Disclaimer: Still just playing with Rowling's world.
Chapter 4
Ron's Surprise
Ron spent the next few weeks sullen and depressed. He was obviously missing Hermione but Harry knew there was little he could do to comfort his friend. He did his best, at least, to keep well out of Ron's sight when he and Ginny got together for a bit of snogging.
True to her word, an Owl arrived for Ron with a letter from Hermione every day, and one for Harry about once a week. Hermione seemed to be having a brilliant time but, even in her letters to Harry, she expressed how much she was missing Ron. Harry suspected that Hermione was sharing her feelings with Ron in much more personal wording than his own letters contained. Harry could not help but notice that Ron opted to read most of her letters by himself and, on a few occasions, Harry caught Ron wiping his eyes while reading them.
The weeks turned to months and it was nearly December when Hermione finally sent word saying that she would be returning to the Burrow just before the Christmas holiday. A week before Hermione's scheduled return, Ron suddenly became quiet and nervous. He would retreat into his bedroom for long periods of time or else disappear with his father into the Garden or the sitting room. Harry was reminded of how Ron used to behave whenever they had a Quiddich game coming up at Hogwarts. Harry could not figure out why Ron should be at all nervous about Hermione coming back. He thought Ron would be overjoyed and restless with anticipation. His odd behavior was rather unsettling to Harry.
Two days before Hermione's return, Ron walked out into the garden where Harry and Ginny were snuggled under a blanket on the swing, watching the gnomes running about leaving tiny tracks in the snow. Ron threw himself down on the garden chair that sat across from them, took a deep breath, and without preamble stated, "I'm going to ask Hermione to marry me."
"You what!?!" Ginny and Harry exclaimed together.
Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver box. Harry heard Ginny whisper "no way" as Ron opened it and showed them a beautiful silver ring, the band woven in delicate knots that looked almost Celtic in design. Harry's brief possession of Goblin made artifacts made him suspect that the intricate ring was actually a Goblin creation.
"That's Grand Mummy Weasley's ring!" Ginny exclaimed beside Harry, taking the box from Ron.
Ron nodded as Ginny and Harry examined it.
"I told Dad what I was planning on doing and... he gave it to me. I guess he was going to give it to Bill for Fleur when they got engaged but, well, mum said she'd rather hold onto it. Said she'd rather save it for one of her younger sons but Dad said he thinks that she always wanted me to have it… that she kind of guessed that Hermione and I would… well, you know." He finished, rather lamely, turning scarlet.
"Wow! Well, congratulations mate!" Harry exclaimed, handing the ring back to Ron who stowed the box back in his pocket.
"Thanks, but she hasn't said 'yes' yet you know. You…you do think she'll say yes don't you?" Ron added when Harry did not say anything.
"As long as she doesn't discover what a tremendous git you really are." Ginny said. Ron scowled at her and Harry laughed. Despite the fact that Ginny was obviously joking, Harry saw a trace of apprehension and doubt cross Ron's face.
"Ron, come on! You and Hermione have been secretly mad about each other since our fourth year at Hogwarts and probably before that. I really don't think you have anything to be worried about."
Ron smiled at Harry's reassurances.
*
Hermione arrived by Knight Bus the following afternoon. She had barely stepped off the bus's bottom step before she and Ron threw themselves into each others arms, kissing furiously. Harry had long since stopped being embarrassed by this type of behavior. After all, he and Ginny had done considerably more than kiss when they were left alone at home together while Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone Christmas shopping in Diagon Alley the day before.
After a few minutes of passionate snogging, Hermione and Ron broke apart and Hermione made her rounds through the rest of the family and Harry, hugging each in turn and expressing how much she missed them. Mrs. Weasley held onto Hermione the longest beside Ron and had broken into tears by the time she let go. Harry suspected that Mr. Weasley had informed her of Ron's intentions, though Hermione, flattered by Molly's tears, assumed that she was just missed.
They all proceeded into the house, Ron and Hermione hand in hand, occasionally leaning over and kissing each other. A large welcome back dinner had been planned by Mrs. Weasley and she immediately set about making feast preparations while Hermione talked enthusiastically about her trip to Morocco and on an African Safari. She handed out a number of souvenirs; Harry's being a snitch that had been used by the African Quiddich team, The Patonga Proudsticks. To Ron, she gave a silver pocket watch engraved with something that made Ron blush and kiss Hermione quite passionately.
As dinner drew nearer, and Ron's initial excitement at seeing his girlfriend wore off, Harry watched as he gradually became quieter and quieter, turning more and more puce as the evening wore on. A few times Hermione asked if he was feeling alright to which Ron would reply he was "fine, just a little tired." But when Ron barely touched the delicious supper his Mum had made, Hermione gave Harry a concerned "what's wrong with Ron?" look. Harry just shrugged and mouthed "you got me" back to her.
As dinner ended and the conversation began to wind down, Harry saw Ron lean over and whisper something in Hermione's ear. She nodded and rose to her feet, looking concerned.
"We're going to go for a walk. Be back in a bit." Ron said, leading Hermione by the hand out into the Garden. The back door had barely closed when Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Harry, Ginny and George, who had apparated to The Burrow for dinner, raced to the small kitchen window that overlooked the yard. It had started to snow and Harry had to hand it to Ron, he could not have picked a more romantic night for a proposal. Smashed together in the small space, the family watched silently as Ron and Hermione walked around and around the Garden, Ron growing steadily greener, Hermione looking more and more concerned.
"He's gonna blow it!" George said as Ron and Hermione stopped and faced each other in the moonlight, the snow falling down on them. Then Harry saw a familiar look of determination cross Ron's face.
"No, he's not." Harry whispered as he watched Ron pull the box from his pocket, open it with trembling fingers, and ask Hermione a question.
"He didn't even get down on his knee, the prat!" Ginny said. Mr. Weasley chuckled and ran his hand over his daughters head, mussing her hair.
The fact that Ron did not propose on bended knee did not seem to matter in the least to Hermione. Her hands flew up and covered her mouth in utter surprise as Ron took the ring from the box. They all watched as she nodded her head, her eyes glistening in the snow and moonlight, as Ron took her left hand and slipped the ring on her finger. Mrs. Weasley let out a happy sob behind Harry as Ron and Hermione embraced, laughing.