Chapter Four: Hope for the Future
Hermione found Harry sitting in her lounge when she returned there after lunch that day. Harry was sitting on the sofa, staring blankly at a painting on the opposite wall, quite obviously lost in his own thoughts.
"Harry?"
"Oh... Mione... Sorry. I needed to talk to you."
"It's okay. What's wrong?" She came and sat down next to him.
"I... Mione... can I ask you a really, really personal question?"
"Of course."
"How would you have wanted Ron to propose?"
Hermione flushed.
"I mean..." Harry was flustered. How could I have asked her that? How stupid am I? That was far too personal...
"Harry, Ron and I didn't have to get married, you know," Hermione interrupted his self-castigation.
"Well..."
"I understand how it is for single mothers in the wizarding world, but I'm muggleborn, Harry. I could have made the choice," she continued gently. "I could have left this world behind, left Ron behind, and raised my baby any way I wanted to. Or not. You know as well as I do that there are options for women in the muggle world that there aren't here."
"I know, but..."
"But in a perfect world, where everything happens as we dream it would?"
"Yes."
Hermione's pink lips curved in a Mona Lisa smile. "Exactly as he did, Harry."
Harry looked at her, his eyes wide.
"So long as he asked me," she continued. "It didn't matter when or where... or how. The only thing that mattered was that he did."
"I..."
"You just ask her, Harry," she whispered, leaning in, her dark eyes sparkling. "You just ask her. That's all that matters."
"Should I... should I have a ring? Do witches wear engagement rings? Will she want to choose it for herself, or should I choose it for her?"
"She won't care, Harry. If you want to give her a ring, give her one. If you want to give her one, but want her to choose it, ask her first, and then take her shopping. But it won't be about the ring."
"Will... how long do we have to be...?"
"As long as you want," Hermione smiled that mysterious smile she'd been using ever since the final battle.
"But..." he stood up and began to pace. "What if... Mione... what... I want her to...I want it to be special for her."
"Harry, it's not the what that makes it special, love. It's the who."
"But..."
"Harry, I would never have dreamed that I woud think a proposal made in a hospital corridor, surrounded by sick people and medi-witches and healers, after dropping a bombshell like 'I'm pregnant' could possible be romantic. But it was. Because it was Ron, and he spoke from his heart. Speak from your heart, that's all she will want."
Harry took this in, nodded and glanced at Hermione. "Thanks."
"I'm happy for you, Harry. And for her."
"She hasn't said yes, yet," he said dryly, nervously.
"I'm happy that you've found someone to love enough to consider this step, and that you're confident enough in her love for you to even consider asking her to marry you."
"Mrs Weasley is going to go spare," Harry sighed.
"Mrs Weasley's reaction isn't the most important consideration."
"No," Harry agreed. "Ginny's is."
"No, Harry. Your love is."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
The following day, Monday, dawned bright. Harry knew this because he was up to see it. He knew he couldn't keep this up. Going sleepless wasn't fun. Tossing and turning all night with a restless mind wasn't any fun at all. He felt worn out, and he had a day to face. He had to find out, he had to know even if her answer wasn't what he wanted it to be.
By six, he knew what he had to do. He was showered, dressed and downstairs drinking tea when Molly entered the kitchen at six thirty.
"Oh! Harry, I didn't expect you to be down so early!"
"I didn't sleep well," he admitted.
"Oh?"
"Mrs Weasley, could you come and sit down, please? I need... I need to speak to you."
Slowly, Molly returned her apron, which she'd been in the process of taking down to put on, to it's hook, and walked over to the table. Sitting down across from him, she looked at him closely. There were dark rings under his eyes, and a very, very apprehensive look in them as he looked up at her over the rim of his mug.
"What is it, Harry?"
"I..." He hesitated. He had Mr Weasley's permission, but somehow... somehow having Molly's approval meant even more to him. In that moment he knew that, even if the girl in question hadn't been Ginny, he would have been sitting here, looking for a positive reaction to what he was about to say to Molly Weasley. It wasn't because Ginny was her daughter that he was seeking it, but on some level, because he wanted her approval of him. As a mother.
"Harry?"
