Disclaimer: Still not mine, and this is the last disclaimer I'll have to write for this story!
Epilogue
9 months later…
It was early Christmas morning at 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry Potter sat on the sofa in front of the fireplace, while Remus Lupin worked in the kitchen several large coffee cakes for the guests that were meant to be arriving any minute. Remus and Harry had invited the Weasley and Granger families over for Christmas, as well as all members of the Order, though all of them seemed to either have family plans, or be away on work.
Harry sat in the empty living room thinking of Ginny. He couldn't wait to see her. He'd spent his entire summer with Ginny, Ron and Hermione, but September 1st Ginny had left for her seventh year at Hogwarts. That same day had been the start of Harry's auror training, and he hadn't even gotten to go to Kings Cross Station to see Ginny off. Harry's thoughts were interrupted by the front door swinging open. Hermione Granger entered with her parents following close behind, all carrying beautifully wrapped gifts. They set their presents on the coffee table, and proceeded to greet Harry.
"Happy Christmas, Harry!" Said Hermione throwing her arms around his neck.
"Happy Christmas, Hermione, Mr. and Mrs. Granger." Harry responded, reaching out to shake hands with Hermione's parents once Hermione had let go of him.
Lupin entered from the kitchen, wearing an apron bearing the Black family crest he'd once found in the house.
"Happy Christmas, Professor!" Hermione squealed.
"Hello, Hermione, Happy Christmas to you too." Said Lupin, "Lovely to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Granger."
"Yes, we've heard you're an excellent teacher." Said Mrs. Granger, beaming.
"FILTH! SCUM! BLOOD TRAITORS!" Came a shout from upstairs.
"Just a moment, I'll go silence her. It doesn't last long, but at least it helps." Said Lupin exasperatedly, dashing up the stairs.
"Still haven't gotten rid of the old bat, then?" Came Ron's cheery voice from the doorway as he walked in and put an arm around Hermione. Fred, George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley followed Ron, and finally Ginny, all carrying presents wrapped in magical paper with flying reindeer and blinking lights. They too placed their gifts on the coffee table. There was a chorus of several people all greeting each other at once with, "Happy Christmas!" and "Lovely to meet you!" As Mrs. Weasley swept Harry up in a motherly hug and commenting that he finally seemed to have been fed properly. Ginny waited patiently until her mother released Harry, and turned to greet Hermione.
"Happy Christmas, Harry." Ginny whispered in his ear, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the cheek.
"Happy Christmas, Gin." Harry whispered back, kissing her softly and briefly on the lips.
"Alright, everyone, coffee cake in the kitchen!" Lupin called, now at the base of the stairs having silenced the portrait of Sirius's mother.
The crowd of people entered the kitchen and sat around the magically expanded table, set with silver dishes decorated in holly four large coffee cakes sat in the center of the table, along with coffee pots and pitchers of pumpkin juice. The large group sat around the table contently eating their breakfast and chatting happily.
When breakfast was finished, the crowd sat around the coffee table in armchairs and on the sofa, ready to open presents. They spent the afternoon laughing and talking happily, drinking butterbeer, and enjoying their gifts. Hermione had insisted on beginning one of her new Arithmancy books immediately, and Ron had joined her, reading the latest book on the Chudley Cannons. Hermione leaned against the armrest of a large chair, her legs draped over Ron's lap, who was sitting in the chair normally. Ron's hand rested on Hermione's shin. Harry and Ginny sat on the floor with Fred and George, who were showing off their latest tricks for 'Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.'
Everyone stayed late into the night, and Mrs. Weasley had cooked a large Christmas dinner. Soon everyone had fallen asleep in the living room, their stomachs full and their minds content. Only Harry and Ginny remained awake, talking by the fire and making up for lost time.
"Harry, look it's snowing!" Ginny smiled pointing towards a window.
"Well, come on then." Said Harry, taking her hand to help her up. He took his heaviest cloak from the coat rack and wrapped it around both of them. They walked outside into the softly falling snow. It was the kind of snow that falls in large, chunky flakes. Both Harry and Ginny had trouble seeing as the snowflakes caught in their eyelashes, and both now had hair sprinkled with white. The night sky was a clear, deep blue, and Harry and Ginny walked around the yard in silence, looking up into the sky, catching snowflakes on their faces.
"Let's stop here for a bit." Said Harry, taking off his cloak from around them and laying it on the ground, revealing their matching Weasley jumpers, Harry's bottle green, and Ginny's snow white. If it weren't for her vibrant hair, she'd have been lost in the snow. Harry lay down on his side, at the edge of his cloak, leaving room for Ginny. Ginny lay down on her side, facing him, and resting her forehead against his. Harry wrapped his arm around Ginny, and Ginny kept her arms between them, tucked against her chest. Both their faces were pink from the cold.
"Are you cold?" Harry asked, rubbing her shoulder.
"No I'm fine." Ginny replied.
"You sure?" Harry mumbled. "Because we can get up and put the cloak back on."
"I'm fine, Harry, don't move a muscle." Ginny laughed softly. They lay there in comfortable silence for some time, before Harry opened his mouth.
"Ginny, will you marry me?" Harry had blurted the words out without thinking. He wanted to marry Ginny someday, he was sure of it, but he hadn't intended to do so this young. When he thought about it though, he was fully ready to make that commitment.
"Harry—" Ginny started.
"I mean," Harry cut her off, "Someday. I don't think either of us is ready yet, but I know that I want to marry you, without a doubt, and I'm ready to promise you that."
"Yes, Harry, I will marry you someday." Ginny replied beaming, "But you're right about us not being ready now." Harry kissed her lovingly and earnestly. When he pulled back, he chuckled awkwardly.
"I…er…I don't have a ring…I kind of decided to do this on the spur of the moment." Said Harry, worrying that he would upset Ginny.
"Well, sometimes that's the best way to do things." Ginny responded, and gently kissed Harry one more time.
A large tawny owl swooped down on them and dropped a letter into Harry's hand. He opened the letter cautiously, wondering who could be sending him an owl at this time; a small diamond ring fell out into Harry's hand. Harry and Ginny read the letter together.
Dear Harry & Ginny,
Congratulations on your recent engagement! ('How do people know this already?' Harry thought) I know you're probably wondering how I already know, but remember, there is always someone from the Order looking after you, and I'm helping Professor Dumbledore out by taking watch on Christmas when none of the usual members were available.
The point of this letter was to give you this ring. You may recognize it as belonging to my late wife, Lucia. Before you reject my gift, let me remind you that it is the least I can do after what you have done for me, and I want you and Ginny to have it. Lucia would want you to have it as well. Good luck in your future marriage, and don't worry; I'm the only person who knows of your engagement, and I plan to tell no on; that is your prerogative.
Sincerely Yours,
Zachariah Butarelli
P.S. If you ever wanted to meet me, you're both welcome at St. Mungos anytime.
"Let's go and see him tomorrow." Said Ginny.
"I was thinking the same thing." Said Harry, taking Ginny's left hand and slipping Lucia's ring on her third finger.
"Let's go inside and sit by the fire." Said Ginny yawning a bit.
"That is an excellent idea!" Harry exclaimed, taking her hand to help her up. They walked back inside, leaving the cloak in the snow. They sat in front of the fire all night, both thinking of how they were going to tell their friends and family in the morning.
Author's Note: That's it, it's REALLY over now, thanks so much to everyone who read and reviewed, I love all of you! I really enjoyed writing this story, and I hope I can come up with another good plot idea for a new story. I couldn't resist ending with a nice bit of fluff because at its core, this story was meant to be a Harry/Ginny romance.
Happy Holidays to all!