This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Word Count: 1141
Title: With This Ring
Note:
Warnings:
Beta: Copper's Mama, MomoDesu
Golden Snitch
[Name] Crissie
[School] Uagadou
[House] Ogyinae
Quidditch League:
[Team]:
[Position]
[Theme]: Quidditch Supplies
[Prompts]:
[Theme]: Book Club
[Prompts]:
[Theme]: Pokemon
[Prompts]:
International Wizarding School Competition:
[School]: Durmstrang
[Prompts]:
[Theme]:
[Position] Exchange
Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
[House]:
[Assignment]:
[Task]:
The House Cup:
[House]: Gryffindor
[Class] HoH
[Prompts]:[Theme] Trying to be something/someone you're not. [Dialogue] "It's in the box under the bed."
[Category]: Standard
Hogwarts
Assignment
Yearly:
Seasonally:
Quarterly:
Writing Club:
Oracle Challenge:
Fortnightly:
1:
2:
Harry knows the Weasley family is expecting him to propose to Ginny, but something inside him just can't go through with being someone he isn't, especially after trying so long to form his own identity.
"Harry, Harry, my boy, come here," Molly gestured. It was so soon after the war ended, but all Harry wanted to do was vanish into thin air. But the Weasley family needed him now; it seemed someone would always need him. He defeated Voldemort, and yet his own needs got pushed aside to help those around him. He was thankful to the Weasleys, of course. This was what it felt like to have a family, wasn't it? But something inside felt unsettled at the eagerness with which Molly was approaching him.
Her eyes were darting around, as if she was about to share something secret with Harry that she didn't want anyone else overhearing. Even now, the house was bustling with life, which seemed to contradict the losses they had all faced.
"Yes, Mrs Weasley?" Harry asked. He would have run his hands through his hair if they weren't both clasped in hers.
"I heard about you and Ginny," she said. Him and Ginny? What about Ginny? Oh goodness me, she couldn't possibly be insinuating that they get engaged?
Yeah, that was what that grin would mean.
"I was thinking, perhaps now that the fighting is over, you might want my blessing to propose to her?"
Harry simply swallowed, not managing to find his voice. So he simply nodded instead. His love for Ginny wasn't what everyone thought it was, when it came down to it, he realized she wasn't the one he wanted to marry, but he couldn't say that to Mrs Weasley, could he?
His confirmation made her smile even wider. She reached into a pocket on her robes. "Then I have this for you." She handed him a small wooden box, and when he opened it, he found probably the first family heirloom he had ever been entrusted with. A small silver ring. "I never thought my youngest would get married so quickly, but at least it is to you, Harry. You have always been like a son to me."
Harry swallowed again. He hoped with everything in him that he looked excited, and not like he was completely dreading it. "Don't worry, dear, I am sure she will say yes," Molly added. He forced a smile.
"Thank you, Mrs Weasley. You are like a mother to me as well."
Harry saw tears in the woman's eyes, and he made a hasty exit to prevent being asked more questions on the topic that was now going to cause him sleepless nights- proposing to Ginny.
"Of course I never thought to tell anyone I am gay," he muttered to himself softly in his room. "I never thought I would ruddy well live this long!" His voice rose, and the door flung slid the ring under the bed in haste.
"Whatcha doing, Harry?" Ron asked, plopping on the bed. He was sure Ron had heard at least some of his conversation, so he gulped again.
"Ron, I'm gay," Harry confessed, waiting for an explosion from his best friend.
Ron looked puzzled. "I know, mate," he said, bringing the number of shocks to Harry's system up to two.
"You know? What do you mean you know?"
"Well, that obsession with Malfoy was a good indicator," Ron said, rubbing his nose thoughtfully.
"Shit," Harry said simply. Sitting down beside his friend on the bed. Despite him wanting to insist that Malfoy had nothing to do with this, he knew he would be lying, and it really wasn't relevant right now, was it?
"Not saying I don't appreciate the faith in confession, but what's brought this on?"
"Your mother, she wants me to, um," Harry gulped.
Ron motioned for him to continue. Harry sighed again. "It's in the box under the bed."
Ron looked under the bed, pulling out the small wooden box, and he recognized it immediately, if his face was an indication.
"Our great-grandmother's ring," he said. "That would mean, oh no. Didn't you and Ginny tell her you aren't together anymore?"
"Apparently something went and got lost in translation," Harry muttered.
"Mate, I think she is seeing Dean." Ron looked nervous.
"What, really?" Harry hadn't even considered that Ginny could have moved on while he was away, that she would seek solace, perhaps thinking there was no way he would survive. He couldn't really blame her; he didn't think he would live either, now did he?
"Well, I suggest speaking to her, Harry," he encouraged. "It will be the best way to know for sure. He could be a rebound, but I hardly think you should be proposing to her regardless. You both deserve love in your lives."
The family was sitting at the table when Harry spoke up, causing the conversation to die down instantly. He didn't often say much, so the Weasleys and Hermione went quiet when he did.
"Ginny, can we talk outside?" Harry asked. He saw Molly looked eager, and saw Ron nodding in encouragement. He could do this.
"Of course, Harry," Ginny smiled kindly, getting up from her seat to wolf-whistles from some of her brothers. Clearly, her mother hadn't been the only one that didn't know they split up.
They walked a bit away from the house, and he could tell Ginny was curious. Harry came to a stop, and Ginny followed his example.
"Eh, Ginny," Harry started. "You know we are just friends, right?"
Ginny nodded, her confusion showing on her face.
"Yes, we talked about this before you left. I understand our feelings of infatuation have turned into a kind of sibling love," she laughed. "As if a girl needs more brothers." She punched him lightly on the shoulder in a playful manner.
"Are you dating Dean? Ron says you are," he added suddenly.
She nodded. "I haven't really told anyone except Hermione, so of course Ron knows," she grinned as she spoke. Unlike them, Hermione and Ron's relationship was just growing.
"You should have told people," Harry said in a strange tone. "Your Mother spoke to me the other night, and she still thinks we are dating."
"Well, what's the big deal? You could have just told her! It's not like she is expecting us to get married or something," Ginny laughed, but she stopped as she saw the pale look on Harry's face.
"Oh Merlin, that's it, isn't it?"
Harry nodded, removing the box from his coat. Ginny gasped. "She chose me? Out of seven siblings, she wanted me to have it?"
Suddenly they realized that the Weasley family had been watching from the door, and cheering in excitement, except Ron, who was puzzled. It looked like her excitement at seeing the ring had been taken as a "Yes."
"I think it's time to tell them," Harry said.
Ginny smiled and took his hand. The comfort felt nice. They could still do this together, as friends, not lovers.