Hermoine flooed herself into the newly rebuilt Lovegood home mid-morning on Friday. She and Luna each received owls from Ginny explaining her newly changed plans, and they'd decided it would be best if they traveled together to the Burrow to retrieve Ginny in case Molly had a last minute change of heart. "Its harder to shoot down three birds than two," Luna had informed Hermoine, using a metaphor that made a remarkable amount of sense. Luna was unique in that way. She was rarely direct, but, true to her Ravenclaw background, she had most things figured out before anyone else even knew to ask the questions. After a quick goodbye to her father, Xenophilius, Luna took Hermoine's arm, there was a loud pop, and they were gone.
Ginny was in her room when she heard Hermoine and Luna arrive in the garden. She leaned out the window to greet them, but Ron had beaten her to it. He was already aggressively snogging Hermoine as if his life depended on it. Luna seemed oblivious to the make-out session happening two feet from her as she waved up at Ginny and shouted: "It's good to see you've gotten those gnomes relocated."
Hermoine had managed to push Ron off her by the time Harry & Ginny joined them in the garden. He reluctantly settled for draping his arm over her shoulders. It wasn't like she didn't enjoy snogging Ron. She just preferred to do it in a more discreet and private setting. Ronald, however, was more of an anytime, anywhere type bloke.
"Long-time, no-see, Hermoine," Harry chided as he pulled her into a hug, leaving Ron pouting. "Molly's been dying for you to sample her latest muggle baking creation... chocolate chip cookies."
"Ay, that I have!" Molly declared from the porch. "Hermoine, Luna... lovely to see you dears."
The five friends made their way into the Burrow's kitchen, and exchanged nervous looks before biting into Molly's still warm cookies.
"Wow, mum, these are ... delicious." Ron shoved the rest of his cookie into his mouth, while grabbing four more off the plate.
"Chocolate chip have always been my favorite Molly," Hermoine added, glancing sideways at Ron, and trying unsuccessfully to hide the disgust and annoyance in her voice at the crumbs cascading wildly off his chin.
"What?" He asked, mouth full.
"Ron's right, Molly, these cookies are wonderful," Harry chimed in, hoping to diffuse the tension building between his two best friends.
Molly beamed at him, and offered him the plate, eagerly nodding her head, "Go on then, have another, dear."
"Thanks, Mol-"
Molly cut him off, sweetly reprimanding him, "Oh for heavens sake, Harry, how many times do I have to tell you, just call me mum?"
"Ok. Thanks, mum," Harry smiled. That word felt good coming out of his mouth.
"I'll see you tomorrow at 1," Molly confirmed, as she hugged Ginny goodbye.
"We'll have her to the Leaky Cauldron at 1 pm sharp, Molly," Hermoine assured her. And with that, the three girls took their leave, apparating into their hotel room.
"I checked in this morning," Hermoine explained as Luna and Ginny gaped at her, wondering how they could just pop into this muggle establishment without notice.
The room was like nothing Ginny or Luna had ever seen. Instead of old, well worn-in furniture like they were used to, it had modern, elegant furnishings. Ginny threw open the doors to her bedroom, and didn't think twice before flinging herself upon the bed.
"I feel like I am the first person to ever lay on this bed!" she exclaimed. "There are no lumps, and no smells of relatives past," she sat up and teased, "What else have you been holding out on us, Granger?"
"This remind me of the sea," Luna stated, dreamily running her fingers along the wall.
It was true. The paint was a deep shade of teal, found naturally in only one place on earth... The Greek Isles.
"This might be the best day of my life," Ginny mused, falling back onto her bed.
"Wait until you see what I've got planned for the rest of it," Hermoine giggled. "Now get washed up. We're going to the spa."
Upon arriving at the spa, the girls were handed white robes that were to be their only attire during their day of treatments.
"I don't know about this, Hermoine," Ginny cocked an eyebrow in Hermoine's direction, holding the robe out in front of her like it was an angry nargle.
"Just trust me," Hermoine pleaded. "Now get in there and change!" She demanded pointing to Ginny's dressing room.
Ginny, obviously still apprehensive, retorted, "I prefer to keep my knickers on around complete strangers, thank you very much."
"I really do think you'll find it quite freeing, Ginny," Luna chimed, stepping out of her dressing room and snuggling her robe up around her face. "Its like the first time you rode a broom. At first, you felt nervous, wondering if it would respond or if you'd feel comfortable atop it. But once you push off the ground, you realize its the most natural thing in the world."
Ginny gaped at Luna's analogy before stubbornly turning on her heel, and entering the stall.
"You're amazing Luna," Hermoine whispered. "I've never, EVER seen someone convince Ginny Weasley to do something she didn't want to do."
Several minutes passed before Ginny slowly pushed open the door, and emerged wearing the item of contention. She glared from Luna to Hermoine and back again before conceding with a grin, "I do feel free. But friend's honor says this stays between us. If my brothers knew I was wandering around in public in nothing but an overcoat, they'd never let me hear the end of it."
"Technically, we won't be in public-," Hermoine tried to correct, but Ginny interrupted her, "You know what I mean!"
"Stays between us, right," Hermoine chuckled, putting her hand in the middle of them, signalling for them to do the same. And with that, the pact was sealed.
