Chapter 5: I Do
It was New Years Eve and Ginny Weasley was at the Leaky Cauldron having a butterbeer by herself. Her family had offered to come with her to keep her company but she politely, and in Ron's case not so politely, refused. Ginny informed them all that she wished to enjoy the solitude of the moment. As she finished off her drink she thought how nice it was to be away from her fellow Weasleys. As she placed her glass on the table an unfamiliar owl swooped down and dropped a letter in front of her. Ginny picked up the letter, opened it, and read its contents.
Our Spot
2:00pm
-ILY-
Ginny quickly folded the parchment, tore it up then tossed it into the fireplace of the Leaky Cauldron. When she was sure that it was ash she departed the pub for muggle London. Once outside Ginny hailed a cab and when one arrived she instructed the driver where she wished to go and began her trip.
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Oliver Crumb was the auror currently assigned to follow Ginny Weasley. The moment she left for muggle London he knew he was in trouble. Oliver was not prepared, mentally or financially to follow her into the muggle world, and even though he attempted to keep up with her he was unable to do so for very long.
The auror noted that Ginny had apparently learned quite a bit about the muggle world, more than her record stated, over the last few years. The auror searched and searched for her, unaware that Ginny had donned a black wig and large glasses when she had turned a corner ahead of him. Ginny, disguise donned, doubled back, and walked right past the auror, even bumping into the man and apologizing to test her disguise. The auror apologized as well and proceeded on to look for his charge.
Ginny smirked as she departed the area. Once she was a good distance from her drop point Ginny ducked into a pub to use the loo. Checking the room clear, Ginny removed her disguise and apparated to meet with her love.
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Ginny arrived fifteen minutes earlier than the letter had instructed her to. It was a system that Harry had set up for them to ensure their privacy. In addition to the disguises they would meet either fifteen minutes earlier or later. Harry was waiting for her when she apparated to their spot.
"You like the danger too much Mr. Potter." Ginny scolded her love and hugged him close to her.
"You're one to talk. You're in love with the most wanted person in the wizarding world." Harry retorted and kissed her deeply and lovingly.
It had been ages since the two last saw each other and they were determined to make up for lost time. Ginny wrapped her arms tightly around the neck of her love and pulled him as close to her as she could. When the finally felt the need for oxygen they ended their heated embrace gasping for air.
"We're quite the pair aren't we Harry?" She asked. The couple then walked hand in hand to the clearing over looking Hogsmeade and sat back to back against a tree.
"Yes we are love, which is what I wanted to talk to you about." Harry told her. "I have to ask you something that could change our relationship."
Ginny gave him a funny look, "you're scarring me Harry." she said.
Harry ran a finger from her forehead to her nose, then kissed it. He then ran the finger down her front until he reached an object that rested just above her breasts. Ginny, realizing what he was implying and withdrew the necklace she wore. Attached to the necklace was a ring. A very special ring that she had worn around her neck since Harry rescued her from Draco Malfoy almost three and a half years ago.
"Ginny, are you sure you want to keep this. Being with me makes you a target. Not just for the Death Eaters but for the Ministry as well." He asked holding her engagement ring in his fingers.
"As I told you when you gave me this ring Harry, I will wear this ring around my neck until the day you place it on my finger as your wife." Ginny adamantly replied.
Harry then removed the engagement ring from the necklace and placed it on her finger. "Let's get married then… today, right now." He suggested.
Ginny was in complete shock. "Now? But how? Everyone knows who you are and what you look like." Ginny stated.
"Not in the United States." Harry explained.
"Are you suggesting we run away, leave everything, and start over?" Ginny asked.
"No, what I'm suggesting is that we elope, enjoy our honeymoon, and then go back to our lives. You with your family, and I trying to prove my innocence." Harry informed her.
"You're serious." She stated.
"Yes, very serious."
Ginny thought about this for a moment. In reality it wasn't that far off from what she had proposed to Harry the night he saved her three years ago. She had wanted them to run away together and never look back.
Harry had been adamant about not doing that at the time. He didn't want Ginny to live the life of a fugitive. She then proposed they wed in secret but he likewise shot that down. He had given her the engagement ring that he had purchased for her before he was framed as a token of his love and commitment to her.
"Why now, why not three years ago?" Ginny asked her love.
"Because now I'm close. So close to finding the person who set me up." Harry explained. "I know where to get the information now, all I have to do is go get it. I'm willing to take this risk for us. I know your life has been difficult these past three years with the announcement that you loved me, but I want us to be together, now." Harry said in a pleading tone.
Ginny didn't look at him. She stood up, looking out at Hogsmeade from their secluded spot, silently watching the town from a safe distance.
Harry didn't know what to make of the silence. He slowly walked over to his love and said, "Ginny?"
For the first time in a long time Harry Potter was taken by surprised. Ginny spun around and tackled her lover. She looked at him for a brief moment before her lips crashed down upon his.
"Of course I will you silly goose." Ginny said smiling. Harry wrapped his arms around her and they kissed passionately again for some time.
"When do we leave?" Gin asked.
Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out a Port Key. "Take my hand, say those three magic words and we're on our way there love." Harry informed her.
Ginny held Harry's hand that contained the portkey and said, "I love you." With the incantation complete, the Portkey activated and carried the two away to their destination.