YOU HAVE MY BLESSING
12 JUNE 2001

Harry sat in the kitchen at The Burrow, furiously tapping his foot as Molly poured them each a cup of tea. She placed the kettle down on the table and took a seat across from him, flashing a warm smile.

"Arthur will be home soon," she assured him.

"Er...right, thanks," he nodded, burning his tongue on the hot liquid.

"What is it you wanted to talk with him about?" she inquired.

"I think it's best to wait until he's here," Harry muttered. "I want to tell you both together."

"Right," she smiled. Then she swallowed hard. "How are things at the ministry?"

"Good, yeah," he replied. "We have come quite a long way. Ron should be done with training by the end of the month too."

"Very good," she smiled.

She took a second to look around at the house that had once been filled with children. It was so quiet now. Bill and George had their own families to care for now. Ron was married too and had his own house with Hermione. Ginny was living with Harry now and she hoped they would finally make it official and get married. Charlie, of course, was still in Romania with his dragons and Percy had never moved back home. It seemed the only time she had visitors now was for the holidays. The rest of the time it was a rarity to have her children or their friends present at The Burrow, which made her question Harry's motive for arriving on a random afternoon in May.

"Oh look," she saw the flames in the fireplace turn a familiar shade of green. "Arthur's home early."

"Harry!" Arthur hadn't even stepped foot on the hearth before he recognized the young wizard. "What in Merlin's name brings you here today?"

"Er...I..." Harry suddenly lost his ability to speak correctly. He cleared his throat and pulled a small velvet pouch from his coat pocket. Then he opened it and revealed a delicate gold band with a teardrop diamond mounted in the center. "It's for Ginny...er...with your permission of course."

"Oh Harry!" Molly enveloped him in a suffocating hug.

"Of course," Arthur felt a tear roll down his cheek at the thought of his only daughter getting married. "You have my blessing."

"Thank you," Harry hugged them both.

"Well," Molly wanted to know, "when are you going to do it? I only ask because I can't keep this secret much longer."

"Tonight," he shrugged. "Hopefully. I don't know if I can keep this secret much longer either."

"Oh Arthur!" Molly gushed. "Our baby girl. She's going to be so happy!"

"I should...er..." Harry stood up. "I need to get back. I want to be home when Ginny's training is over."

"Right, of course," Molly smiled.

She hugged him one last time and Arthur had a wide smile plastered on his face. Then Harry threw a handful of powder into the fireplace and stepped into the green flames before finding himself in the living room of The Stag.

Luna was on an excursion with Hagrid to study Hippogriffs in their natural habitat and would be gone for the month so he knew he had the house to himself until Ginny got home. He busied himself setting a romantic table for two, complete with floating candles and hoped Hannah Abbott would arrive soon with the dinner he had ordered specially from The Leaky Cauldron. They didn't usually deliver, but considering their friendship and his close proximity to the inn, she made an exception along with the promise that her Uncle Tom would never find out. He was not fond of making exceptions; he was insistent that his clients always take advantage. Soon enough, he heard the doorbell ring and ran down to answer the door.

"Here you are!" Hannah handed him a large bag turned on its side.

"Thank you!" he said graciously, as the aroma of the freshly cooked meal reached his nose.

"It's beef wellington," she explained, "mixed greens, and a seared scallop salad. There's also a spice cake in there. Keep it all in the oven at sixty degrees and it will stay warm."

"It's perfect," he told her. "Thank you so much."

He handed her a pouch filled with coins and she was on her way. Doing as told, Harry stored the food containers in the oven and ran up to his bedroom to change. He didn't want to propose to his future bride smelling like he had spent a good part of the morning battling Grindylows.

As soon as he had a shower and changed into a respectable jumper and pants for the proposal, he saw the flames in the fireplace turn green. As usual, Ginny stepped onto the hearth wearing her training robes but Harry hadn't anticipated the guests she had brought with her. Just as quickly as Ginny arrived, so had Angelina and baby Fred.

"Er..." Harry couldn't muster up the right thing to say.

"Harry!" Angelina cradled her infant carefully as she gave her favourite Seeker a hug.

"Hi!" he nearly shouted trying to mask his surprise. "I didn't know you were...er..."

"Angie stopped by the pitch," Ginny explained. "She was showing off the baby so I invited her for dinner."

"Oh good," Harry laughed. "I bought plenty."

"You bought dinner?" Ginny asked. "We usually make something."

"I...er...had a craving," he said finally, knowing that any chance of proposing to Ginny over a romantic three course meal was now ruined with the arrival of their guests.

"Harry," Ginny took the metal trays out of the oven. "This smells amazing. Where did you get it?"

"Hannah Abbott," he explained. "She's a brilliant cook."

"She made all of this?" Angelina was in awe. "Neither George nor I are much for cooking and we eat at Leaky's virtually every night. I have never seen this on the menu."

"She made an exception for me," Harry explained.

"If I didn't know any better," Ginny winked at Harry, "I'd think she has a bit of a crush on you."

"I don't think you have to worry," he kissed her cheek, "I love you despite your horrid cooking."

"It's not horrid!" she groaned.

"Horrid would be an understatement," Angelina replied.

"Who needs enemies when I have you lot?" Ginny rolled her eyes.

Harry let Ginny and Angelina gorge on the elegant meal he had ordered and retreated to his study to hide the pouch containing the engagement ring. He had officially given up on the possibility of waking up with a fiance in the morning.