Chapter 3

It seemed so peaceful down by the lake. Under the shade of the beech tree , Harry and Ron sat with their backs against the trunk , Hermione was leaning on Ron's side her head on his should and Ginny laying across Harry's legs, looking up ,her hair sprawled over his lap.

'What now?' Ginny thought aloud.

Harry looked down at her. 'what'd you mean?' he asked in reply.

'Well, it's all over isn't it, done. So what comes next?'

Harry pondered on this for a moment before answering.

'I suppose we all have to finish school somehow,' he said after a few minutes

'Oh bloody hell! What did Hermione do to you while I was gone?' Ron chirped. Hermione whacked him on the chest with the back of her hand.

'He's not wrong,' She added to Ron ' if we don't we will never be qualified to work.'

' True' Ron said now doing some serious considering.

'Yeah but, what after that? I mean, we've helped save the world a handful of times but, have any of us ever thought about what we'll do after ? Ginny inquired trying to get an answer.

They all stopped and began to think. Harry knew they were all probably thinking the same thing, but who would say it aloud was the question.

'well,' Harry turned surprised to see Ron speaking ' I guess we would,…erm … you know,' Harry could tell he was struggling not to say a certain word. Ron's face was now turning a brilliant shade of red, 'get…um… like engaged and ..stuff'

Harry thought 'engaged' worked well enough as a replacement for 'married' ,the word Ron was so trying to avoid. He grinned at Ron who gave him a look that meant 'why'd you make me say it'.

An awkward silence fell over them . Harry thought about maybe asking Ginny to marry him in few years, then the image of Ginny, in white dress, getting married to a faceless stranger changed, now it was him with her at the altar. He looked down to her, she was looking at him with inquisitive eyes, and then she nodded towards Ron and Hermione who were now locked in an embrace. Harry would have to get use to them doing that now, he thought.

He motioned as if asking Ginny to accompany him for a walk 'round the lake shore. Ginny shifted off Harry's legs, Harry stood up and held out a hand to help her up but didn't let go. Hand in hand they strolled down the waters edge.

'I wonder if they'll get, in Ron's words, 'engaged and stuff' Ginny said her head turned back to look at her brother

Harry smiled 'with all they've been through I would be surprised if they didn't'. He didn't realised until he was a few feet ahead that Ginny had stopped.

'what is it?' he asked walking back a few paces

'if they will, what about..' she didn't even have to say the word 'us' before harry grabbed her hands between his and said

'I hope ,but Ginny , Promise me, right here and right now that your answer will always be yes. '

Ginny stared lovingly into Harry's eyes. She didn't use words to answer, she just leaned in and kissed him ,the same way she had on his birthday so many months ago but this time Ron did not interrupt, it just went on for what felt like hours. Ginny then pulled away and said,

'do you promise me?'

Harry then bent down and picked up a smooth crystal stone from in the water and a blade of lake grass. First he took out his wand and turned the stone into the shape of a heart then magically carved 'H.P' and 'G.W' into the front and 'I promise' in the back. Transfiguring the blade of lake grass into a thin silver string, harry strung the crystal heart on to it. Pulling it out straight , he gracefully tied it around Ginny's neck.

Ginny rolled it in her fingers before wrapping her arms around Harry in a hug.

They walked back to the tree where they had left Ron and Hermione , who now had stopped snogging and had their heads together whispering. On their way back they had decided not to tell anyone about the promise so, Ginny slipped the heart behind her shirt's neckline to be hidden. AS they came nearer Hermione stood up rather quick, and harry noticed, seemed to pull her sleeve cuff over what appeared to be a charm of some sort .Harry found this rather fishy but just let it go. Harry looked at Ron who was still sitting giving him and Ginny suspicious stare downs.

'we were thinking we should probably get back up to the castle before Mrs. Weasley has a panic attack' Hermione said, Harry felt very grateful she had because Ron looked as if he may start asking questions that he didn't want to answer.

'Oh, yeah, we never told her where we were going,' Ginny added looking worried 'she'll have a fit.'

By then Ron was up with arm around Hermione, harry did the same 'round Ginny and they began to walk back to the castle. Along the way they talked and laughed at mostly Ron, who was indeed making a complete fool of himself while trying to shamelessly flirt with Hermione. Even though Ron was trying to do this all this to her, Hermione was possibly giggling the most. But after Ron turned red and looked away she kissed him on the cheek and apologised.

'What you reckon happened to Umbridge?' Ron asked suddenly

The three of them stared at him, shocked looks on their faces.

'What?' He muttered ' I was just wondering'

'Yeah, but why would we know,' Ginny remarked 'and more importantly, why do you care?'

' I don't,' Ron retorted ' not really, just the thought popped into my brain.'

'Oh I didn't realized you had a brain!' Ginny taunted. They all laughed, except Ron obviously .

'Watch it!' Ron snapped ' or else.'

'Or else what? ' Ginny questioned

'Or else I might just show Harry this!' Ron threatened holding a red leather notebook with gold engravings that said ' Ginevra Molly Weasley'