Harry awoke to a hard, painful pecking on his nose. Startled out of the best dream he had ever had, which of course involved Ginny, Harry opened his eyes to find Rowena and seven other owls piled on his chest. He tried to sit up, but more owls just jumped on him from their perches on the dresser, window sill, and headboard. With twenty six birds pinning him to his bed, Harry could not move, lest he be pecked to death in the mad rush to deliver the letters.

Realizing he was stuck, Harry called for help. His wand was on the bedside table to his right, but it would do him no good, seeing how there was a great horned owl perched on his hand.

"UH, SOMEBODY!! I NEED HELP!!" Harry yelled. With nothing else better to do than to wait for someone to come to his aid, Harry closed his eyes and laid back on his pillow. A minute later, he heard frantic footsteps coming up the stairs. Harry opened his eyes, only for Rowena to land on his chin, bend over, and look into his eyes with an unwavering, slightly disturbing stare.

The door to Charlie's old bedroom flew open. There stood Mrs. Weasley. She had her wand drawn, ready to incapacitate the attacker. She did not expect to see twenty six birds pinning her daughter's fiance to the bed. A moment later, Mr. Weasley, Ron, and Ginny appeared in the door way. Obviously, they did not expect to see the spectacle of the hero of the Wizarding World pinned down by a flock of owls.

They stood for a moment, taking in the situation, then, promptly, burst out laughing. Ginny walked over to the bed and sat down next to Harry.

"Good morning, Harry. And how are we doing today?" She asked, barely keeping a serious look on her face.

"Ginny," Harry said, slightly muffled due to the fact that he did not want to move his lips to much because of the large snowy owl perched on his chin. "Will you get these owls off me?"

Ginny's answer was cut off by a flash of blinding light. It was Hermione with the camera.

"Harry, you just keep getting in these situations." she laughed as she clicked the review button and saw a picture of Harry and Rowena.

"Hermione, what kind of camera is that?" asked Ron as he looked at the picture over her shoulder.

"Well, it was a muggle digital camera, but I modified it. All the magical cameras give off all this smoke and are very hefty and hard to carry around." she explained in a matter of fact way as she took a full length picture, capturing all twenty six owls.

"Well, this is all very nice, but I am still stuck!" said a very annoyed Harry. "Will someone please get me out!"

"Oh, sorry, Harry." "Yeah, we'll get them off." "One moment." A chorus of voices answered as they approached the bed.

It turned out, though, that the owls would only get off until they delivered their letters straight to Harry.

After fifteen minutes of wheeling and dealing with the owls, they finally got off, but soon lined up on the furniture. They all left when they saw the pile of letters in Harry's hand.

"Well, that was an interesting start to the morning. I'll open the letters after breakfast." Harry stood up and brushed off the numerous feathers that had accumulated.

During a breakfast of bacon and eggs, a barn owl arrived with a the Daily Prophet. Mr. Weasley paid the owl and unrolled the newspaper.

"Uh," Mr. Weasley was at a loss for words.

"What is it, Dad?" asked Ron. He walked to stand behind his father. "Oh." Ron gently pulled the paper out of his father's hand and showed it to the room.

POTTER ENGAGED!! was the headline, taking up half the page. The bottom half was split between a picture and the beginning of an article.

The picture had been taken the day before on the platform. Harry was on one knee, opening the small box. Ginny nodded her head and Harry put the ring on her finger, then swept her up in a kiss.

"Aw, Harry, that's so sweet." said Hermione as she watched the movie-like scene. "Ron, what does the article say?" Ron read the beginning of the article out loud.

Harry Potter, everyone's favorite hero, has found the
girl of his dreams! Yesterday afternoon, on the well-
known Platform 9 3/4, Mr. Potter proposed to his
longtime girlfriend, Ms. Ginevra "Ginny" Weasley.
Mr. Potter and Ms. Weasley have dated for the last year
since Harry returned after his exile. They also dated
for the last months of Mr. Potter's sixth year at
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The
proposal was made yesterday, but most did not now
until last night. A parent took this picture yesterday
on the platform. Yet, she did not remember she had it
until last night. No one is quite sure what is the
cause of this massive loss of memory, but we all
know we are very happy for the couple.

For more details, go to pages 3, 4, 5, and 8.

