Ron was up early the next morning and was just finishing breakfast when Harry and Ginny emerged.
'Morning!' he said brightly, flicking through the Daily Prophet 'I saved you some toast.'
'Thanks.' Mumbled Harry as he flopped down at the kitchen table. Ginny yawned loudly and filled the kettle up. She placed it on the stove then joined Ron and Harry at the table.
'What are you going to do today Ron?' she asked, buttering some toast.
'I thought I might go and visit Remus and Arabella.' He replied.
'Wait until you see the twins,' spoke up Harry 'they're adorable.'
'I was thinking we might all go and visit Hermione later on.' Said Ginny hesitantly, looking at Ron.
Ron stiffened slightly, but kept reading the paper.
'If you like. But I was planning on seeing Mum and Dad after.'
'Oh.' Ginny got up to get the kettle.
Harry checked his watch.
'Damn, I told Sirius I'd meet him in fifteen minutes. I'd better get going.' He stood up and kissed Ginny on the forehead.
'I'll see you in about an hour. Bye Ron.'
'Bye.' Ron replied, not looking up from the paper. He shut it suddenly and pushed it towards Ginny.
'Here you go. I'd better get going too. Where's your floo powder?' Ron took his empty plate and cup to the sink.
'On the mantle piece.' Said Ginny, poring over the pages of the Daily Prophet. She came to the page Ron had been looking at and immediately saw what made him shut the paper. In the new arrivals section was a picture of Viktor, Hermione and baby Alexander. Viktor was waving energetically, a big grin on his face, Hermione looked a little tired but was waving as well. Ginny tutted to herself and looked up to see Ron walking into the loungeroom fire.
'I wonder when he's going to get over her?' muttered Ginny as she sipped her tea.
'Sirius!'
Sirius Black turned at Harry's call and gave a big grin.
'Harry, I saw a picture of baby Krum in the paper. He's gorgeous.'
'Yeah, Ginny and I were there all night waiting for him to be born. And guess who happened to turn up at Ginny's last night?'
Sirius looked puzzled.
'I don't know. Who?'
'Ron.' Harry let this sink in. Sirius' expression changed to concern.
'Don't tell me he's still got in bad for Hermione.' Harry nodded. 'But I thought he was in Australia.'
'Nope, came for a visit.' Said Harry as they sat down at Sirius' kitchen table.
'I just hope he doesn't go and see Hermione and do something stupid. Viktor's likely to knock his block off.' Harry laughed at this.
'Viktor has a nasty left hook, doesn't he?' Sirius snorted.
'He certainly used in on Draco Malfoy when he insulted Hermione one too many times.' Sirius and Harry chortled over this fond memory.
'Anyway,' said Harry 'What did you want me for?'
'I wanted to talk to you about Ginny.'
Harry groaned loudly.
'After all, I am your godfather. I just want what's right for you.'
'Jeez Sirius, I'm 23 years old. I think I can look after myself.' Sirius laughed.
'I know you can. It's just that you're the happiest I've seen you and I don't want you to mess things up with Ginny.'
'Neither do I. I love her.'
'Good. Then why don't you marry her?'
'I don't think either of us is ready for that.'
Sirius shrugged.
'Just don't mess it up. You don't want to end up a mouldy old bachelor like me.'
Harry snorted.
'You've got to be joking. You've had more girlfriends in the past year than I've had Sunday dinners.'
Sirius swiped at Harry who ducked.
'Off you go boy.' Grinned Sirius.
'I just can't believe how gorgeous he is!' cooed Ginny as she cuddled baby Alexander.
'Why thankyou Ginny. I do try to keep myself looking gorgeous.' Replied Viktor.
'Not you,' said Hermione, slapping him. Viktor stuck out his bottom lip. 'Aww, you are gorgeous though.' She said, kissing him.
'Did I tell you Ron's here?' spoke up Ginny, handing Alexander to Hermione.
'No. When did he get here?' she asked.
'Last night. It was a tad unexpected.'
'Did you tell him about the baby?' asked Hermione.
'Yes. He's happy for you both.'
An awkward silence followed, Ginny started to examine the flowers than surrounded Hermione's bed.
'These are lovely,' Said Ginny sniffing a large bouquet of roses 'Who are they from?'
'Not sure. There wasn't a card. But they're my favourite type of rose. Are you sure they're not from Harry?' replied Hermione.
'Don't think so.' Ginny was now smelling some irises.
'Oh well. The card must have got lost.'
