A/N: So I am really really really sorry (am I starting to start like a broken record or what) but I had to put this story on hold (again). I know I know, this is a familiar line, and I promised you TWICE before not to update sporadically but my life is all jumbled and messy right now and I really had to concentrate on other things.

So everyone, I really need some constructive criticism. I read over the past chapters of this story and to me at least it seemed to go too fast, kind of rushing. I know I, for one, hated those stoiries that could have been so good if they had just gone a little slower with some more details. Do you think this is just my perfection-obsessed mind or is it a real flaw? And what can I do about it? Help please.

To my (lovely and amazing) beta Josephine Sawyer:

Hello Speed-Editor! I think I sent you the chapter about an hour before you sent it back! Thanks so much, honestly this chapter is so much better with your input in it. I can't think of a better beta! Xxx more coming soon ( I hope)

By The Way: A Warning:

Short Chapter Alert!

Review Responses at Bottom!

Chapter 13-

Ron picked at his treacle tart, staring gloomily at the couple across from him. He watched in disgusted fascination as the woman gently, lasciviously placed a round, red cherry into her husband's mouth. The ice cream followed...then the olives...then the wine...

The treacle tart really didn't seem that appetizing after all.

"You wouldn't ever do that with Hermione, would you?" Lex's vibrant voice asked teasingly, interrupting his thoughts.

Ron looked up at her, scandalized. "No way. Cripes, if I even suggested that to Hermione she'd chuck me out of the house! Besides..." Ron looked at the couple again, as they bent their heads together lovingly, a touch of envy in his eyes, "She isn't much for public displays of affection, if you know what I mean."

Lex sat down next to Ron, her breath coming in short gasps. Ron gave her a sideways look.

"A little tired from all that dancing?" He asked glumly. Lex laughed lightly, waving at the Italian man.

"His name's Italo. Isn't that romantic? And he dances like an angel..." She gazed after him dreamily for a moment before snapping her attention back to Ron, a concerned look in her eyes. "You don't look as if you're having fun at all! Come on, go dance with some of those girls. Hermione won't mind."

Ron grunted but shook his head.

"Hey, you haven't seen Harry or Ginny, have you?"

Ron shook his head again, still staring at the couple.

Lex sighed exasperatedly. "If you're so bored why not just go home and spend time with Hermione?"

"She's at work." Ron replied dejectedly, grinding his teeth.

"So go to work and get her! You aren't having any fun here, are you? Faint heart never won fair lady! Go!" Lex stood and pulled him out of his chair.

"And what about Ginny? I can't just leave her here!" Ron hissed, ignoring the annoyed stares from others at the table.

"Honestly, Ron, are you daft? Do you really think Ginny will want to go home with you? Harry'll take her home, I promise, okay? So go."

Ron sighed angrily and shook his head, but then thought about Hermione slumped over her desk on a beautiful night like this, alone. He Apparated out with a soft, resigned pop

"Crazy boy," Lex thought to herself, then smiled widely as Italo came back, holding two glasses of champagne.

"An olive, my dear?" He asked, his voice thick with the Italian accent. She smiled and he placed the olive gently into her mouth.


Ron reached Hermione's office building at exactly half past eleven. He stared up at the old building of the Research Institute. It was made of white marble, with imposing pillars and intricate Greek architecture.

There was only one window lighted in the entire building, steady in its determination to fight the dark of the night. Ron could see the flicker of candles reflected in the window.

He let himself into the building and hurried to Hermione's office. Hermione was the Institute's foremost researcher, and, because of Harry, had the most connections. Most people thought of her as the head of the institute, unofficially. Suitably, she had the second largest office in the building; a huge suite on the top floor with the best view of Muggle London.

Ron quietly opened the door, smiling to himself as he saw Hermione hunched over the desk, impatiently pushing strands of frizzy brown hair away from her face, muttering to herself as she flipped through six books at once.

"Hermione," he said softly, not wanting to provoke another Jelly Legs curse, like the one she had sent last time when he had surprised her. It didn't work.

"Mione!!!" Ron yelled as he tried to stand on legs that felt like Jello, then found himself lying in a heap on the floor.

"RON?!" Hermione said, eyes wide as she looked down at him. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at the ball!"

Ron couldn't speak and motioned wildly. Hermione caught on and quickly muttered 'finite incantatem'.

"Merlin," Ron sighed, standing up shakily, "Can't you just Stun me or something? My legs are going to have that pins and needles feeling for hours now. Honestly, you're much too paranoid for your own good."

"Well how was I supposed to know that my husband was going to sneak up on me?" Hermione replied huffily, retreating back into her office. Ron followed. He collapsed into one of the old leather armchairs.

"I just came to keep you company...because I missed you. The ball wasn't fun at all with you not there. Ginny ran off with Harry and –"

"Did she really?" Hermione laughed, a smile lighting up her face, "Well, it's about time."

"Yes she did. And so I spent the entire evening sitting at a table alone. Did you have to work today of all days? You could have just done it tomorrow." Ron said bitterly.

Hermione looked at his face and softened, going over to sit on his lap. She kissed him.

"I'm sorry, Ron. I know you wanted me there. But there's always a method behin my madness!" She said. Ron huffed.

"Well, do you really think Harry and Ginny would make up by themselves?" She grinned at him.

"So that's how it is!" Ron cried, "I knew something was up. Well, Harry owes me now. A whole ball wasted just because he's too thick to fix things up himself."

"Well, he did a lot of things before that got us to where we are now. Remember?" Hermione said. Ron shrugged and leaned back in his chair, smiling at some memories.