Harry poured her a cup of tea and pushed the steaming mug across to her.
"I spoke to Mr Weasley yesterday."
"Yes, Arthur told me you've arranged for the Order members..."
"That wasn't all we spoke about."
Molly flushed. "I know."
"I've been going over and over this in my head. I know what I want... what I need. And I think I know what Ginny wants, at least, I hope I'm right."
"You are, love."
"And I know that that is all that should matter..."
"Harry..."
"But I don't want to upset you. I know Ginny's young, Mrs Weasley, but..."
"Harry," Molly interrupted quietly. "I was just sixteen when Arthur Weasley asked me to marry him. I'd just finished my OWLs. He had just finished his first year of Auror training."
"Auror...?" Harry looked at her, shocked. Mr Weasley had been trained to be an auror?
"Oh, yes, Harry," Molly smiled at him, and Harry was somehow reminded of Hermione the day before. Was it a motherhood thing that caused that smile? Or was it... could it be simply love for one's family? "Arthur wanted to be an auror. More than... well, almost more than anything."
Sometimes we have to choose between duty and dreams. Preferences, even. Things do tend to work out in the end, but in making those choices, we grow. We grow up. Harry heard Arthur's voice, the words he has spoken when they'd talked of Ron's options, in his mind.
"He came to my parents' house to speak to my father. My father told him that I was too young, that I was expected to finish my NEWTs before he would even consider Arthur's request.
"Arthur respected that. He was about to leave when I took off my brother Gideon's invisibility cloak and made it very clear to my father the way it was going to be."
Harry shuddered at the thought of a young Molly Prewitt laying down the law with her father. If she'd been even half as forceful at sixteen as she was now...
"I told him," Molly continued. "That one of two things was going to happen. Either he was going to give Arthur Weasley his permission to ask for my hand, and let us marry, or I'd make damned sure that I was with child by Christmas and cause a scandal to end all scandals. Either way, I intended to be married by the end of the year."
"What happened?"
"Arthur was horrified," Molly smiled fondly at the memory. "And terribly embarrassed. My father was shocked, and after yelling at me for a good twenty minutes, gave in. We were married a month later. I was still pregnant by Christmas, although only just."
Harry was silent, knowing there was more coming.
"Harry, I know that I seem to harp on your age... and the others', too. Love, Arthur and I haven't had an easy time of it. When you marry young, your options can be limited. But what I failed to take into consideration was that I wouldn't trade it for the world. Not one of my children, not Arthur, not the struggle financially, none if it. Harry, I know how you feel about Ginny, and how Ginny feels about you. The only thing I ask is that you give her every support, every encouragement, to follow her dreams, just as Arthur has done for me."
"I want her to be happy, Mrs Weasley. I want to be the one to make her happy. I want... my happiness depends on hers. I know we're young, but this... this is real."
"I know," Molly patted his hand, smiled, then stood and moved to where her apron hung. Putting it on, tying it in back, she began to prepare breakfast for her family.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
"Where are we going?" Ginny giggled as Harry pulled her into the floo.
"The Leaky Cauldron!" he called, and they spun through space to be deposited in Tom's hearth at Diagon Alley.
"Bit early for a drink, don't you think?" she asked with a smirk, knowing full well that they weren't there for a drink.
"We're not staying here," Harry laughed, pulling her through into the alley with him.
"Then what are we here for?"
"Some things we forgot on our last trip," Harry explained, dragging her along after him.
"Harry! I told you that I wasn't buying school robes..."
"I'm not taking you to buy school robes," he cut her off with a kiss before pulling her along again.
Finding the shop that Hermione had told him about, he entered and began looking around.
"May I help you, sir?" The wizard behind the counter looked at them for a moment before recognizing Harry. "Oh, my! You're..."
"Yes. I am. And my girlfriend needs some jewellery."
"Jewel... Harry!" Ginny turned shocked brown eyes on him. Harry could feel the storm coming, but the saleswizard was apparently quite experienced in dealing with such situations, and stepped in immediately.
"Ah," the saleswizard smiled, looking Ginny over carefully. "Lovely coloring... and that skin! Pearls, Mr Potter?"
