts. He didn't even notice Ron get onto the lift.

"Good luck, mate." Ron said.

Harry looked up and saw his best mate. "Hey, thanks. Why are you just going down now?"

"I just got back from that crazy assignment you sent me on. I don't even have the paperwork done."

Harry just laughed. "It had to be done and I thought you'd be the right bloke to do it. I mean you know him on a personal level."

"I couldn't have asked him at home?"

"Nope, it had to be at the shop. In public."

"But why would George be selling some dark objects?"

"We all knew he wasn't really, but you know we have to check up on any suspicious activity."

Ron just rolled his eyes.

The two friends stepped off the lift. Ron gave Harry one last good luck look and raced off to hide behind one of the fireplaces.

Harry saw Ginny's unmistakeable long Weasley-red hair. He snuck up behind her and got down on one knee.

"Ginny?" he said. She turned around and saw Harry on one knee. She gasped.

"Ginny, you know that I love you very much. Right?"

"Harry, of course I do. Why wouldn't I?" Ginny said.

"I love you so much that I would like to give you this." He pulled out a midnight blue box. As he did this, Ginny gasped. He opened it and said, "Ginevra Molly Weasley, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you do the honor of marrying me?"

Ginny was too excited to speak. She just nodded her head vigorously. Harry smiled and slipped the ring on her left ring finger. He stood up and kissed her lightly.

"I have one more surprise for you." Harry said. As soon as he said this, all of the Weasleys and their closest friends came flooding toward them.

The women all gave Ginny and Harry hugs and the men gave Harry a handshake and Ginny a hug. Harry couldn't help but notice that some of the people he wished were there, couldn't be.

If only his parents could be there. But he couldn't think of that now. It would ruin the moment. Ginny was busy showing off her ring. Harry thought that he had done a fairly choosing the ring. It was three dimonds beautifully set on a silver band with gold accents. The witch at the jewelry shop told Harry that the three dimonds represented their past, present, and future together. Harry thought that it fit their relationship perfectly. Harry had known Ginny, on a personal level, since second year when he rescued her from the Chamber of Secrets. Ever since then, she had become like a little sister to him. When they started seeing each other in their sixth year, it had taken Ron a while to get used to the idea that his best mate was going to date his little sister. Now,

there. "Hi Luna." Harry said. "How have you been."

"Oh, I've been just fine." she said, sounding as dreamily as ever. Luna had always reminded Harry of what he once heard an American muggle call a hipie. She was always so peaceful and her radish earrings helped confirm his suspisions. "Congratulations Harry and Ginny. I do hope that you will accept my apologies that we couldn't be at the Ministry. We were helping my father. He's working as hard as ever with the Quibbler."

"It's absolutely okay, Luna" Ginny said. "It's much better to see you without the crowds."

Luna smiled at this. She and Ginny had always been good friends.

"Where are Hermione and Ron?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

Harry and Ginny looked at each other and burst out laughing. George, who was sitting at the table rolled his eyes at his mother. Angelina was perched on his lap and told Mrs. Weasley, "Where they always are."

Mrs. Weasley sighed. All of the Weasleys, Harry, Hermione, Luna, and Rolf would not fit at the kitchen table. Mr. Weasley, Bill, and Charlie had set up their trusty tent and tables. Harry guessed that Ron had smelled food, as he came downstairs followed by a very pink Hermione.

Before anybody sat down for dinner, George confronted Harry. "What was that for?"

"What was what for?"

"Oh c'mon Harry. Why'd you send Ron to the shop to investigate?"

Harry laughed. "Oh. That. We overheard in the Atrium the other day that you made the Peruvian Darkness Powder strictly for evil. Kingsley would have been on my case forever if we didn't investigate."

"I know. I'm teasing you." George laughed.

"Hey, have you and Angelina talked about names yet?"

"No, not really. Why?"

"I know it's not my son, but, I think that your mother and father would be happy to have a grandson named Fred. It's not my buisness or anything. I was just thinking."

"Ron, I need to talk to you." Harry said, pulling his best mate aside. "I wanted to ask you to be my best man."

