CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

It was over. Voldemort had died by his own repulsed 'Avada' just over two hours ago. Ron sat with Hermione in the Great Hall along with all the other survivors of the battle. Harry, Ginny, his entire family along with Remus, Tonks and Kingsley were all sitting down exhausted having just finished the last task of the war.

Ron looked over again at all the Death Eaters that they had just finished corralling at the end of the hall. He frowned as he surveyed all of Voldie's supporters that the Order along with the DA had captured. As far as Ron knew, none of the Death Eaters had escaped thanks to the non-apparition wards that had gone up just before old moldy-shorts died. All of the former Death Eaters were sitting there all trussed up in their incarcerous ropes waiting to be transported by the Aurors. Ron was pleased to see that Yaxley, Rowle, Rookwood, and Dolohov were amongst the group.

The best part of the whole thing was when Kingsley cast a wide-ranging 'expelliarmus' and the wand of every Death Eater came flying towards him. Ron had helped pick up all the wands and was especially glad to have held the wands of Lucius, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy when Kingsley ordered that all captured wands were to be snapped in half and then thrown into the fire. Ron had taken the Malfoy's wands and had stood in front of them with a smile on his face. He stood in front of Lucius and snapped his wand right in front of his face and growled, "that's for what happened at your house, you cowardly bastard."

Next he had stood in front of Draco and had done the same, only Ron snapped the wand as slowly as he could and relished the look of horror and dismay on Draco's face. "That's for all the shit you gave me and Hermione you spineless piece of dragon dung. How's that for pureblood superiority you brainless idiot?"

Lastly he stood in front of Narcissa but was prevented from snapping her wand when Harry came over and simply said, "not hers, I'll tell you why later mate, just let me have hers. Trust me yeah?"

Ron had handed over her wand with shrug of his shoulders. "Of course, Harry, of course."

Ron was brought back to the present when McGonagall had stood up and announced that the Elves would be supplying food in a moment and all were welcome to stay as long as they needed and Hogwarts would be available to all that needed somewhere to stay.

Ron leaned over to kiss his girlfriend and again pulled her close. They both just sat there treasuring the presence of the other.

"Sorry, I need a shower bad, I must reek pretty awful. After we grab a snack how about we head up to the Gryffindor shower to clean up?" Ron said softly. "But there is one thing I need to do before we go up. Would that be ok?"

Hermione simply nodded her head as it lay against his chest. "After that I just want to sleep."

The food appeared on the table and both grabbed a sandwich and some pumpkin juice and ate quietly. All around them they could hear everyone else talking quietly and telling stories of the battle. After finishing, Ron stood and asked, "hey Maya, would it be ok if you came with me for a minute away from everyone to be just by ourselves?"

"Of course, Ronnie"

Hand in hand they Ron led them over to their spot, their alcove in the Great Hall. Ron was pleased to see it was still intact. He motioned for her to sit down next to him settled in himself with a big sigh. He turned slowly to Hermione and pulled her close against him again. He still relished the fact that he could hold her like this. He kissed her gently and whispered to her, "remember almost 2 and a half years ago, we had our first kiss right here, remember? It seems like a lifetime ago."

"Of course I remember, it's where we first became a real couple, it's where the 'us' that we are had its beginning."

"I know, and I remember we talked about forever, you and me, us, forever, but at times in the last couple years I wasn't sure there would be a future, let alone a forever, but I clung to that vision of you and me and it honestly kept me going at times. That hope, that possibility of us and our future kept me from giving up at times. I still have trouble wrapping my head around that it's over and that we do have a future."

Hermione snuggled in against Ron's chest, "Oh Ronnie, it was the same for me. I wasn't sure at times that Harry would be able to do it and I despaired at times, but oh how good it feels right now that we both survived as well as your family and our friends, I do look forward now to the future."

Ron stood and took both her hands and lifted her up to stand next to him. Hermione was perplexed by the serious expression on his face.

"I'm also looking forward to that future with you, Maya, that forever that we promised each other that day two and a half years ago. I want that future, I want that forever, and I want it to start today."

Ron then got down on one knee, still holding on to her hands, both staring at each other. Hermione had a slight grin on her face. If either had noticed they would seen that everyone in the Great Hall had gone silent and were staring at the couple, watching what was about to happen.

Ron continued. "I want that forever to start today. I love you so much Hermione Jean Granger, so will you Hermione, my Maya, will you marry me?"

As Hermione gasped, Ron let go of her left hand and with his right reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box with an elegant diamond ring and showed it to her.

Hermione knelt down and kissed him passionately, "Of course I'll marry you, Ronald Bilius Weasley. I love you, my Ronnie and want to have forever with you."

Ron slipped the ring onto her finger as the crowd cheered, startling the newly engaged couple.

"Where did you get the ring, Ronnie?"

"I've had this since before Bill and Fleur's wedding. I had hoped to ask you then, but well, you know what happened and it didn't seem right to ask you until now. I hope you like it?"

Hermione glanced at the ring on her left hand and smiled. "It's perfect, Ronnie, perfect."

Ron pulled her into a hug just as Harry, Ginny, and Luna ran up to them, with the girls squealing in delight. Harry pulled Ron away to shake his hand and congratulate him as the girls took Hermione aside to ooh and awe over the ring and to jump and down.

Ron used his right hand to pull Harry into a hug and they just held each other silently, each knowing how the other felt. Ron pulled away and wiped a tear from his eye and smacked Harry on the back. "You'll be best man, of course, yeah?"

"Of course Ron, I couldn't be happier for you two. You really are perfect for each other."

"Thanks Harry, now I hope you don't wait too long before sorting things out with Ginny. You two also are perfect for each other, so don't mess things up."

After receiving congratulations and from everyone, Ron and Hermione sat down again in their alcove, with Hermione in Ron's lap. Ron ran his hands through her hair as he usually did before smiling at her, "I thank Godric that you came to Hogwarts my love, and that I got to sit next to the Girl from Beauxbatons. I love you so much."

"And I you, my Ronnie."