UNDER MY SPELL
Okay, here comes chapter 2! Again, if you haven't already, please read The Blood of Ronald Weasley!! This is the sequel, so it would make sense to read that first, lol. So, I'm not JKR, if you didn't know that, I feel sorry for you…
CHAPTER TWO: THINGS ARE CHANGING
Hermione was reading in the living room when Ginny sauntered in. She looked up and looked at the clock. "Where have you been? It's one-thirty in the morning!"
Ginny just grinned. She shed her cloak, pranced across the room, and plopped onto the sofa next to Hermione. "Out with Harry. He took me dancing."
"That sounds very romantic," Hermione said.
"And that wasn't the best part." Ginny's eyes gleamed.
"What was?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"He proposed!"
They jumped up in unison and embraced. Hermione had started to cry, and Ginny was giggling and grinning like an idiot.
"Stop that," Ginny said, "You'll make me cry too."
"Oh, but I'm so happy for you, sweetie! You and Harry—it's just perfect. You fit so well, and you've been in love with him a long, long time." Hermione was beaming.
"So…you're not angry?"
Hermione stopped and stared. "A-angry? Why on earth would I be angry? Two of my best friends are engaged!"
"Yes, but…you know. You and Ron have been an item longer and well, maybe you thought that you should get married first. And Ron hasn't even proposed, right?"
"Ginny, sit down. Okay, listen to me. This isn't a contest, life happens when it happens. Just because Harry did what I've been hoping Ron would do for about six years first doesn't give me a reason to be anything but happy for you."
Hermione sighed. She had accomplished almost everything she'd hoped for. She had a great job that was on the climb, a quaint little house that she shared with her best friend, and the best boyfriend a girl could ask for. When she graduated, she thought about marrying Ron, but she wanted to get settled on her own before she made a rash life-change. But now she was ready.
"Thanks, Hermione. That means so much to me. Now, I have to go to bed because I have to work tomorrow. I can't wait to show everyone my ring! Oh, I have so many owls to send. My parents, my brothers, my other friends…Well, it'll all have to wait. I'm exhausted. Goodnight!" Ginny all but skipped up the narrow staircase.
Hermione laughed. She closed her book and tidied up the living room, then zapped her dinner dishes clean. She climbed the stairs and entered her bedroom. The upstairs of the house was just two small bedrooms and a full bath, but it was all she and Ginny needed. That was when it hit her. Ginny was moving out, and she'd have to get a new roommate to make rent! Stop panicking, she ordered herself. She's barely got the ring on her finger. It'll be ages before she leaves. But even that rational thought did nothing to take away from her sudden disappointment. Of course she was happy for Ginny. She loved her like the little sister she never had, and Harry had been her friend for thirteen years. But things were changing, and there was nothing she could do.
***
Harry knew it was really late, (or really early in the morning) but he couldn't resist Apparating to Ottery St. Catchpole to talk to Ron. He knew that Ginny would want to go down with him to tell her family in person, but since Ron was his best friend, he wanted to tell him in private.
He knew Ron would probably still be up, so he knocked softly on the door. When no one answered, he went around the side of the house and shot a beam of light into his window.
Ron, looking groggy, came to the window. Seeing Harry, he motioned for him to go back to the door so he could let him in.
"Jeez, Harry. Do you know what time it is?"
"Midnight?"
"Try quarter to two. What brings you here so late. Nothing wrong, right?" It had been years since there had been cause to dread close friends showing up at night, but even now the glimmer of old fear still showed in Ron's eyes.
"No. Things couldn't be more right."
"Um, I'm not following you. Keep it simple. And short." Ron rubbed his hands over his face.
"I proposed to Ginny tonight. I thought you'd want to be the first to know. Or second, since Ginny probably already told Hermione," Harry said.
Ron gaped. His little sister was engaged to his best friend? It was like when they were teenagers all over again. He had always had the urge to protect Ginny, but he'd gotten over it and accepted their relationship. But she was still his baby sister. And she was getting married before him? That wasn't fair! he thought. Wait, this isn't a game, he reminded himself. Just because he was older didn't mean he had to get married first. Just because he'd been with Hermione longer than Harry had been with Ginny didn't mean anything. To hell it didn't. Everything was going to change. But despite himself, he was truly happy for them.
"Ron? You okay?"
"Congratulations, man. I'm happy for you."
Sorry it was short again, but I only have a limited amount of time to work on this. I hope you liked it. Please REVIEW! Peace out…