"How about we go home and order some food. Okay?" Hermione said, mischievously pecking him on the mouth again. That was always the best way to make Ron both speechless and obedient. They Apparated out together.
Harry and Ginny sat on the cool, lush grass in the gardens, underneath the umbrage of the large willow tree, obscured from all view. The two of tem lay on their back quietly, talking while looking through the pale leaves at the clouded stars.

"Did you think of me often after I left?" Ginny asked.

Harry swallowed, remembering the tortured years after her disappearance. "For the first two years, I thought about you every day," he replied honestly, "Every two months I would get a letter from the people I sent out to look for you that you weren't anywhere. I searched everywhere, and I couldn't find you. After that I never forgot about you, but I would just get angry or lonely and then go out with another woman trying to forget. But Ron and Hermione helped. I don't know what I would have done without them and Lex."

Ginny blinked back the tears. "I'm sorry for that, Harry. But I had to leave. You understand, don't you?"

Harry grasped one of her soft, small hands in his. "I don't know if I understand. But I don't blame you. I have no right to blame you."

Harry rolled onto his side and looked at her. Her gold robes highlighted the flaming red hair that lay in a glorious tangle around her face, her brown eyes warm and bright. "Did you think of me often?" He asked.

Ginny rolled her eyes and laughed wryly. "How could I not with Rilla and Jem there all the time? They both are so much like you. Every time Jem talked about his broomstick I remembered you and Quidditch. Every time Rilla looked at me I saw your eyes. How could I not think of you?"

Conversation lagged into a comfortable silence, the two lying apart but their hands together.

"Listen Gin," Harry said, sitting up suddenly. Ginny sat up too, looking at his face, puzzled, and he continued, ignoring the look on her face, trying wildly to retain his Gryffindor courage.

"I know that its only been a few months since you got back, er...and it hasn't been great for the two of us...but...I mean, I love you...I never stopped. And I just don't want to wait anymore. I know it might be too soon and too sudden, but...er...what I mean is...five years...we never would have waited if you hadn't left..."

"Why Harry Potter!" Ginny exclaimed, eyes dark and bright, her smile tremulous and a little confused. "Are you asking me to marry you?"

Harry blushed, his face turning shy, a strange expression for his masculine face. "Not," he answered in a soft voice, "if you don't want me to."

Ginny threw her arms around his neck, kissing him hard on the mouth.

"Of course I'll marry you," She said, the glow of her face and eyes and the wide smile on her face betraying her happiness. Harry's face was suddenly pale. "Really?" He stammered, unsure about the reality of the situation. He hadn't planned on this...really, he hadn't wanted it to be like this...but somehow it was oddly right. "Really."
So so so! I realize that to many the proposal may be a little premature, BUT! I love it. I want to write some real H/G now, and I'm sure some people will like it if they can start to laugh and not cry while reading this story. Much happier from now on (but I can't garauntee it, these characters have minds of their own and it can be very difficult to restrain them at times). Read and REVIEW! Reviewing will mean quicker chapters, I'm telling you. Love lots to all of my reviewers.

Review Replies

Severus' Wife- Oh dear, you won't like this chapter. It's pretty short, I have a horrible case of writer's block. I noticed that too! I read a few and it did show up a lot. I have carefully avoided it in this chapter! Thanks for the advice.

Nightwing509- Glad you liked it! Sorrys its taken so long. Hope you liked this chapter too!

Gohan00- Thanks! Keep reviewing.

Eric2- I love suspense! It's a characteristic of the better fanfics, so thanks for the praise! Next chapter coming soon.

Lourdes1- Aww, thanks so much! I'm glad it helps. I know how tiring a ride on the London bus can be. It's the same with me- I can't read or write detailed sap. I try to avoid it. Hope you liked this chapter!

Silvercrystal77- Thanks you thank you thank you! Blushes Keep reviewing please!

Rayah Papayah- Thanks and sorry about this chapter and how late it is. I hate myself (

Person- Thanks I think! I did give Harry a lot...guilty pleasure I guess. And...er...Ron isn't reserve Keeper, is that what I said in a chapter If so I'll correct it. Keep reviewing.

Ilovesmilies=)- Aww thanks! Keep Reading!

Harry gin- Thank you so much! Ten points to my self-esteem! Keep reading and reviewing!

Fred-George-Lee-Luver- Thanks so much! I actually haven't been on the site for a week and so am going to go and read your stories right now! Thanks for the praise I needed it. Hope you liked this chapter.

Josephine Sawyer- Thanks so much for agreeing to beta! I love the name, its fits the picture I have made of you (in my head) perfectly. And I agree with you wholeheartedly about the Lex situation. I just wanted to introduce a fresh character to all the book characters. Thanks again! Keep reviewing.

Luckyloo16- Thank you so much! Keep reading and reviewing! You are amazing because you're reviews always make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Amber- Aww, thanks I think. Sorry if its sad but just look at the title and it'll cheer you up! I'm glad you like the story, keep up the R&R!

Craftygurl- Thanks you so much! Its means a lot that you think so. Hope you liked this chapter.

Cherryblossom08- Thanks! Yeah, sometimes the site does strange things. I'm glad you liked it and reviewed!

Ginny05- Thanks! Don't say I didn't warn you though- I'm not very good at those things.

Tupz- Thank you! I am so confused, there's this whole controversy. In most of the stories I read her name is Virginia, and that's what I thought, but when I went to JKR's websie ) it said her name was Ginevra. Completely unexpected, but I firugred it w as on good authority. Thanks though!

Silver Warrior- Thanks so much, I really appreciate it. Sorry for the wait I know the story doesn't flow as well when I update sporadically but it couldn't be helped. Keep reviewing!

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