--The Bachelor's Curse--
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Chapter V
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June 30th: Evening: Grimmald Place
Grimmald place was a buzz with witches and wizards discussing the Unum Solitas; not only who might be behind it, but also, who had recently had to hitch up because of it.
Ron and Hermione came into the kitchen hand- in- hand, where they were immediately greeted by Fred and George.
"Well, hello you two, you look awfully happy," stated George, leaning very close to Ron, and raising his left eyebrow with anticipation.
"Thanks, we are," answered Hermione as she gave a 'what's going on with him' glance to her new husband.
"Just how happy are you?" Fred asked, chewing on the end of a dragon scale pen.
Hermione crooked her head in confusion, but Ron had known his brothers long enough to smell trouble.
"Okay, Fred, what's up?" Ron asked, irritated.
Fred and George look at each other overly innocent, which was always a sign of guilt.
At their play acting Hermione huffed, "Boys!" And walked off into the crowd.
"Finally," George sighed and pulled out the afternoon copy the Daily Prophet. "This paper contains the latest report on marriage licenses."
Fred joined in with, "See, here's your name right here: Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger."
Ron nodded, "And what are all these scribbles you've put in the margins? 'S' and 'NS'."
Fred put his arm around Ron and raised a finger in the air, "That my little bro is ingenuity!"
"You see Fred, Mundangus and I decided we'd use this curse to make a little bet," George replied gleefully.
Ron rolled his eyes, "Oh no. I already know." His shoulders sagged, "Shagged and Not Shagged."
"Excellent! You are a true Weasley man!" Barked Fred.
"So, what is it Ron, S or NS??" George leaned closer.
"I am not going to tell you that! That is absolutely none of your business."
Just as that moment, Hermione leaned over Fred's shoulder, "Shagged and it was fantastic." Then throwing a quick wink to a reddening Ron, she again lost herself in the crowd.
"Way to go Ron!" George answered as he gave his little brother a punch in the shoulder, then turning to Fred, "You owe me 8 sickles for that one."
"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed. "You all are dead if mom finds out about this."
The twins looked at each and smiled mischievously before Fred said, "Wait till she meet our wives! Kitty and Kandy."
Shaking his head, Ron wandered off into the crowd. Then turning around, he bumped into a very sullen looking Harry.
"Harry!"
"Ron!" Harry smiled, "Congratulation!" They shook hands.
"Hermione and I looked everywhere for you today, mate. We figured you were out somewhere getting hitched."
"Ummm...no." Harry replied looking away and tugging at his shirt collar, "Haven't done that yet."
Ron's face contorted in disbelief, "Why not? You only have until tomorrow night and I know loads of girls that would love to marry the Great Harry Potter."
Harry quietly answered, "Yeah, I know."
"Soooo??? Why haven't you asked someone?"
Ron hadn't seen Harry's eyes look this hurt in a lot time, "I did ask someone and she said no."
Another 'Ron Weasley' contorted look of shock, crossed his face, "What girl in her right mind would say no to you?"
Harry braced for a punch, "Your sister."
Suddenly, Dumbledore clapped his hands and the room fell silent; however, Ron failed to notice that fact and thus, his words rang out for everyone to hear.
"You asked my sister to marry you?!" His arms were now tight on Harry's shoulders and every witch and wizard in the room were gawking at the two young men.
"I...I," Harry stuttered; looking away from Ron, his eyes meet with a very beautiful and a very embarrassed Ginny Weasley.
"Gentleman, if you'd please have a seat." Dumbledore commanded. Hermione piled Ron's fingers off of Harry's shoulders and the Order of Phoenix began.
Dumbledore started by stating the known facts about the Unum Solitas, and since many of the Order members were under thirty, he recounted what had happened three decades years ago. He continued talking for sometime about possible suspects and a variety of witches and wizards reported their surveillance results as well as possible evil doers; however, no firm leads were established. Finally, after what felt like hours, Dumbledore presented his closing remarks by holding up the marriage announcement page from the Daily Prophet and pointing to his and Minerva McGonagol's names.