"How do they have enough details to fill four pages?" asked Ginny in shock as she watched herself on the front page of the Wizardng World's most popular newspaper. Ron flipped to page 3.

"Well, it looks like page 3 is a timeline of your relationship, starting with Harry spending part of the summer here before our second year. It even includes the Chamber of Secrets incident, Harry holding Quidditch tryouts, and your famous kiss in the Common Room." Ron flipped to page 4. "Page 4 is... oh, you are going to love this... predictions made by a Seer. The seer says that Harry will be Minister of Magic, you two will have 9 kids, and Harry will lose all his hair by age 27." Ron had to stop and laugh. He handed the newspaper to Hermione as he burst out laughing, as did Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, Hermione, and Harry.

As a joke, Ginny walked behind Harry, who was sitting at the table, as put her hand on his head. "Don't worry. They have magical hair replacement. Everything will be just fine." She laughed as Hermione looked on page 8.

"Uh, gu-guys, page 8 is about all fu-four of us." she stuttered as she scanned the page. "There is a picture of us from last summer at Harry's birthday party."

"Hermione," said Ron, his voice cracking, "what do you mean all four of us?"

"Ron, it has a section about...our relationship. And one about how you and Harry are best friends. And one about how Ginny is your little sister. But there is a picture of us from last February, when we went out to dinner on Valentine's day."

"I'm going to open those letters now. I have a feeling that I know what they are all about." Harry pulled the stack of letters towards him. He looked at the letter on top and recognized the untidy handwriting. "Hey, this one's from Hagrid!"

Harry opened the somewhat dirty envelope to find a single sheet of damp paper. He unfolded it to find the ink smudged from what looked like tears.

Harry,

I heard about the engagement. Congratulations! Can you come for tea sometime?

Hagrid

"Hagrid cried." Everyone knew that Hagrid could get a little... emotional. Harry wrote a quick note saying that he would come over that afternoon and sent it with Rowena, who had perched herself on the kitchen windowsill next to a retired Errol.

The rest of the letters were of similar content, good wishes and all that.

But, that one that surprised Harry was one from...Dumbledore.

"Harry, who's that one from?" asked Ginny, who had joined in and was opening letters as well.

"It's, it's from Dumbledore." Harry stuttered.

"Uh, Harry... Dumbledore's dead. Not to be harsh or anything, but...dead guys don't send mail." stated Ron, who was finishing his breakfast.

"I know." replied Harry. He carefully opened the letter.

Dear Harry,

Congratulations about your engagement! I am sure you and Ms. Weasley will be very happy together. Now, I know you are thinking, "How is a dead man sending me mail?". I had Prof. McGonagall set up a reliable Quick-Quotes Quill. If you need to talk about anything, feel free to come to my office. The new password is "Jelly Beans".

Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore

"So, guys, up to going to Hogwarts with me later?"

That afternoon, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny arrived at the Hogwarts gates. They swung open and the four walked onto the so familiar grounds. They first went to Hagrid's Hut.

It looked exactly the same as it had before the Battle. Before it had been torn apart and burned.

Harry knocked on the door and took a step back. He heard loud footsteps and the door swung open.

Fang, who had to be at least 9 years old, bounded out the door and jumped on Harry. The dog immediately started licking Harry's ears.

"Fang, get offa' Harry." Hagrid pulled Fang off of Harry, only to sweep him into a bonecrushing hug. "Harry, I remember when you was a baby, and now lookat' cha'. Yer gettin' married!"

"Hagrid, I think Harry needs some air." said Ginny.

The rest of the afternoon was spent talking with Hagrid, telling him about their jobs and such.

After they left Hagrid's, Ron and Hermione decided to go to Hogsmeade. Harry was not so keen. He didn't feel ready to face the reporters that were sure to be circling like vultures. Instead he wanted to talk to Dumbledore and asked Ginny to go with him.

With a quick, "See 'ya!", Ron and Hermione started down the path the Hogsmeade and Ginny and Harry were walking up the front steps of the school.

"I can't believe I was here only yesterday." Ginny said as they walked up the marble staircase. "It feels so weird to be here, but not as a student."

They did not run into anyone until they got to the gargoyle that guarded the headmaster's office. They reached the gargoyle just as it was closing.