Ron smiled. "As long as you promise not to break my sister's heart again."

Harry laughed. "Never. I solemnly swear."

Ron smiled.

Mrs. Weasley had outdone herself. It looked as if she had been cooking for days. Harry thought that Ron looked slightly nervous. He gave his best friend a reassuring look. He also gave Ron the 'Loser' signal. Only Ron knew what that meant.

After the main course, everybody was so full that they could hardly move. But, of course, they all wanted Mrs. Weasly's infamous deserts. Harry just hoped that there was treacle tart. Before desert came, Ron asked Harry to talk in private. He looked as if what he wanted to say was important.

Harry and Ron went to where they played Quidditch over the summers. "I'm so nervous. I know that 'Mione wants her parents here, but she also knows that they don't remember her. What should I do?"

"You let me take care of her parents. You focus on what your mission is."

"Remind me how to do it again?"

But before Harry could, Hermione found them. "There you two are. I was looking for you. It's time for desert."

Harry smiled at his two best friends. They were so cute together.

Harry got back to the table before Ron and Hermione. "Okay, they're coming." he said as he sat back down next to Ginny. Ron had asked his mother to make a cake in the shape of an engagement ring. Then, without using magic, Ron himself, wrote, "Hermione, will you marry me?" in icing. When the pair of them got back to the table, the cake was the first thing Hermione saw. She gasped and turned around to see her boyfriend on one knee and with a ring box in his hands. "Merlin. Two engagements in one day." she said.

Ron cleared his throat and said, "Hermione, I love you so much. So, in full view of our family and friends, I ask you, Hermione Jean Granger, to marry me, Ronald Billius Weasley."

Hermione said, "That was the cheesiest engagement I've ever heard. But, yes. Yes, I will marry the one and only Ronald Billius Weasley."

Ron smiled and sighed in relif. He slipped the small dimond on his new fiancee's left ring finger and kissed her.

Mrs. Weasley was ecstatic. "My little Ronni-kins and my little Ginny. Engaged in the same day! We've got so much to do! First things first, a double wedding or two seprate?"

"Mum, its okay. We've got a while to plan." Ginny said.

"Of course you think so, honey."

"Mum, calm down." said Ron. "I promise, we'll be okay for now."

Mrs. Weasley sighed and sat down. "Cake anyone?" she asked. "It's Vanilla."

Of course, everybody accepted.

That same day, a long time friend of Harry, Ron, and Hermione was also propsing to his girlfriend. They had only known each other as classmates but Neville had fallen for Hannah shortly after the battle.

Hannah was working at the Leaky Cauldron that day. She was the landlady after all. After work that day, Neville left the Hogwarts grounds so that he could apparate directly to Hannah. He planned a lovely surprise dinner. It was their three-year aniversary.

When he arrived at the pub, he saw that Hannah was just finishing her shift. Perfect. He thought. I can steal her away, right away.

Hannah saw Neville and waved. She took off her apron behind the bar and came over to him. "Ready to go?"

"Of course. I thought you might want to go to that lovely Italian resturant on the muggle side of town."

"Perfect, let me just get my coat."

The pair walked the short distance to the small Italian cafe just down the street. They talked about how their day was, all while holding hands.

When they reached the cafe, they were seated in a booth at the back. They ordered dinner and had a lovely time. After dinner, they went outside. Neville led Hannah to a nearby vineyard. He asked her, "Do you want your present now?"

Hannah nodded her head yes.

"Okay then, close your eyes." She did so. Neville got down on one knee. "Okay open."

When Hannah opened her eyes, she saw that Neville was on one knee with a small square box in his hand. She gasped.

"Hannah Abbott, though we were rarely together at Hogwarts, we have become close. I promise to be your shoulder to cry on, should you need it, the wind beneath you wings, and anything else you may need. All I ask for in return is that you become my wife."

Too shocked to say anything, Hannah frantically nodded yes. Neville smiled as he slipped the ring on her finger. They shared a kiss under the olive branches.