"Many of you have been discussing why a wizard of my age would marry when it is very obvious, I suppose," he smiled here, "that I am well over fifty."
A slight whispering broke out among the crowd.
"This is the reason." His pause created a dramatic effect, "Because there is no shame in marriage. Voldemort's power with the Unum Solitas lies in humiliation. Many wizards died thirty years ago, not because of a lack of available women, but because they were too embarrassed and to afraid of rejection and thus, on that night, they laid down in their beds and died." Some of the older members teared at his words.
"And Minerva, a dear friend," he smiled to Scottish witch, "and I married again yesterday, the same as we did thirty years ago. And let me tell you," he chuckled, "I was much more than fifty then!" The crowd laughed. "We married as a sign of support to our younger friends and as a sign to the dark powers that we will win no matter what games they play; no matter what curses they throw!"
"Huzzah! Huzzah!" Someone shouted.
"So goodnight gentlemen, goodnight and get thee wed."
The crowd jumped out of their seats in a standing ovation and Harry felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Harry," it was Arthur Weasley, "May I have a moment?" He inquired gently.
Soon they were outside, seated on a tree stump in Grimmald Place's withering garden.
"So, you asked Ginny to marry you?"
Harry closed his eyes and wished he was anywhere but here. "Yes, sir."
"What did she say?" Arthur asked.
Making good study of his shoes, Harry answered thoughtfully, "She said no and then she threw a shoe at me."
Arthur laughed, laying a hand on his shoulder, "Harry, I'm not upset with you. In fact, Molly and I think it's rather natural that you've asked Ginny."
Harry didn't understand, "Really?" He knew Arthur had seen the girly fan mail Harry received on a regular basis, wouldn't it be more natural if he asked someone that he knew would say yes?
"When we visited your dorm room at auror training, Ginny's photograph was the only item on your cork board."
Harry nodded.
"You're the only one that studies with her everyday at the kitchen table; one o'clock sharp."
"Right," So he enjoyed her company, she quiet and calm, and when he was around her, he felt peaceful and he felt happy.
"Ron complained to us that you've written more letter's to Ginny over the past year than you have him," Arthur inclined his head, eyes wide.
"Ginny's a very good writer," He wasn't going to deny that.
Then lowering his voice, "And when we're eating dinner, you watch her when she's not looking."
Harry flushed and fumbled with his watch.
"And she watches you when you're not looking," Arthur added.
"Oh," Harry said, breathless with embarrassment and expectation.
Arthur smiled reassuringly, "Harry, Molly and I know that Ginny likes you, and we're 99% sure that you like Ginny, at least, all the signs point that way. I guess what Molly and I don't understand is why you all haven't been more, uummm... Why you all haven't tried getting to know one another better before now."
Harry looked at Arthur like he'd just sprouted pig snout, but his question left a resounding question in his own mind, "I don't know either." His answer scared him; because it was not an answer, but another question.
"Ginny is not your sister."
Harry's eyes widened, and he quickly answered, "I don't think of her that way. I think of her as a friend."
"Good," Arthur smiled. "So why do you think she threw a shoe at your marriage proposal?"
"Well..." Harry told him everything, and included several apologies for his behavior. Remarkably, or perhaps unremarkably, Arthur seemed unphased by the incident at the pond. However, for Harry, telling Arthur everything made him feel so much better, as a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
"She said that I was burden on your family," Harry finally confessed. "I never meant to be that."
Like a father, he put an arm around the young man, "And you never have been. She was angry and she struck out at you. Harry, you've been a blessing to Molly and I; truly a seventh son."
Harry felt extremely honored by the older man's words, especially since Arthur Weasley and Professor Lupin, were the only men that had ever truly been father figures in his life.
"Do you still want to marry Ginny?"
He couldn't believe he was saying it, but to deny the truth would be to deny his heart, "Yes."
Arthur leaned in closely, "This might sound a little crazy, but I promise you, it works. It's how I got her mother to say yes thirty years ago..."