'Yes, that's probably it.' Ginny turned slightly so Hermione couldn't see her face. She knew that only a couple of other people knew Hermione's favourite type of rose. One was Harry, but she and Harry had another present planned. The other was Ron. He wouldn't have sent them would he?
Later on that afternoon, Harry and Ginny visited Mr and Mrs Weasley with Ron. Mrs Weasley got thoroughly excited when she heard about Alexander's birth. She produced a present and told Ginny to give Viktor and Hermione her congratulations.
'What's the matter, dear?' she asked Ron when she noticed his sulky face.
'Nothing. Got any cake?'
Mrs Weasley bustled into the kitchen, Harry volunteered to help her. Ginny took the opportunity to question Ron.
'Did you send Hermione the roses?' she asked him.
'No.'
'Don't lie to me Ron. I can see right through you.'
'Fine. I did send them. I thought she'd like them.'
'You could have sent a card as well.'
'Oh? I thought I did. I must have forgotten.' Ron tried to look surprised. Ginny narrowed her eyes viciously and was about to let loose on Ron, but her mother and Harry returned with cake and tea.
'Here we are, dear. It's your favourite.' Piped up Mrs Weasley, handing Ron a plate of cake.
'Thanks Mum.' He answered, avoiding Ginny's eyes.
Harry raised his eyebrows at Ginny, but she plainly gave him a 'we'll talk later' look.
'So how long are you here for Ron?' asked Mrs Weasley.
'Two weeks.' Replied Ron through a mouthful of cake.
'Wonderful! You'll have to come and stay for a few days.'
'Actually,' said Ron, wiping the crumbs from his mouth 'Would it be okay if I stay for my visit? Ginny doesn't have that much room and I don't want to trouble her.'
'Of course dear! Your father will be pleased to see you when he gets home.'
'I was nearly going to slap his face,' fumed Ginny 'He is so lucky I didn't flatten him.'
'He only sent Hermione flowers.' Said Harry.
'Yeah, the flowers she loves most. And he didn't send a card.' Ginny picked up her cat Julius and stroked his chin.
'He's up to something Harry. Honestly, if he upsets Hermione, I'll kill him. Brother or no brother. He had his chance with her and he blew it.'
Harry rubbed Ginny's shoulder.
'Will you relax? I'll talk to him.'
'Good. But do it soon or you'll only have a few pieces to talk to.'
A few days later Harry sat behind his desk, filling in paperwork. He hadn't had an assignment for nearly six months and it was really starting to annoy him. He'd become an auror to fight dark wizards, not push paper.
'Harry! How are you going?' Harry looked up to see Arthur Weasley standing in his doorway.
'Good, Mr Weasley. I just wish I had some work to do.'
'I see. Harry, we caught almost every dark wizard there was after Voldemort's defeat. There just isn't any trouble going on with dark magic these days, thank goodness.'
'I'm glad of that, but I just wish I could get away from this desk. I'm seriously thinking of quitting.'
Arthur started slightly.
'Whatever for? You're the best auror we've got.'
'An auror you don't need. Actually, Mr Weasley,' Harry threw down his quill 'I'm resigning. I've had enough.' He got up from his desk and grabbed his cloak.
'Harry –'
'I've made up my mind. I'll see you after.' Harry shook Arthur's hand and left the ministry, not looking back. He stopped by at his house and donned some muggle clothing, then apparated in Diagon Alley.
He left through the Leaky Cauldron and walked through muggle London, thinking about what he wanted to do. As he walked towards Ginny's school to meet her after class, he passed a jewelery store and without thinking, stepped inside.
'Hello, sir. What can I interest you in?' asked the sales assistant.
'Can I see that one there?' asked Harry, pointing towards a beautiful diamond ring with rubies either side.
'Fabulous choice sir. Who is it for?' asked the assistant polietly, taking the ring from display cabinet.
'My girlfriend. I'm going to ask her to marry me.'
'Oh, congratulations sir! I'm sure she'll just love it!'
'How much?' Harry asked.
'Three thousand, but well worth it.' Rushed the assistant when he saw Harry's left eyebrow raise.
'I'll take it.' Harry fumbled through his pocket and found the muggle credit card he carried for emergencies.
He left the jeweler's a few minutes later with the ring safely in his jacket pocket. He walked to Ginny's school and found her sitting at her desk in the empty classroom.
'Hello!' she said brightly, getting up to kiss him 'I didn't know you were coming today.'
'I thought I'd surprise you.'
'You did.' She kissed him again.
'Shall we go, madam?' Harry asked, presenting her with his arm.
'Indeed.' She giggled, taking his arm.
