Harry walked back into the Hospital Wing and saw Ginny sleeping. She was half sitting up in what Harry imagined was a very uncomfortable position. He laughed quietly to himself. He was praying she would have fallen asleep while he was gone. He didn't want her to ask any questions he didn't want to answer. But to his delight she was slumbering happily. He sat down next to her and thought. He had been to Diagon Alley and met several people there. There was Lupin, Tonks, the twins, and He had even seen Bill and Fleur shopping in the same store he was. He had had a long chat with Lupin. Who first wanted to know why he had to talk to Harry at this late hour of the day. But Lupin had come around and He immediately became a vast resource of advice. Harry was not sure how he knew as much as he did. He had been to Gringotts and come out with his wallet considerably heavier but at the end of a few hours. His pockets were light once again. Except for one pocket. He fingered the black velvet box that lay in his pocket. He had come to the decision, He was going to ask Ginny to marry him. He, Harry James Potter was going to ask a girl to marry him.
But not just any girl the most beautiful girl in the whole wide world. The thought brought into sharp relief that he wished his mother and father were here. He wished his father could have been here. He would have liked to ask him just what he should do. He wanted to know how his father had proposed to his mother. He would have liked to think he was very romantic and that he had swept his mother off her feet. Because that was exactly what he wanted to do for Ginny. It was not exactly encouraging to think his father had proposed while mowing the yard. Lupin had given him some very good tips but Harry was still incredibly nervous. But Lupin had told him that if he wasn't nervous that something was definitely wrong with him. He said he remembered that in the days before James had proposed to Lily, He had been a bumbling fool. Running into things, palms constantly sweaty, always voicing his concerns to himself, Sirius especially, and occasionally Peter.
He hoped his nervousness didn't show to Ginny. But he was sure she would no doubt notice something she wasn't stupid by any means. It would take a very oblivious person to not notice his worry. But maybe she would think his nervousness at the prospect of proposing, for worrying that she was alright. And he did worry if she was ok, she put up a strong front but he wasn't so sure that she was really alright. He would ask her when she woke up.
Another thing had concerned him, he was going to ask Ginny to marry him when he was only a sixth year. Ginny was only in her fifth year. He didn't even know if he was allowed. Lupin had even tried to convince him that if he and Ginny really loved each other, their relationship would last until at least Harry was out of Hogwarts. But Harry had spoke his piece to Lupin and informed him that he was going to ask Ginny whether or not he helped. Lupin had sighed deeply and then told Harry whatever he wanted to know. Harry had then bought a ring. With the help of Tonks that is. She told him that Ginny probably wore a size seven ring. Harry had bought Ginny's ring in a muggle shop. He wanted her ring to be new, as you could never be sure with magic ring whether it was a hundred or five hundred years old. Also whether or not there was a curse on the ring.
The ring he bought was beautiful. In his opinion at least, he was just hoping Ginny would think the same. It was a flawless two karat diamond on a tiny silver band that was like wisp of a cloud. He had been thinking about two different rings, the one he chose was more expensive but he ultimately decided it was more fitting of Ginny. Who in his opinion deserved everything. He tried to pour his love into that ring. For that is what it was, a symbol of his undying love. Forever and always. As they say till death did they part.
If they even became one that is. Ginny first had to say yes. That was the most torture for him. Would she say yes? If she didn't what would they do? He couldn't live without her. They couldn't break up. He wouldn't be able to bear it. He would not be able to face Voldemort alone, though he hated to admit it. But he tried to make himself believe she would agree to marry him, she loved him. That had been proven. She had forgiven him when most girls would have dropped him like a hat. Ginny had broken up with Michael Corner for being sulky when Gryffindor had beaten his team. Would she do that with him? Of course not. She would never do that, she just wouldn't.
Ginny coughed and it brought Harry out of his reverie. She turned over and became still again. Harry smiled and placed his hand on hers. He then got up and headed to his dorm. He needed to speak with Ron. He should know before he asked Ginny not after the fact. He decided not to keep secrets from Ron after he found out about Ginny and himself being together. Plus as he understood it, James had told Sirius about proposing to Lily first and that was what he intended to do. Tell his best mate. The only thing was his best mate also happened to be his girlfriends sister. A very overprotective big brother. This complicated things a bit. Harry was not sure what he should say. He didn't think "I'm going to ask Ginny to marry me" was the right opening to this kind of conversation. He decided to sleep on it. He would wake Ron up earlier than usual, which in itself might not be that great of an idea. Ron really liked to sleep in. But he wanted to get back to the wing before Ginny woke up.
