The Golden Age: The Nineteen Years

Chapter 25: About Time

Disclaimer: Please, you shouldn't be starting this far in that you need me to tell you that these aren't my characters and such. Well, they aren't.

In the morning a few days later, as some cleaning had kept him busy, Harry rose with the dawn. He ate breakfast then left a note for Ron, saying the he was getting groceries, and walked out of the house into the quiet morning air. He took a walk, and finally considered asking Hermione for help, but decided against it and Apparated into Diagon Alley, where shops were just opened and a bare minimum of people walked the streets. He walked for a bit, eventually finding a jeweler's shop. A little bell announced his entrance, and a man appeared from behind the counter, greeting him with a smile.

"What can I do for you young man? A necklace for a girl? A bracelet for an aunt?"

"I'd like to get a ring, actually…an engagement ring."

The man winked, but pulled out a catalog. Here, there's a seat over there. Look through it, I can pull out any you like and even customize it. "

Harry thanked the man, and sat to browse. Every so often he'd point one out, and then decide against it. Eventually he found one he thought she'd like, and even one he decided to mention to Hermione if his poor friend needed the bit of help, he already knew he'd donate any money needed to the couple. He though asking Ginny or help would be better though. As he walked over, the man pulled the desired ring out, and at Harry's request, engraved "Harry Potter to Ginny Weasley, keeper of my love". He had been a bit surprised at learning the full name of his customer, but barely mentioned it, and put it aside in a maroon velvet box as Harry left, heading to Gringotts to get the money needed.

He stood a moment outside of the grand building, memories coming back.

I was only eleven when I first stood here. Now…10 years later. Only that…I'm 21. Ginny…Ginny's only 20. Soon, I hope, she'll agree to not be Ginevra Weasley anymore...but… but instead by Ginevra, Ginny, Potter.

Snapping himself out of his thoughts, he took a deep breath and walked into, heading to a goblin and handing them his vault key, but before he could do more than introduce himself, the goblin spoke.

"You've acquired property since you've last come here, ."

The idea shocked Harry. "Wait…what?"

"Four wills and deeds left things to you. Here…this is the paperwork."

The goblin looked around under his desk a bit before handing him some papers.

"Let me know what else you wanted after you've perused those."

"Yes…alright."

Harry sat in a nearby chair, reading who had left him things.

James Potter…by lieu of John Potter…I've been left Phoenix Hill. Oh…it..it was my grandfather's house. Left to my dad it looks like it…Wonder what I'll do with it.

Oh look..Sirius Black. I knew this though…he left me everything. I can't keep Grimmauld Place though. I can't live in the last place he did.

Wait…this one is Lupin's. Remus Lupin…left his house and everything to me…this part must've been added just after Teddy was born…I'm to give it to him when he leaves Hogwarts. No problem there…Wait, maybe I'll move into Phoenix Hill! I'll have to visit it sometime soon.

He stood up, walking back over to the goblin.

"I'd like to access my vault…I'll store these in there." The goblin nodded, and another led him down to his vault in silence. Harry simply got the money he needed, as well as quite a bit more, before leaving.

A while later he Apparated back at the Den, arms full of groceries and a little box in his pocket. "Hey Ron, I'm back. Going out again though, after I make lunch."

Ron stuck his head in, curious. "Lunch?"

Harry smiled as he put things away, and started making sandwiches, a few more than needed. "Lunch."

A picnic basket hung over Harry's arm as he knocked on the Weasley front door, his two now full-grown winged horses tied up nearby. He took a deep breath, and after briefly touching the box in his pocket, he watched the door and grinned as it opened on Hermione's face. "Hi Hermione? Is Ginny here? " At the smile and slight nod he received, he asked "Is she busy? Can you ask her to come down?" Hermione grinned, and called "Ginny!"

Footsteps came down the stairs and Harry could hear her saying "Hermione, I was trying to clean out the old rooms-" She stopped, and smiled. "Harry, what…?"

Hermione nudged her outside. "Looks like you'll be occupied for lunch," she said motioning to Harry's picnic basket." I thought you'd like being interrupted for this."

Ginny smiled and linked her arms with Harry's. "Indeed. " As the door shut, Harry led her over to the horses, and helped her get up on the mare. "Harry, what's the all about?"

He just smiled. "What, I just decided to take you for a nice picnic. Besides, it's been ages since the horses have been flown. Follow me, I found a nice spot." She grinned. "Alright."

Minutes later the horses were tied on long ropes to trees by a small lake, where Harry and Ginny sat on rocks protruding from the small hill, munching on food beside them. They had talked for a while about the beautiful day, cleaning progress, how happy the horses looked, until Harry brought up what he'd learned that morning.

"Ginny…guess what? I learned about Sirius's will this morning. How everything was left to me."

She looked over at him, curious.

"I thought you knew that.

He smiled. "I did. Lupin left his house to me too…the one I'm living in now. But only until Teddy grows up, and I knew I couldn't stay there forever anyway. "

Ginny's brown eyes warmed his heart as much as the sun lit her fiery red hair.

"Where will you live, then? You never wanted to live on Grimmauld Place."

Harry took a deep breath. "No. I'm going to give it to Ron. I'm going to live in a place called Phoenix Hill. My grandfather gave it to my father, who gave it to me. I'm going tomorrow to go look at it, see what will be needed before I can move in. That's the most important thing I found out today…until now, because Ginny…I'd be honored with you came with me tomorrow…but more than that…" He dropped to his knee in front of her, pulling the box out of his pocket and opening it to show her. "I love you more than anything Ginny Weasley. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" Her hand flew to the promise ring around her neck, and tears filled her eyes. She was grinning uncontrollably as she gently took the ring from the box, a silver band with a large diamond on the top, and a criss-crossing pattern for a short section on either side, then a few diamonds that got steadily smaller as they reached the bottom of the band, letting Harry lower it back to his pocket, and put it on the 4th finger of her right hand, then kneeled down in front of Harry.

"Yes, Harry Potter. Yes, Yes, Yes a million times. I didn't know when you'd ask, but I knew you would. I've never lost faith in you, my Harry. My fiancée. " She laughed, her arms tight around him as she buried her face in his shoulder and let tears flow down her face. Harry laughed with her then took her face in his and kissed her fiercly. In unison they spoke, "I love you."

I've come so far…and it's nice. Who am I kidding. Ginny…Ginny's my fiancée! We've come so far and it's wonderful!