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Thanks for all your reviews; they're inspiring my muse (who can be a very difficult deity to deal with). Lyra
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Chapter V
-----------------------
June 30th: Evening: Grimmald Place
Grimmald place was a buzz with witches and wizards discussing the Unum Solitas; not only who might be behind it, but also, who had recently had to hitch up because of it.
Ron and Hermione came into the kitchen hand- in- hand, where they were immediately greeted by Fred and George.
"Well, hello you two, you look awfully happy," stated George, leaning very close to Ron, and raising his left eyebrow with anticipation.
"Thanks, we are," answered Hermione as she gave a 'what's going on with him' glance to her new husband.
"Just how happy are you?" Fred asked, chewing on the end of a dragon scale pen.
Hermione crooked her head in confusion, but Ron had known his brothers long enough to smell trouble.
"Okay, Fred, what's up?" Ron asked, irritated.
Fred and George look at each other overly innocent, which was always a sign of guilt.
At their play acting Hermione huffed, "Boys!" And walked off into the crowd.
"Finally," George sighed and pulled out the afternoon copy the Daily Prophet. "This paper contains the latest report on marriage licenses."
Fred joined in with, "See, here's your name right here: Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger."
Ron nodded, "And what are all these scribbles you've put in the margins? 'S' and 'NS'."
Fred put his arm around Ron and raised a finger in the air, "That my little bro is ingenuity!"
"You see Fred, Mundangus and I decided we'd use this curse to make a little bet," George replied gleefully.
Ron rolled his eyes, "Oh no. I already know." His shoulders sagged, "Shagged and Not Shagged."
"Excellent! You are a true Weasley man!" Barked Fred.
"So, what is it Ron, S or NS??" George leaned closer.
"I am not going to tell you that! That is absolutely none of your business."
Just as that moment, Hermione leaned over Fred's shoulder, "Shagged and it was fantastic." Then throwing a quick wink to a reddening Ron, she again lost herself in the crowd.
"Way to go Ron!" George answered as he gave his little brother a punch in the shoulder, then turning to Fred, "You owe me 8 sickles for that one."
"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed. "You all are dead if mom finds out about this."
The twins looked at each and smiled mischievously before Fred said, "Wait till she meet our wives! Kitty and Kandy."
Shaking his head, Ron wandered off into the crowd. Then turning around, he bumped into a very sullen looking Harry.
"Harry!"
"Ron!" Harry smiled, "Congratulation!" They shook hands.
"Hermione and I looked everywhere for you today, mate. We figured you were out somewhere getting hitched."
"Ummm...no." Harry replied looking away and tugging at his shirt collar, "Haven't done that yet."
Ron's face contorted in disbelief, "Why not? You only have until tomorrow night and I know loads of girls that would love to marry the Great Harry Potter."
Harry quietly answered, "Yeah, I know."
"Soooo??? Why haven't you asked someone?"
Ron hadn't seen Harry's eyes look this hurt in a lot time, "I did ask someone and she said no."
Another 'Ron Weasley' contorted look of shock, crossed his face, "What girl in her right mind would say no to you?"
Harry braced for a punch, "Your sister."
Suddenly, Dumbledore clapped his hands and the room fell silent; however, Ron failed to notice that fact and thus, his words rang out for everyone to hear.
"You asked my sister to marry you?!" His arms were now tight on Harry's shoulders and every witch and wizard in the room were gawking at the two young men.
"I...I," Harry stuttered; looking away from Ron, his eyes meet with a very beautiful and a very embarrassed Ginny Weasley.
"Gentleman, if you'd please have a seat." Dumbledore commanded. Hermione piled Ron's fingers off of Harry's shoulders and the Order of Phoenix began.
Dumbledore started by stating the known facts about the Unum Solitas, and since many of the Order members were under thirty, he recounted what had happened three decades years ago. He continued talking for sometime about possible suspects and a variety of witches and wizards reported their surveillance results as well as possible evil doers; however, no firm leads were established. Finally, after what felt like hours, Dumbledore presented his closing remarks by holding up the marriage announcement page from the Daily Prophet and pointing to his and Minerva McGonagol's names.