He got back to his dorm and undressed himself wearily. He was not so much physically tired as mentally. He just wanted to rest his mind. He now had the chance to do so. Harry slipped on his cotton pajamas and slumped onto his bed. Then he reached to pull his hangings shut. Except the little bit so the sun would wake him. He pulled his blankets up to his chin and got comfortable. He smiled. He was going to ask Ginny Weasley, the most wonderful girl he had ever met, to marry him. He took comfort in that fact and drifted to sleep.
Light Penetrated Harry eyelids and he unwillingly flitted them open. The first rays of sunshine were gleaming through the window and were shining down upon is face. He grudgingly pulled his way out of bed and threw on his robes. He went over to Ron's bed and heard him snoring softly. He pulled back the hangings and tapped on Ron's Shoulder.
"Wha..Wha..Who's there? What's the light? What's Going on?" Ron said blinking his eyes rapidly and reaching out with his arms and accidentally knocked Harry square in the mouth. Harry pulled back and sat down upon his bed nursing his bleeding jaw.
"Calm down Ron!", Harry said in a blubber way. "Stop wailing around and sit up."
"Oh", Ron said with an expression of guilt on his face. "Sorry."
"It's alright, just get me some ice." Harry said wiping the blood off his face with a tissue.
Ron conjured a bag of ice and handed it to Harry. "Sorry", he repeated.
"It's alright", Harry sighed. He placed the ice pack on his face and sighed happily at the relief the cold brought.
"So why'd you wake me up anyway?", Ron said as though the quiet was bothering him greatly.
"Well I needed to talk to you about something", Harry said nervously. "Something…very important."
"Okay…" Ron said with an air of curiosity.
"Well you know how I love Ginny?"
"Yeah.."
"And I Love her even more after this whole ordeal with her being kidnapped and poisoned?"
"Uhuh.."
"And I'd do absolutely anything for her?"
"Right.."
"And I love her, so much, more than anything in the entire world. She is everything to me. I don't think I could breathe without her in my life?"
"Yea.."
"I'm going to ask her to marry me." Harry hadn't meant to say it like that. It just came out. Ron's face turned an uncomfortable shade of green. His face contorted into so many different stages of emotion Harry wasn't sure what he should say or do. He just sat there and looked at Ron helplessly.
"What!" Ron said.
"I..I..I'm going to ask Ginny to marry me. I'm going to propose. I thought you should be the first to know. Except for Lupin and Tonks, you're the first." Harry spoke while silently praying that Ron wouldn't explode. That he would understand why Harry was doing this. That Harry wouldn't get another punch in the face.
"But… you can't get married in Hogwarts." Ron wasn't yelling. He was asking. Harry was relieved. Ron was giving Harry a look that was asking for an answer.
"No", Harry said. "We can't. I just want to have that promise. That we'll never love anyone else the way we love each other. She'll be my betrothed. She will be mine, my everything. I love her. Dumbledore has approved me asking her. He let me go buy an engagement last night. Dumbledore seemed happy as the prospect of me proposing, oddly enough. It surprised me."
Ron looked up an expression of thoughtfulness across his usually content face. "I know why." Ron said, Harry was waiting for an explanation and was about to say something along the lines of 'what' or 'why'. When Ron took a deep breath and went on.
"It's because you have to defeat Voldemort. No one else can. Dumbledore's told you before, love is the greatest magic of all. If you propose to Ginny and she accepts, that magic will strengthen in you. So you will be able to defeat him, for you hold the fate of the magical world in your hand. It's up to you, and you alone. But with Ginny by you side, you won't be completely alone. You'll have us as well, Hermione and me that is."
