For Elizabeth (MoonytheMarauder1).

"Mum."

"Mmm?"

"Mum!"

Molly Weasley jumped in surprise, dropping the cooking pot. A bit of soup sloshed out of the pot and dripped onto the counter. "Ron! I didn't see you there!"

"I've been calling your name for over ten minutes, Mum."

Molly blushed. She prided herself on being an excellent mother, and ignoring one of her children for over ten minutes was a major embarrassment. "Sorry, Ron."

"It's fine." Ron sighed.

"What did you come home for? Not that I'm not happy to see you, of course," Molly added hastily. "Trouble with Hermione?"

"No."

"Then what?"

Ron scuffed his shoe on the floor. "I want to propose to her." his words came out in a rush.

Molly's mouth dropped open for a second, then she smiled, her eyes brightening. "Good. We've been waiting for it for ages, Ron! Why did you wait until now?"

"I suppose I just wasn't ready, with the aftermath of the war and all," said Ron, his eyes fixed on the floor next to his mother's feet. "I feel this urge to settle down now, you know?"

"Oh, it's natural, Ron," beamed Molly. "I understand, really I do."

"Okay." Ron looked immensely relieved. "I want you to help me pick out a wedding ring."

Molly frowned. "Why not ask Bill or Percy?" she asked. "They're married. And George is, too."

"Because Bill is busy with the kids, Percy and Audrey are trying to have a child, and George is going to laugh at me."

"How about Ginny?"

"Ginny didn't pick out her wedding ring, Mum. Harry did."

Molly sighed. "Oh, I suppose so. When?"

"As soon as possible."

Rain slashed against the windows, making the glass seem like a waterfall. The sound of rain splattering on the ground could be easily heard, even through the sound of drivers revving up the engines and cars honking loudly. Hermione sighed.

It had been five years. Five years since Voldemort was defeated, five years since the Light had their victory. Still, sometimes Hermione would wake up and think that she was back in the tent where she had spent a year in, her senses alert. Then she would look around, realise that she was in her flat, and remind herself that the war was over, and there was nothing to be scared now.

Right at that moment, someone knocked on the door. Hermione spun around, wand in hand. Suffering through a war had made her wary, and she knew that there were still Death Eaters running free.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Hermione edged towards the door, and peeked through the keyhole. She sighed in relief when she realised that it was only Ron. Not a Death Eater.

She opened the door, and smiled at him, completely aware of the fact that her hair was a bird's nest, and she was wearing her pajamas. She hadn't expected a visit, after all. "Hi, Ron!"

He grinned at her. "Hi, Hermione!"

Ron wore his usual casual attire: a red t-shirt with a Gryffindor lion emblazoned on the front and blue jeans, which showed off his muscular chest and legs. One hand was running through his hair, making it stick up.

"So, what brings you here on this rainy day?" Hermione asked, swinging the door open. Ron walked inside, and she closed the door. Self-consciously, she began running her hands through her hair.

"What, I can't visit my beautiful girlfriend?"

Hermione blushed, and tried desperately to look for something to say. "Of course you can, but it's rainy today. Shouldn't you be at home?"

Ron shrugged.

"Spit it out, Ron. I know you have something to say."

"Well...will you go on a date with me?"

"You know I'll always say yes. When?"

"Erm...now?"

Hermione glanced at the windows. "But it's rainy."

"Still."

Hermione thought for a second. She and Ron hadn't had the chance to spend a lot of time with each other the past few days, what with the Death Eater sighting somewhere in Russia. "Okay."

The grove that Ron brought her to was clearly well cared for. Different types of trees shot up around her, their leaves blocking some of the sunlight. Flowers grew in a few places: roses and daffodils and lilies and many more. Ron led her to a clearing with bushes overflowing with fruit and flowers in full bloom, their scent wafting up Hermione's nose.

Rain fell, drenching the plants. Hermione pulled her raincoat tighter around her body, recasting the Water-Repelling Charm that she'd cast on herself.

Ron gestured her towards a nearby bench and she sat down, looking at the lovely red roses next to her. Their aroma was wonderful, even better than Mrs. Weasley's cakes.

Hermione turned to the right with a smile, and opened her mouth to talk.

But then lips closed on hers, and they tasted so good, and her own lips felt wet, not only because of the rain falling -

Rain spattered on her raincoat, but at that moment, she didn't care. The only thing she cared about were those lips pressing on hers, sending an electric shock throughout her body -

Then suddenly she was kissing nothing, and Ron was in front of her, on one knee, holding a white box.

Before Hermione could fully process what she was seeing, he said, "Hermione Jean Granger, I knew the second I saw you that you were going to be my one true love. Okay, I was a bit of an idiot back then, and I didn't really believe it. I'm sorry for that.

"Your smile brightens me more than the sun ever could. Your voice is music to my ears. I love the way your eyes glow when you're talking about something. I love everything about you, Hermione Jean Granger, right down to your hair."

Hermione's mouth twitched for a second.

"Look, Hermione, I know that there'll be a time that we both want to leave and never come back. I know that it'll be tough. But I also know that if I don't ask you this question right now, at this instant, I'll be regretting it for the rest of my life."

Was he really saying those words, or was she just dreaming?

"Will you marry me?"

Seeing his earnest eyes, his wet (because of the rain, she hoped, not because she'd slobbered all over him without realising it), hopeful face, and his damp hair, she knew, without a doubt, what her answer would be.

"Yes."

WC: 1078