May it be said for the record I hate beginning stories. They never seem to
turn out quite right. Ah well, on with the show.
1 Dearly Beloved
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The faint lap of water on pebbled stone echoed softly through the night. Softly glittering fairy lights danced through the scattered groves of trees as the pair strolled between them. Ginny sighed, a rare feeling of contentment glowing within her.
Six months, she realized idly. They had been dating for six months now and she couldn't recall being happier. Even Ron, after much persuasion and finally an ultimatum, had resigned himself to the relationship between his little sister and his friend.
Ginny allowed her mind to wander freely over the last six months as her companion guided them both through the moonlit garden and down to the edge of the lake. Stopping, he turned and wrapped an arm around Ginny's waist, pulling her comfortably to him.
"Ginny," he spoke nervously, pulling a small object out of his robe pocket and opening it for her. Diamonds set in gold flashed in the light of the stars. "Will you marry me?"
Ginny bit her lip in serious thought. She was happy, and comfortable with him, she reminded herself, a rare thing so soon after the end of a war. Finally she smiled at him and nodded. "Yes, Neville, I will marry you."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry Apparated onto the dock, enjoying the feeling of being home. Ron had offered to share a flat with him in London after they left Hogwarts almost two years ago and still thought Harry a bit daft for choosing CaerMyrddin, South Wales instead. Harry didn't mind, though. Ron had grown up with his family underfoot and understandably wanted some space. Harry, on the other hand, still enjoyed living in the rambling old castle with Sirius and the others.
Harry stepped into the waiting skiff and stowed his small carryall between his feet. Once he settled the skiff glided away from the dock and carried him across to the mist-shrouded island in the center of the tarn.
Once on dry land, Harry swung his carryall over his shoulder began the short trek up to the castle. Once inside, Harry dropped his carryall beside the door, trusting the house elves to look after it for him, and headed for his room. After three months of travel he was exhausted, homesick and hoped the others would understand if he took a shower before greeting them properly.
He could hear the clink and scuffle of Grandfather puttering about in his laboratory, the sounds echoing up the long corridor from the Grotto. No similar sounds drifting down from Rowan's tower meant she was probably elsewhere in the castle or possibly in London working on something or other for the Ministry of Magic.
Remus would be in his study, reading, or tracking down some elusive creature in the forest while Sirius tinkered with his beloved motorbikes in the shed off the south wing. Morgaine, the other member of their little clan, would no doubt be buried up to her elbows in the flowerbeds.
After a hot shower to wash away the worst of his aches and travel-stains, Harry pulled on a fresh set of bottle green robes and made his way back down to the kitchen for an early lunch. Unsurprisingly, Sirius appeared moments later as Harry and a pair of house elves explored the pantries.
Sirius greeted his godson with a hearty slap on the back, knocking Harry's glasses a bit askew in the process. "Welcome home, Harry. How's Ron?"
"He's fine." Harry responded, pouring himself a glass of chilled pumpkin juice and tearing into a sandwich. "Glad to be home, same as me. I think he was starting to really miss Hermione."
Sirius grinned. "Then I take it things went well?"
"As well as they ever do." Harry shrugged noncommittally. "Chasing down Death Eaters is never great fun. Where are Remus and the girls?"
"In London." Sirius answered, leaning up against the counter and helping himself to an apple. "They decided to go shopping for the day. Moony went for a walk a few hours ago."
Several owls swooped in through the open window, interrupting Harry and Sirius, and depositing mail: letters, newspapers, and a few small packages. "They always know where to find us, don't they?" Harry grinned, picking out and opening his few letters while Sirius picked up the Daily Prophet.
"Neville's been promoted." Sirius commented, browsing through the headlines. "You'll have to ask Ron if he's proposed yet."
"To Ron?" Harry choked on his sandwich. "Sirius, I don't think Ron plays for that team. And I'm sure Hermione won't allow it."
Sirius threw an amused look at Harry. "Not to Ron, you prat, to Ginny." Sirius turned another page before continuing. "They've been dating for six months now and I think he's proposed once before. Didn't Ron tell you?" Sirius looked up at an odd strangled sound and saw Harry taking a deep breath, his face noticeably paler. Sirius frowned slightly at the change. "Is anything wrong Harry?"
Harry shook his head distractedly as he turned around and made his way towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"For a walk," Harry replied shortly before disappearing, leaving Sirius staring curiously after him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yep, new story! Somewhat based on the universe of the Heir of Merlin, but I won't spoil anything. (
Please leave a review.
