Chapter 2
"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" Hermione squealed in an unusually girlish manner, as she and Ginny walked back to their table, coffee in hand. They had arranged to meet up during Hermione's lunch break at the café down the road, which they had nicknamed "Hot Stuff Café", as much for the gorgeous male staff as for the piping hot beverages. Ginny shrugged as she placed her mug on the table.
"He's my brother," she said simply. "A secret's a secret. And really, you should be glad he told me."
"Why's that?"
Ginny raised her eyebrows before leaning in. "Let's just say that if you had seen the horror of a ring that he wanted to get you, you'd have thought twice about saying yes."
"That bad, huh?"
"Mmm-hhmm," Ginny mumbled through her sip, before saying enthusiastically, "so tell me about the proposal again!"
"It was so sweet," Hermione sighed, smiling reminiscently. "He had this perfect evening planned out, but then it all went so wrong! It was such a shame. And then he just asked me, out of the blue! He told me how much he loved me, it was so romantic!" Both girls let out the obligatory squeal.
"So how'd you get home?"
Hermione frowned slightly. "You know, I don't remember!" she said in surprise. "All I remember is that, when we did get home, we went straight to bed." She let out a sigh of bliss. "That was the best sex I've ever had. It was soooo... intimate. And when he--"
"Woah! Too far!" Ginny gestured, pulling a face. "I mean, I'm happy for you, but he's my brother! I don't want to know all the details!"
"Uhh huh..." Hermione said, still smiling. "I'm engaged... I'm engaged!"
"I know!" Ginny squealed back, hugging Hermione across the table. "So have you set a date?"
"Not yet, but I'm thinking, possibly July? Six months'll be long enough, surely?"
"Should be..." Ginny said. She took a sip of her coffee before calmly saying "So, have you decided on bridesmaids?"
Hermione shrugged. "I thought perhaps some of the girls from work, maybe my cousin Marcia...?"
"Oh," Ginny said, with a hint of disappointment, before taking another sip.
"And as for my maid of honour, I'm thinking... maybe Ron's little sister?"
Ginny let out a squeal of joy. "Really?"
"Of course," Hermione smiled. "Did you really think that I'd miss you out? Sure, it'll mean I won't be able to have those rust-coloured bridesmaids dresses, but I'm sure I can live with that..." she waved dismissively.
"Yeah, we redheads ruin everything," Ginny giggled, pulling at a strand of her tidy chin length bob. "Speaking of redheads, how's Ron dealing with the engagement?"
"It was no big deal," Ron shrugged. "I just asked her, straight out."
Harry's eyebrows shot up into his messy black hair. He highly doubted Ron's calmness-- he had been a bundle of nerves for all of the week before.
Ron smiled at Harry. "I really can't lie, can I?"
"Nope," Harry shook his head. "Try the truth."
"Most terrifying moment of my life," Ron said, taking a gulp of Butterbeer.
"Thought so."