Harry was brought forcibly back to Dumbledore's office. The prophecy was spinning in his ears. 'and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives'. He had not told his friends of the prophecy. But Ron was right none the less. He was surprised at the knowledge coming from his friends mouth. Everything he had said was completely true. Ginny would make him stronger. He would defeat Voldemort. He would not die at the hand of a coward. For Voldemort was a coward, not in the conventional sense of the word. But he was a coward still yet. Harry had the feeling that he would die as a coward as well.
"So your not, mad, are you?" Harry said.
"No", Ron said with a puzzled expression on his face. "I'm not really sure what to think, I'm not mad. I'm just, well I don't really know what I'm feeling. I, I think I'm happy for you."
"Really", Harry said on a relieved way.
"Yeah, good luck mate. You found you a really great girl. I love her more than anything. And I know you'll treat her right. Because that's the kind of guy you are. I'm happy for you. I really am." Ron clapped Harry on the shoulder. Then gave him a manly one armed hug.
"Thanks man", Harry grinned. "When we get married, I want you to be my best man. If we get married, that is."
Ron smiled, "She'll say yes. I know she will. She loves ya mate."
"Thanks", Harry said. "You have no idea how incredibly nervous I am. I keep thinking I'll chicken out." Harry paused for a second and then went to his nightstand to retrieve to small velvet box that contained the symbol of his love. "Do you want to see the ring", Harry offered holding the box under Ron's nose.
Ron took the box and flipped the lid open. He ran his finger Gingerly over the diamond. "It's beautiful", Ron said softly. He looked at it again and said, "Silver's her favorite color. When are you going to ask her?"
"I'm not sure I think I'll ask her Christmas Eve. What do you think?" Harry said asking his best friend for advice.
Ron closed the box and handed the ring carefully back to Harry. "I'm excited for you. Christmas Eve will be great. She'll never see it coming. When's Christmas again?"
"It's Wednesday, so I'll be asking her Tuesday. I'm so incredibly worried." Harry smiled and put the ring away. "I've got to go though , I want to be there when she wakes up."
"Yeah, bye mate." Ron said contentedly.
"Bye", Harry said laving Ron sitting in his wake.
Ginny was awake. She had been for over an hour. Harry wasn't there. She wondered where he was but she didn't really fret about it. For all she knew he was taking a shower. She had taken her muscle regeneration potion and she was feeling stronger than ever. She was beginning to miss Harry greatly when she heard footsteps. She immediately went into a sleeping pose. She heard someone sit down and through the crack in her eyelids she saw that someone had messy raven hair.
She then felt a hand on her shoulder. She yawned convincingly and pretended to have had a great night of rest. "So where did you go last night." She said slyly.
"I was out", he said giving no real hints to where he actually was.
"Hmm", Ginny said grinning.
"You'll find out soon enough", He said with the air of someone who had a secret, and was not going to tell.
Ginny grinned as well but she was slightly annoyed. She wanted to know where he had went. But before she had a chance to work herself into a fuss, Madam Pomfrey came in to tell her she was free to go.
Harry picked her up and carried her to Gryffindor tower. She felt so safe in his toned arms. He smelled of that manly scent that was impossible to bottle, but completely irresistible. She started kissing him on their way up. Causing Harry to run into a statue of Stanley the Stained. He recovered and got to the common room without further injury. Ginny was feeling very good. As soon as the fat lady's portrait had swung open and people saw her. She was greeted by cheers. People came over and patted her on the back, welcoming her back, telling her how happy they were she survived. They calmed eventually and Ginny dressed into more acceptable clothing. She took a place on the couch next to Harry and spent the rest of the day resting and making out with Harry all the while. She knew that at some points she had to stop to keep Harry from becoming to…excited. She knew he wanted to go further but she kept him a bay. Also she was still a bit tired.
She fell asleep in Harry arms feeling thoroughly happily. She was safe, she was loved, what else could she want. It seemed almost to good to be true. But it was, It was her truth.
A/N- Sorry bout the wait but I'm relle tried after writing this so I'm gonna fall asleep, ahh. And I'm gonna pray that there isn't any school! "Please Dear lord Jesus! Let it snow! Lol! Well I won't have a lot of time for a while cause I have to clean houses. Oh and I got like two reviews last time! Is three to much to ask? Anywhoo, READ AND REVIEW!
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