1 Dearly Beloved
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The faint lap of water on pebbled stone echoed softly through the night. Softly glittering fairy lights danced through the scattered groves of trees as the pair strolled between them. Ginny sighed, a rare feeling of contentment glowing within her.
Six months, she realized idly. They had been dating for six months now and she couldn't recall being happier. Even Ron, after much persuasion and finally an ultimatum, had resigned himself to the relationship between his little sister and his friend.
Ginny allowed her mind to wander freely over the last six months as her companion guided them both through the moonlit garden and down to the edge of the lake. Stopping, he turned and wrapped an arm around Ginny's waist, pulling her comfortably to him.
"Ginny," he spoke nervously, pulling a small object out of his robe pocket and opening it for her. Diamonds set in gold flashed in the light of the stars. "Will you marry me?"
Ginny bit her lip in serious thought. She was happy, and comfortable with him, she reminded herself, a rare thing so soon after the end of a war. Finally she smiled at him and nodded. "Yes, Neville, I will marry you."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Harry Apparated onto the dock, enjoying the feeling of being home. Ron had offered to share a flat with him in London after they left Hogwarts almost two years ago and still thought Harry a bit daft for choosing CaerMyrddin, South Wales instead. Harry didn't mind, though. Ron had grown up with his family underfoot and understandably wanted some space. Harry, on the other hand, still enjoyed living in the rambling old castle with Sirius and the others.
Harry stepped into the waiting skiff and stowed his small carryall between his feet. Once he settled the skiff glided away from the dock and carried him across to the mist-shrouded island in the center of the tarn.
Once on dry land, Harry swung his carryall over his shoulder began the short trek up to the castle. Once inside, Harry dropped his carryall beside the door, trusting the house elves to look after it for him, and headed for his room. After three months of travel he was exhausted, homesick and hoped the others would understand if he took a shower before greeting them properly.
He could hear the clink and scuffle of Grandfather puttering about in his laboratory, the sounds echoing up the long corridor from the Grotto. No similar sounds drifting down from Rowan's tower meant she was probably elsewhere in the castle or possibly in London working on something or other for the Ministry of Magic.
Remus would be in his study, reading, or tracking down some elusive creature in the forest while Sirius tinkered with his beloved motorbikes in the shed off the south wing. Morgaine, the other member of their little clan, would no doubt be buried up to her elbows in the flowerbeds.
After a hot shower to wash away the worst of his aches and travel-stains, Harry pulled on a fresh set of bottle green robes and made his way back down to the kitchen for an early lunch. Unsurprisingly, Sirius appeared moments later as Harry and a pair of house elves explored the pantries.
Sirius greeted his godson with a hearty slap on the back, knocking Harry's glasses a bit askew in the process. "Welcome home, Harry. How's Ron?"
"He's fine." Harry responded, pouring himself a glass of chilled pumpkin juice and tearing into a sandwich. "Glad to be home, same as me. I think he was starting to really miss Hermione."
Sirius grinned. "Then I take it things went well?"
"As well as they ever do." Harry shrugged noncommittally. "Chasing down Death Eaters is never great fun. Where are Remus and the girls?"
"In London." Sirius answered, leaning up against the counter and helping himself to an apple. "They decided to go shopping for the day. Moony went for a walk a few hours ago."
Several owls swooped in through the open window, interrupting Harry and Sirius, and depositing mail: letters, newspapers, and a few small packages. "They always know where to find us, don't they?" Harry grinned, picking out and opening his few letters while Sirius picked up the Daily Prophet.
"Neville's been promoted." Sirius commented, browsing through the headlines. "You'll have to ask Ron if he's proposed yet."
"To Ron?" Harry choked on his sandwich. "Sirius, I don't think Ron plays for that team. And I'm sure Hermione won't allow it."
Sirius threw an amused look at Harry. "Not to Ron, you prat, to Ginny." Sirius turned another page before continuing. "They've been dating for six months now and I think he's proposed once before. Didn't Ron tell you?" Sirius looked up at an odd strangled sound and saw Harry taking a deep breath, his face noticeably paler. Sirius frowned slightly at the change. "Is anything wrong Harry?"
Harry shook his head distractedly as he turned around and made his way towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"For a walk," Harry replied shortly before disappearing, leaving Sirius staring curiously after him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yep, new story! Somewhat based on the universe of the Heir of Merlin, but I won't spoil anything. (
Please leave a review.