Neville Longbottom was exiting the office. "Harry! Ginny! Congratulations! I never got a real chance to talk to you last night, but it was a great party. I just had a meeting with Professor McGonagall and and Professor Sprout. They want me to take the post as Herbology teacher!" Neville looked as if he was going to burst.

"Neville, that's great! You're going to take the job, right?" asked Harry as Ginny gave him a quick hug.

"Of course. Well, I've got to go. See 'ya." Neville waved as he walked down the corridor.

"That's so great. Herbology was always his favorite subject." said Harry as they approached the gargoyle. "Jelly Bean."

The gargoyle sprang aside to reveal the staircase to the office. Harry and Ginny walked up the staircase to the old wooden door. Harry knocked and it was answered by Professor Sprout.

"Harry, Ginny! Congratulations! I read about it in the paper." said the gray haired witch. She passed then and descended the stairs.

Harry and Ginny walked past her to see Professor McGonagall sitting at the desk. She looked up when she heard the door close. "Mr. Potter, Ms. Weasley. Congratulations on the engagement!" When she said the word engagement, all the sleeping past headmasters and headmistresses awoke immediately and started shouting their congratulations. When everything died down, McGonagall started again. "So, how can I help you two?"

"Actually, We just needed to speak with Professor Dumbledore. If that's okay." said Ginny.

"Of course." was the answer they got. Professor McGonagall quickly gathered up some papers and left down the staircase. Behind the desk, Albus Dumbledore was smiling from his portrait. His blue eyes were twinkling and a smile crinkled the skin around his eyes.

"Hello, Harry, Ginny. Congratulations on your enagement. You two will be very happy together. Now, how can I help you?" he asked, his eyes shining brightly.

"You read the paper, right?" asked Harry, still not quite sure why he was there. he just had a feeling that he needed to come.

"Yes, I did. I may be dead, but I do like to keep up with the times. I am very intrigued, though, by the mysterious loss of memory that occurred on the platform yesterday." He looked down his crooked nose in a I-know-you-did-it-Harry look.

"Yeah, well, I just had a feeling that I needed to come, you know, say hello and all. Just my intuition and all." Harry said, very embarrassed that he did not have a certain reason for coming.

"Well, your intuition was right. Ms. Weasley, may I speak to Harry in private for a moment?" Ginny nodded and walked out the wooden door. Before it swung shut, Ginny smiled at Harry and he got that warm, fuzzy feeling inside. In a sudden movement, the occupants of the other portraits stood up and walked to different portraits. Even Snape, but not after a very annoyed and disgruntled look.

"Harry, dear boy, I do have something to tell you. This may not be particularly interesting for you, but bear with me. You proposed to Ms. Weasley the moment she got off the train. Your father did the same thing." At Harry's look of bewilderment, Dumbledore continued. "The minute your father got off the train, he waited for your mother to exit. He stood on that platform and when she got off, he proposed in almost the exact way you did yesterday."

Harry was stunned by this fact. He knew he had always been like his father in many ways, but never like this.

"Harry, there is one more thing. Reach under the top of my desk. You will find a small knot of wood. Press on it."

Very confused, Harry did just that. He found the rather deep knot of wood and pressed on it. The edge of the desk swung off on a hinge. It left a very thin compartment. "Harry, summon the letter that is in there." said Dumbledore. Harry did just that. A square envelope flew out of the slot. Taking the envelope, harry saw his name on it.

"Harry, before your parents died, they asked that I would give this to you, if you ever became engaged and they were not around."

Harry was lost for words. His hands shook as he held the letter.

"You do not need to open it now. But if you would like." Dumbledore stood up and walked out the side of his portrait. His head popped back a moment later.

"Professor, if you don't mind..." Harry trailed off.

"Of course, Harry." Dumbledore left.

With shaking hands, Harry opened the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of paper, not folded or anything, just a four by four sheet of white paper. It read...

Harry,
If Dumbledore has given this to you, it means you
found the girl you want to spend the rest of your life
with. We are so happy at the thought of you finding
the girl you love. We love each other and hope
you have the same.
Love, Mom and Dad

P.S. I really hope you use the rings! Love, Mom.

An extra long chapter. I hope you all like it.

Woollongong Shimmy, don't worry, it's coming.

Please review!

I still do not own these characters. If I suddenly did, you would hear about it. Trust me.

Thanks for reading!

Defying Gravity

"The Wizard and I!"