"Shall I get the drinks?" Hermione asked, smirked.
Ron picked a table and the all sat down. "Well I can see you guys are having a good snog – I meam time." he chuckled.
"Not entirely" replied Ginny, seriously, "Harry just got in a fight."
"Why?" asked Ron, his smile disappearing.
"Some Slytherin scumbag was hassling Ginny." Harry answered.
"Oh dear!" said Hermione, who had now returned with four large steaming Butterbeers.
"Who was he?" asked Ron aggressively, spilling a bit of his Butterbeer, his ears turning red in anger.
"Dunno... I can't remember his name – " said Ginny thoughtfully.
"He'll be easy to spot though, he's now that he's got a black eye and a broken nose." Harry snarled.
"Speaking of the Ball," Hermione began, obviously trying to change the subject, "I guess you guys are going together."
"Yes. Harry just asked me." Ginny replied without a trace of embarrassment in her voice.
"That's wonderful!" cried Hermione, "I'm going with Ron."
As the two girls began discussing the details about how magnificent the Yule Ball was going to be this Christmas, Harry turned to Ron. "Ron, could I talk to you for a moment? Over there?"
"Sure mate." said Ron, "We'll be right back." he added to Hermione, but the girls were too absorbed in their conversation that they paid no attention to him whatsoever. "So, what's up?" Ron asked Harry as soon as they were out of earshot.
"I know you probably want to spend today with Hermione, but I was wondering if the girls and us could separate. Just for a bit."
"Umm..."said Ron, noticing that this obviously meant a lot to Harry. "Sure."
"Great 'cause I want to talk to you about something." Harry smiled, relieved.
As they returned to the table, Gunny was showing Hermione her new dress robe. "Oh wow!" Hermione was saying, "That's gorgeous!"
Ron cleared his throat and Hermione and Ginny looked at him. "Me and Harry were wondering if it'd be alright for you girls to hang out for a while. Harry and I have a lot to catch up on. Would that be OK?"
"Sure no problem." said Ginny.
"Of course." said Hermione.
"Great." replied Harry.
Hermione and Ginny soon said goodbye and left. Harry wanted to do everything right so he was going to ask Ron first. He would normally have asked Mr. Weasley, Ginny and Ron's father, but he was in Romania with his wife, visiting their second eldest son Charlie. Harry needed and answer right away. So he turned to Ron.
"I've got to talk to you, but I don't want to be overheard. Come on." and he lead Ron out onto the High Street and passed the many shops.
"Where are we going?" Ron panted, trying to keep up but getting lost in the crowd.
"The Shrieking Shack. No one will be there."
"Why?"
"You'll find out in a minute, I'll tell you when we get there."
The Shrieking Shack came into view, at the top of the hill. It was an old boarded up house, and supposedly the most haunted dwelling in Britain; but both Harry and Ron knew better. It was no at all haunted, it never had been. Instead it had in fact been the hideout of a werewolf and three Animagi. One, the stag, had been Harry's now deceased father, James Potter. The dog was Harry's late godfather, Sirius Black; and the rat, Ron's old pet Scabbers, also known as Peter Pettigrew: a mass murderer. Harry and Ron crept along the side of the Shack to a large broken window, with a hole large enough for them to slide through. Harry had been using the Shrieking Shack whenever he needed a place to be alone, for the towns people were frightened of the Shack.
Once inside Harry sat on an upturned chair, while Ron crouched down onto the torn, beat up rug at Harry's feet. Will you tell me now?" Ron asked.
Harry began absentmindedly running his fingers over large teeth marks that had taken out a large chunk of the chairs arm. "Yah...blimey this is hard to say..." Harry took a deep breath, then continued, "I'd like to – I mean, I'd like your permission... to – to ask you sister...tomarryme." he blurted out quickly. "What?" asked Ron, totally bewildered. "I want your permission to... to ask your sister to – marry – me." he said it clear enough this time for Ron to understand what he was asking him, then shut his eyes unsure of whether he wanted to hear Ron's response.