Back in their room, Ginny was euphoric. "I never knew my skin could actually tingle. I feel like every single pore is singing. This is it. I never want to go back to the wizarding world," Ginny hummed. "You've muggled me, Granger."
Hermoine and Luna laughed out loud at Ginny's declaration. "Trust me. It isn't this way all the time. Spa treatments are a special-occasion-only-type-of-thing."
"Special occasion only, okay. Then we are definitely doing this again before my wedding," Ginny slapped her hand over her mouth, realizing she'd said that last part out loud.
"WHAT?!" Hermoine shouted. While Luna simply smiled to herself, wondering when Ginny was planning to share her exciting news.
There was no point trying to hide it now. "Harry asked me," Ginny smirked, "On my birthday, and I said YES!"
"Oh, Ginny that is wonderful. I am so happy for you!" Hermoine exclaimed, rushing over to give her best friend a hug.
"You will be a great Mrs. Potter," Luna added, joining their embrace, "Harry is lucky to have you."
"This calls for celebration," Hermoine declared, picking up the phone and dialing room service. "One bottle of champagne, please."
The girls finished the bottle of champagne and were only slightly tipsy as the walked arm in arm in arm down the London sidewalk, Hermoine leading the way to her favorite little bistro. "Reservation for Granger," she announced, only a bit too loudly, to the maitre'D.
Ears at a table in the private dining room perked up as they recognized that voice, and a platinum-haired head turned just in time to see the trio being shown to their table on the opposite wall. He couldn't help but notice how different the girls looked outside of Hogwarts. How different she looked. He'd seen them hundreds of time in the hallways of their castle school, or on the streets of Hogsmeade. Dozens of times in Diagon Alley, and even that one horrible time when he'd seen her inside his own home, the manor. (He shuddered even thinking about it.) But tonight, they were not witches and he was not a wizard. For all anyone know, they all were muggles. That thought sent bristles up his spine. They all were equal.
He had paid, but was lingering over his cup of tea, unsure of whether or not he wanted to be seen... by them. No, he finally decided. He didn't. He shrugged on his overcoat and hat, and silently exited, stealing one last glance at her as he departed, accidentally making eye contact with the blonde... He quickly lowered his head, but was almost sure she had given him a kind smile.
"So, tell us EVERYTHING!" Hermoine prodded after they'd been seated.
"First off, I haven't told mum and dad yet, and if they find out from one of you, I will hex," she whispered only that word, "you into the next century."
"Our lips are sealed, right Luna?" Hermoine nudged Luna while pretending to lock her lips with a key.
"Cross my heart," Luna agreed, making an 'X' over her chest.
"Now, spill..." Hermoine demanded.
"Ok, so it was my birthday, like I said, and the entire family came for dinner. Like everyone, the whole big, loud, obnoxious Weasley family. Bill and Fleur, Charlie, Percy, George, Ron, Mum, Dad, me and Harry, of course, all had dinner together. We ate... hmm, let me think..." Ginny rambled being deliberately facetious.
"Oh, get on with it Weasley!" Hermoine begged, playfully kicking Ginny under the table.
"Alright, alright," Ginny relented, rubbing her shin. "After dinner Harry asked if I'd like to take a broom ride with him. 'Just around the Burrow,' he'd assured mum. I could see him trembling as he held the Firebolt, waiting for me to slide on in front of him, so, of course, I knew something was up. As I sat down, he pulled me right up against him, and gave me a long, passionate kiss. I started to think he'd forgotten about the ride, when he slowly pulled away, and kicked us up off the ground. We flew high up above the Burrow, circling for what seemed like an eternity before he brought us to a stop right under the constellation of Gemini. He knew it was always my favorite, even more so after Fred... well, you know." She stopped to wipe a tear. "We simply gazed at the stars for a minute or two before he wrapped his arms around me, holding the box just below my line of sight. He leaned his head in next to mine so our cheeks were touching, and whispered: 'Ginevra Molly Weasley, will you marry me?' And as I looked down, I saw the ring, and I couldn't speak, so I tried to turn around to face him, but I ended up knocking the ring out of his hand and almost knocking both of us off the broom. Once he steadied us, I was able to properly accept his proposal. He accio'd the ring back to him, placed it on my finger, and we... Well we... celebrated as anyone newly engaged couple celebrates, but I am not giving you those details." She finished raising her eyebrows at her two best friends.
"Who know Harry could be so romantic," Hermoine sighed. "Remind me to tell him well done when I am allowed to discuss this subject openly."
"I knew," Luna cooed. Hermoine and Ginny both turned to gape at her. "Oh, its nothing like that," Luna assured them. "You see, when I would go search the castle for my shoes, all those late nights, sometimes he would have already found them, and sent them to the Ravenclaw common room along with a conjured tulip. They are my favorite flower, you know. He's always had a way of knowing how to give others exactly what would mean most to them. Isn't that what being romantic is all about?"
"Wow, Luna," Ginny blushed. "I never knew that. Thank you for sharing that with us, and I agree with you. Being romantic is about giving another person what will mean the most."
"Are you ladies ready to order?" Their waiter, a strikingly handsome man in his early twenties asked unexpectedly, bringing them back to the present moment.
