Chapter 4: Hermione's Decision

"For he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, for he's a jolly good fellow, and so say all of us." sang Hermione, and The Weasleys. They were celebrating Harry's 18th birthday at the Burrow. It had been the best birthday he'd had in a long time. The Weasley's birthday present to him sat perched on Harry's shoulder. A light, smoky gray owl whom he'd named Caesar. It had been an entire year since Hedwig had died. There had been an awful ache in Harry's heart when he'd received Caesar. He missed her so much. He had never fully gotten to grieve for her. With his, Ron and Hermione's abrupt departure from The Burrow, the hunt for the horcruxes and finally the battle, there just had not been any time.

The next few days passed quickly. Ginny was to come of age shortly and Harry was planning something special. Of course he told Ron and Hermione all about it.

"She's my sister mate," Ron said "Don't screw this up."

"I promise." Harry said giving Ron a reassuring look.

That night at dinner Hermione made a startling announcement.

"I've decided to return to Hogwarts with Ginny." she said

Ron sat there looking shocked for a moment and than looked as if he were going to cry.

"Excuse me," he said setting his napkin on his plate of half eaten food. "I just remembered that I told mum I'd owl her."

He got up from the table without picking up his plate and set off in the direction of his and Hermione's room.

"I think your news upset him Hermione." Harry stated.

Hermione sighed and got up from the table.

"I should go talk to him." she said and headed off in the same direction Ron had.

She turned the knob of the bedroom door only to find it was locked. She knocked.

"Go away, I'm busy." he said. His voice sounded almost teary

"Ronald, it's me. Open the door, we need to talk.

"I said go away."

"Fine, I'll just use Alohamora."

She waited for a minute and then heard the lock click and the door opened. Without a word Ron stood aside and let Hermione enter the room.

"Ron, I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?!" he said angrily "You're sorry?! You make a decision like that without telling me and all you can say is you're sorry?!"

"Ron I...."

"Hermione," Ron said almost crying now. "You're my fiancee . We're supposed to be planning our wedding. How can you do this to me?"

"We can wait till next year. Have a summer wedding. My education is important to me, you know that."

"What about the engagement party?"

Ron and Hermione had been talking about having an engagement party to officially announce their engagement.

"We'll have it when I come back for Christmas. Ron, I really am sorry."

"How come you never discussed this with me?" he said finally sitting down on the bed. Hermione sat down next to him.

"There wasn't any time. Professor McGonagall owled me yesterday and told me that if I wished to return my spot at Hogwarts was still open. I had to owl her back right away."

Ron let out a sigh and grabbed Hermione's hand.

"I understand." he said to her. "I know your education is important to you."

"You can come with me you know."

"Yeah, but I think I will stay here. George needs me. Besides I have to find some way to pay off that huge rock that's on your finger." Ron joked. "There is also the small matter of where we're going to live after we get married. George said that we could stay in the flat as long as we needed to."

"What about him? I mean the flat is only big enough for two people."

He said that he'd move home if he had to, but I figured if I found us our own place he wouldn't have to. I can't afford us a house, but with a little luck I may be able to find us a nice little flat."

"Oh Ron," said Hermione with tears in her eyes. "You really think you could?"

"With no trouble at all." he said stroking her check. "I could even get George and Harry to help."

All of the sudden there was a knock on the door.

"Is it safe to come in?" came Harry's voice from the other side of the door.

"Yeah, it's safe." Ron said. The door opened and Harry and Ginny walked in.

"So, is the wedding still on?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah. We decided to have it next summer."

Ginny gave Hermione a hopeful look.

"Uh uh.... no way Ginny. I know what you are thinking. Forget it. No double wedding. They are so tacky."

Ginny gave Hermione a disappointed look.

"Oh Gin, don't look like that. Don't you want you and Harry's wedding day to be special?"

"Of course."

"Well if you share your wedding day with Ron and me it's not going to be that special."

"I guess you have a point." Ginny said with a dejected look.

The next day Harry, Ron and Hermione went to Diagon Alley to go shopping for birthday gifts for Ginny, while she went back to The Burrow. Though Harry knew what he was after Ron and Hermione had a little more difficulty.

"What do you get a girl who is already getting an engagement ring?" Ron asked as they entered Flourish And Blotts. Hermione thought maybe she could find Ginny a new Quidditch book.

"I don't know Ronald." she said "But don't worry you'll think of something."

Half an hour later they entered Dougal And Dodds Wizard Jewelry shop. Harry went up to the counter and was greeted by a young blonde sales witch.

"My name is Harry Potter." he said. "I'm here to pick up an order."

"One moment please." she said and disappeared into the back room.

She came back a moment later with a small pale pink velvet box. The sales witch opened the box for Harry, Ron and Hermione to see. Inside was a 1 karat cushion cut diamond ring with seven smaller diamonds surrounding the larger diamond. Four one side, three on the other. A total of eight diamonds. One for each year he had known her.

"Oh, Harry. It's beautiful." Hermione said.

"Well done mate." Ron agreed. "She's going to love it."

"It is beautiful." said the sales witch. "The young lady who get this is going to be very lucky."

"Thank you." Harry said to her. He paid her, stuck the ring in the pocket of his coat and the three friends turned and walked out of the shop.