Harry sat with his father as they went over the finances of the estate with the steward, but his attention was far from the books. It was drawn to a woman with captivating red hair and bright eyes.

"Harry, son, please pay attention." His dad's voice intruded on his daydreams of Miss Weasley.

"Sorry, I suppose I'm distracted today."

"Yes, she's a beautiful girl, you should speak to Mr. Weasley about her, now let's get back to this." Harry's father laughed at him but stabbed at the books with his finger as if to signal it was time for business and not pretty girls.

"Father," Harry shook his head, "Why must you tease me in this way?"

James frowned. "I wasn't quizzing you. You and Miss Weasley would get along well, I think. And her father is here for another five days. Ask her to marry you and then we'll work everything out with Mr. Weasley before he returns to Ottery."

"I suppose you'd suggest I marry her before her parents leave as well," Harry huffed.

"Not at all, I don't think it would be worth the money to make it happen, nor the stain to her character." James looked at the expense books. "But I do think you should discuss this matter with her more than myself. At present these figures demand our attention."

Harry nodded and forced his mind to focus on the task at hand. But his dad's words made it more difficult than it had been before the conversation. His initial response to his father's advice was to scoff. Proposing marriage after having known her for less than a fortnight and having had two lovely evenings together seemed absurd. But there was practicality in the idea. He would avoid the journey to Ottery for one. And it would allow her parents to celebrate with their daughter in her engagement. If he waited until they'd returned home, and Miss Weasley was living with her brother, they'd miss the opportunity to be a part of the initial experience.

Harry mulled the idea over in his mind throughout the day until Miss Weasley returned from the Grangers. When he saw her, he determined that perhaps the best way to solve this dilemma would be to involve the lady herself.

"Miss Weasley, a quick word if you wouldn't mind?"

She paused at the stairs and nodded as her mother stopped to wait. Miss Weasley walked to him and Harry resisted the urge to reach out and touch her.

"I was hoping to ask your opinion on a matter." He spoke quietly, hoping to not alert her mother to what he was attempting to do. "If a gentleman were to propose marriage to a lady of your caliber, would you think she would prefer to have her parents nearby so they might celebrate such a happy occasion with her?"

Miss Weasley's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "I, I would think that, that she would see the value of having her parents nearby. And perhaps also she would see the value in an engagement of a length of time long enough to adjust to her new environment."

Harry smiled, "Of course, and certainly, she would want to enjoy an opportunity to grow closer to her new sister."

"Yes," Miss Weasley's smile finally found her lips and Harry managed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"I won't keep you any longer, thank you for your advice. I shall apply it in good faith of your expertise." He bowed to her and smiled at her curtsey, watching as she moved up the stairs. She turned to smile at him at the top of the staircase before turning down the corridor and out of sight.

The time between their conversation by the stairs and when dinner had finally finished and their group had retired to the drawing room seemed to go on for decades, especially because Ron was with the Grangers for dinner, and so when Miss Weasley was engaged in conversation with the ladies or playing the pianoforte, he had to either involve himself in the conversation with his father and hers or read. But after this display of saintly patience, Harry finally found himself in a position to take his father's advice.

"Mr. Weasley," Harry came to stand next to him at the pianoforte as Miss Weasley finished the piece she had chosen to play. "I wonder if you would be so kind as to allow me a private moment with your daughter?"

The older man's face was momentarily taken aback before a large smile found his face. He extended his hand and took Harry's in his.

"I can think of no reason why not."

Miss Weasley looked up at Harry as he held out his hand and her smile was very nearly as grand as he'd seen it since making her acquaintance.

"Will you accompany me, Miss Weasley?"

She bit her lip and nodded, taking his hand. "Yes, Mr. Potter."

Harry tried to ignore the way the room had gone silent and simply led Miss Weasley from it, noting with some satisfaction that not a soul followed.

He walked them to one of the smaller sitting rooms on the floor and shut the door behind them. The closing of the door made his palms sweat and he suddenly felt a great deal of remorse for how he had teased Ron about proposing. But this beautiful lady was looking up at him with a smile that seemed to echo his own levels of excitement and nervousness, and Harry managed to pull some strength from it.

"Miss Weasley," he took both her hands in his. "I know that our time together has been short, and I have no intentions of rushing the date. But I must tell you that from the moment I saw you I felt you were the only real woman on the face of the Earth. You've enraptured me and I am left with nothing more than the desire to be by your side continually. In these few short days together, I believe I have come to love you, and I ask you to choose me, to spend every day with me, to be my companion, to be my wife." He lowered himself to one knee. "Miss Weasley, will you marry me?"

Her smile grew and she nodded as a small laugh escaped her lips. "Yes. Yes, Mr. Potter, a thousand times yes!" She laughed again and Harry let himself laugh with her before openly bringing her hands to his lips and kissing them.

"Shall we tell my parents the happy news?" She laughed again as he kissed her fingers.

"Yes," he stood, "though may I make one small request of you before we rejoin their company?"

She laughed again, "Already making demands of your betrothed? Why Mr. Potter, what does that say to the future of our marriage?"

"That perhaps you've agreed too quickly to my proposal, but do not fear, it's a small request, and one I do not believe you will find taxing."

"Out with it then."

Harry brought her hand up to kiss along her fingers as he spoke.

"Mr. Potter is a fine name, one I've carried proudly for some time now. But I would take it as the highest compliment if you would call me by my Christian name when it suits you. After all, there are several Mr. Potter's, but I would like to think I am the only one you'll call so closely."

"I think I could find space to call you Harry." Miss Weasley pulled their hands away from his lips to bring them to hers. "If you could find space to call me by my Christian name."

Harry wondered if a man had ever died from the effort to draw air while a lady was looking at him. He felt he very possibly could be the first.

"It would be my honor to do so, Ginevra."

"Harry," she stepped closer, "Ginevra is the name my mother uses when we're in the company of others. I much prefer Ginny."

"Ginny," Her name felt like honey on his lips. "I will happily call you such."

She kissed his hands once more, and then let him lead her from the room and back to their parents.