Harry's New Life

Chapter Eleven

Shock and Fear

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"That…is…the…last…time…I ever let Hermione plan something!" Harry said angrily as he ran around the apartment ripping down pink streamers and ugly paper cherubs. "I swear, all the years I've known her I had no idea she could be this…this…Girly!"

Ron was leaning against the counter in the kitchen smirking at Harry during his mad dash around the room. "I think there are a lot of things you don't know about Hermione."

"I don't have time to think about that! Help me remove all this stuff before Ginny gets here!" Harry said aggravated trying not to invision bad things about Hermione.

"Sorry, can't…I have to find Hermione. Ginny will be here in a little bit…good luck!" And with a loud pop Ron was gone, leaving Harry all alone.

About an Hour ago Hermione sent Harry into his room to get changed and when he came out Hermione had turned the entire apartment into a pink dollhouse. Everything in the room matched perfectly with her horribly ugly pink fluffy chair. When Harry first saw the room he thought he walked into a cotton candy maker. He immediately started ripping down everything in site and vanishing what he could with his wand. Hermione, who was placing food on the kitchen table was horrified at Harry, she burst into tears and left the apartment.

Harry knew that he would pay later for upsetting Hermione but at the moment he didn't care, he didn't want Ginny to come home and see the mess that Hermione left. Ginny was due home from the Burrow at any moment and all Harry wanted her to see was the dinner on the table and the flowers he bought her.

Harry had just managed to vanish the last miniature singing purple unicorn when Ginny apparated into the living room, causing Harry to jump out of nerves. "Ginny! Your back! How was your visit with your Mum?"

"It was nice, we made cookies, and I brought you some. Harry, why do you have red hearts in your hair?" Ginny asked as she walked over to Harry and started flicking paper hearts from his head.

Harry turned several shades of red, "Oh, I must have missed some, um…I made us dinner Ginny."

"What did you miss?" Ginny asked still eyeing the hearts now on the floor.

"Nothing. You want to have dinner with me? Oh…and these are for you!" Harry said as he pulled the bouquet of roses off the counter and handed them to Ginny.

Ginny was slowly figuring out what Harry was up to, she smiled and hugged Harry. "Oh, there beautiful Harry, you did all this for me didn't you?"

"Of course I did, only the best for you Ginny." Harry said.

"Ok, let me go and clean up a little, I'll be right back." Ginny said as she ran off to her bedroom and shut the door.

Harry picked up Ginny's flowers and placed them in the vase that Hermione left on the kitchen table. Harry then sat down and waited for Ginny to return, the ring box in his pocket seemed heavier as each second passed by. The prospect of pouring his heart out to Ginny had him excited and nervous at the same time. He knew he wanted to tell Ginny his feelings it was getting the words just right that was stressing him.

Ginny returned some time later sporting a very pretty outfit, a long flowing white skirt and a pink tank top. Her hair was wrapped up in an elegant bun with a few curls fell in front of her face. Harry stood up quickly and pulled out a chair for her to sit at the table. Once Ginny was comfortable Harry returned to his seat.

"You look beautiful Ginny."

Ginny smiled, "Thank you Harry, you look nice too. So, what are we having for dinner?"

"Well, I have to admit that I had help with dinner, I think it's Italian." Harry lifted a large silver cover off of a bowl in the center of the table. The moment he lifted the cover all the lights in the room went dim and floating candles appeared out of thin air and ignited themselves. "Oh, yeah I forgot about that." Harry said trying to not look surprised.

Hermione apparently had placed a spell on the room that Harry didn't know about. His anger from all the pink decorations was slowly going away only to be replaced by a new fondness of Hermione. Maybe she's not so bad at this after all, Harry thought to himself. Harry returned to his pursuit of discovering their dinner and looked down into the bowl. Hermione had made pasta and breadsticks. Harry dished out plates for both Ginny and himself and filled their glasses with water.

They ate their dinner and Harry listened to Ginny talk about her adventure with Mrs. Weasley earlier that day.

"Well, we went into Diagon Ally to buy my school things and we stopped by Fred and George's shop. George was at the counter and Fred was in the back. So I went into the back to say hello and he was back their snogging Angelina Johnson! Can you believe it? I told Mum and she shrieked with excitement and made everyone in the shop look at us."

"So your Mom was happy he was snogging Angelina?" Harry asked.

"Oh yeah, I think she is already planning a wedding." Ginny giggled. "Fred wasn't too happy with me."

"Why, because you told your Mom?" Harry said.

"Yeah I guess so." Ginny was still smiling.

Dinner was done and an awkward silence fell between them. Harry was trying to muster up the courage to tell Ginny but as he sat their looking at her, words seemed to fail him. It wasn't until Ginny spoke next that Harry regained his confidence.

"So Harry, what do you want to do now?" Ginny asked with a slightly sinister smile as if she knew Harry had something planned.

"Umm…you want to dance?" Harry asked somewhat nervously.

"Yeah, that sounds like fun, I'll turn on the wireless." Ginny said as she got up from the table and went over to the wireless that sat in the living room.

Harry and Ginny awkwardly danced for several songs. Ginny kept pulling herself closer and closer to Harry causing him to sweat more and more. Harry couldn't believe how nervous he was; after all it wasn't that big a deal. What's wrong with me? He kept thinking to himself as he continued to dance.

Ginny who could tell something was up with Harry got tired of waiting. She pulled away from Harry and said, "Harry, are you going to tell me what's wrong with you, you have hardly looked at me all night. You know you planned this whole thing you would think you would pay more attention to me." Ginny crossed her arms and sat down on the couch.

"Oh, Ginny I'm sorry…I didn't mean to seem distant I just have a lot on my mind." Harry sat down beside her and grabbed her hand.

"Okay, so what's on your mind, what have you been thinking about?" Ginny asked.

Harry took a deep breath and prepared himself for what he had to do. "Well, I have been thinking about you, there is something I wanted to tell you." Harry pulled the ring box out of his pocket and picked up Ginny's hand. "I know that it isn't much but I want you to know that you mean the world to me and I love you, I think I have for a long time." Ginny's eyes were wide and she looked stunned.

"There is one more thing; I want you to have this." Harry opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring with a silver band. "It's a promise ring, and my promise is that I will make you mine, and ask you to marry me when you graduate from Hogwarts."

Harry slipped the ring onto Ginny's finger and it was a perfect fit. Harry sat back down and watched as Ginny stared at her hand, seemingly shocked.

They sat in silence for what felt like an eternity until a small smile started to spread across Ginny's face. Ginny finally looked up only to realize that Harry was even in the room, she made a high pitched squeal and threw her arms around him.

"I love you too and I would love to marry you!" Ginny squealed excitedly.

Harry who was happy that Ginny finally acknowledged him suddenly felt fearful. What did he just ask her? Did he just ask her to marry him? He was sure that he said "after Hogwarts" at some point, after all they were too young to get married. He felt the sudden urge to jump up and run out the door.

Ginny was now showering Harry's neck in kisses, and Harry felt the need to clarify himself. "Ginny, I didn't mean we would get married, I just meant that I promise to ask you when were both ready."

"I heard what you said, and to me that's good enough." Ginny said while still clinging to Harry.

The weight of the world just flew off Harry's shoulders. Ok, she doesn't expect me to marry her now, Harry thought. Harry's sudden fear subsided and he decided to allow himself to enjoy Ginny's continuing kisses and roaming hands...