"Many of you have been discussing why a wizard of my age would marry when it is very obvious, I suppose," he smiled here, "that I am well over fifty."
A slight whispering broke out among the crowd.
"This is the reason." His pause created a dramatic effect, "Because there is no shame in marriage. Voldemort's power with the Unum Solitas lies in humiliation. Many wizards died thirty years ago, not because of a lack of available women, but because they were too embarrassed and to afraid of rejection and thus, on that night, they laid down in their beds and died." Some of the older members teared at his words.
"And Minerva, a dear friend," he smiled to Scottish witch, "and I married again yesterday, the same as we did thirty years ago. And let me tell you," he chuckled, "I was much more than fifty then!" The crowd laughed. "We married as a sign of support to our younger friends and as a sign to the dark powers that we will win no matter what games they play; no matter what curses they throw!"
"Huzzah! Huzzah!" Someone shouted.
"So goodnight gentlemen, goodnight and get thee wed."
The crowd jumped out of their seats in a standing ovation and Harry felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Harry," it was Arthur Weasley, "May I have a moment?" He inquired gently.
Soon they were outside, seated on a tree stump in Grimmald Place's withering garden.
"So, you asked Ginny to marry you?"
Harry closed his eyes and wished he was anywhere but here. "Yes, sir."
"What did she say?" Arthur asked.
Making good study of his shoes, Harry answered thoughtfully, "She said no and then she threw a shoe at me."
Arthur laughed, laying a hand on his shoulder, "Harry, I'm not upset with you. In fact, Molly and I think it's rather natural that you've asked Ginny."
Harry didn't understand, "Really?" He knew Arthur had seen the girly fan mail Harry received on a regular basis, wouldn't it be more natural if he asked someone that he knew would say yes?
"When we visited your dorm room at auror training, Ginny's photograph was the only item on your cork board."
Harry nodded.
"You're the only one that studies with her everyday at the kitchen table; one o'clock sharp."
"Right," So he enjoyed her company, she quiet and calm, and when he was around her, he felt peaceful and he felt happy.
"Ron complained to us that you've written more letter's to Ginny over the past year than you have him," Arthur inclined his head, eyes wide.
"Ginny's a very good writer," He wasn't going to deny that.
Then lowering his voice, "And when we're eating dinner, you watch her when she's not looking."
Harry flushed and fumbled with his watch.
"And she watches you when you're not looking," Arthur added.
"Oh," Harry said, breathless with embarrassment and expectation.
Arthur smiled reassuringly, "Harry, Molly and I know that Ginny likes you, and we're 99% sure that you like Ginny, at least, all the signs point that way. I guess what Molly and I don't understand is why you all haven't been more, uummm... Why you all haven't tried getting to know one another better before now."
Harry looked at Arthur like he'd just sprouted pig snout, but his question left a resounding question in his own mind, "I don't know either." His answer scared him; because it was not an answer, but another question.
"Ginny is not your sister."
Harry's eyes widened, and he quickly answered, "I don't think of her that way. I think of her as a friend."
"Good," Arthur smiled. "So why do you think she threw a shoe at your marriage proposal?"
"Well..." Harry told him everything, and included several apologies for his behavior. Remarkably, or perhaps unremarkably, Arthur seemed unphased by the incident at the pond. However, for Harry, telling Arthur everything made him feel so much better, as a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
"She said that I was burden on your family," Harry finally confessed. "I never meant to be that."
Like a father, he put an arm around the young man, "And you never have been. She was angry and she struck out at you. Harry, you've been a blessing to Molly and I; truly a seventh son."
Harry felt extremely honored by the older man's words, especially since Arthur Weasley and Professor Lupin, were the only men that had ever truly been father figures in his life.
"Do you still want to marry Ginny?"
He couldn't believe he was saying it, but to deny the truth would be to deny his heart, "Yes."
Arthur leaned in closely, "This might sound a little crazy, but I promise you, it works. It's how I got her mother to say yes thirty years ago..."
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Thanks for all your reviews; they're inspiring my muse (who can be a very difficult deity to deal with). Lyra