"You're kidding!" cried Ron, Harry slowly opened his eyes. To his amazement Ron did not look at all upset, or offended; in fact he was laughing!
"No"
"Wow! I mean...that's great!" Ron was staring at Harry, "I had no idea...I knew you guys were going out but – I didn't realize you were that serious!"
Harry exhaled; he had been holding his breath. "Phew, thank God! I wasn't sure if you'd approve."
"Approve? I think you're nutters to want to marry my sister, but of course I approve!"
"Good. I was thinking – maybe you could help me pick out a ring."
"You haven't even got a ring yet? You asked me first?"
"Well...yah." Harry blushed slightly.
"You confuse me sometimes, you know that?" Ron smiled, "But what are we waiting for? Let's go get a ring."
As they headed back down the street Harry wanted to jump for joy. Ron approved, and in a little less than a week he would be proposing to Ginny; but he still hadn't asked Ginny! Sure Ron had said yes, but would she? Harry promptly put that thought into the back of his mind, he didn't want to think of what might happen if she said no he wanted to plan what will happened once she has said yes.
"Do you know where the jewellery store is?" he asked Ron.
"Yes..."said Ron, his ears turning pink. Was he blushing?
"How do you know where it is?"
"Umm...well if you must know I've been looking for a special ring too – for Hermione. But please, don't mention anything yet! I'm not asking her anything until graduation night. What about you?"
"After the Yule Ball, I couldn't wait 'till June!" Harry noticed Ron's quick change of subject but said nothing. They came to a halt right outside Smitty's Diamond Hut and walked in. Smitty's was almost completely empty; except for the old man at the cashier:
"May I be of service to you, young sirs?" he asked.
"No thanks, we're just looki – "
"Yes. I'm looking for the best engagement rings you've got!" replied Harry.
"Right this way mesers." He led Harry and Ron to the very back of the shop, to a large velvet pillow in a glass case. On top of the velvet pillow laid a dozen small rings, all with beautiful diamonds on top.
"Wow, Ron! Which do you think she'd like?"
"Uhh...Harry, have a look at the price tags." muttered Ron, appearing uncomfortable.
"Yes I know, but Ginny deserves the best – and anyways I've been saving up for this, so I'll have enough."
"Lucky for you." sighed Ron, looking longingly at the rings. "I've been saving up too, I even got a job, but these things cost a fortune!"
"Tell you what, I'll loan you a few. Pick out on for Hermione – no listen to me – I owe you one, you are giving me consent to marry your sister after all. And you can pay me back once you and Hermione get settled. Deal?"
"Well...alright but I can pay for most, and I'll defiantly pay you back right away, I promise. Oh, and you can be my best man." he added.
"Alright then." Fifteen minutes passed as they stood before the glass case, examining the rings and contemplating which ones Hermione and Ginny would prefer.
"I'll take that one." said Ron, pointing to a gold ring with a one carat diamond in the front.
"Good one. And I'll take this." said Harry picking out the silver coloured one with a three carat, square cut diamond on top.
"Magnifique, excellence choices i must say." said Mr. Smitty as he led Ron to the front of the store.
Harry however had just spotted the perfect Christmas gift for Ginny, the ring was not her gift, and he still needed to get one. It was a necklace, with glittering sapphires and diamonds that dangled from its fine silver chain. He grabbed it and brought it up to the cash register.
Mr. Smitty had just rung up the price for Hermione's ring, it turned out that Harry didn't need to lend Ron that much money after all. Luckily for him too, because after he had paid for both Ginny's ring and necklace, he had barely much money left. Both him and Ron left Smitty's Diamond Hut with empty wallets, but they were both too excited to care. The two friends hurried back up to the castle to drop off their purchases, because if the girls found them carrying the rings, the surprise part of their plan would have been ruined.