"Pearls," Harry nodded his confirmation, his eyes dancing as he watched her. "Good ones."
"We only sell the best, Mr Potter," the rather indignant man took out his wand and waved it at a nearby display case, which opened with a click. With a further wiggle of his wand, a strand of pearls danced out and moved towards Ginny, snaking around her neck and clasping themselves there.
Ginny was speechless.
"You like?" Harry asked with a grin.
"They're... cool. Against my skin, I mean."
"They will warm in a moment, my dear," the saleswizard explained. "And eventually, they will take on a lustre from being worn against such a lovely throat. Pearls are meant to be worn."
"We'll take them," Harry said, eyeing the ivory warmth against her neck.
"Mr Potter... you did say jewellery, plural?"
"Yes."
"Harry!"
"Might I suggest, then..." the wizard continued, ignoring Ginny's horrified squeal, and moving over behind a counter. Reaching down behind it, he brought out a dark velvet case. "This has only just come in... very old family... a family of the Light side, I assure you, Mr Potter, so no worries. This is rumored to have originally been given to Rowena Ravenclaw by her suitor..."
"Godric Gryffindor!" Ginny gasped, her eyes widening as the wizard opened the case to reveal a heavy antique gold chain, hanging from which was a deep green emerald the size of a cherry.
"Oh!"
"Put it on, Ginny," Harry said gruffly. "I want to see it on you."
Ginny's fingers, however, didn't work. The sales wizard moved behind her and clasped the chain around her neck, not daring to use magic with this heirloom.
"Oh, Harry..." Ginny sighed, looking down.
"We'll take it," Harry whispered hoarsely, watching as the green light, reflected by the shining gem, danced against the skin of Ginny's chest.
"Harry, I can't accept this," she said quietly, regretfully.
"I'll buy it anyhow," Harry informed her. "It could have been made for you, Ginny. That emerald... the color against your hair..."
"The color of your eyes, Harry," she turned to look at him, and smiled.
Harry swallowed.
"Have a look around then, Mr Potter, while I package this up. I doubt you want the young lady walking through Diagon Alley wearing such a splendid piece."
Harry glanced around, while Ginny stared at the wizard as he replaced the pendant in it's worn case and proceeded to package it up. When he offered to do the same with her pearls, she refused.
"Like you said, they're meant to be worn."
"Yes, my dear. They are," he smiled at her.
It wasn't long before Harry spotted exactly what he was looking for in a case a few feet away.
"Gin? Come here?"
The saleswizard smiled again, knowing what that case held, what was coming, and what a story this would make... being present when the Boy Who Lived proposed to the Weasley girl!
"Harry?" Ginny's eyes rounded as she saw what the case held. She looked up at Harry, trying to convey something.
"I'd like..." Harry swallowed nervously before shoring up his courage and trying again. "I'd like you to tell me which one of these you like."
"Harry, these are..." Ginny looked at him meaningfully before glancing at the saleswizard and back to Harry.
"I know what they are, Gin," he said in a gruff whisper. "This was the only way I could think of to get you here... to tell you... Ginny, please! I'd like you to please tell me which one you like. If you... if you like any of them... or could imagine yourself ever liking any of them... ever. As long as you need to... to decide... if you..."
Ginny had tears in her eyes as she looked down at the case full of rings. They were all beautiful. All ornate... sparkling with expensive gems.
"Harry?"
Harry's eyes showed his worry, but he couldn't look away as she looked from the case back up to him, her brown eyes concerned.
Here it is... here is where she tells you where to get off... she'll dump you now, you know. It's all you deserve, you great prat... proposing to her in a jewellery shop, in front of a witness. This is going to be all over the...
"Ginny, you don't have to..."
"I like them all," she said softly. "But I have a few... things... I'd like to say."
"Alright," Harry nodded.
"If I were to accept a ring from... someone... I would want it to be one I could wear every day, with pride. It would have to be big enough to remind me every time I looked at it of how much the person who gave it to me loved me, but small enough that I wouldn't have to worry about wearing it around my children. Around my babies. Many babies, Harry, because I want a large family."
Harry nodded.
"It would have to be gold, because silver... someone I care very much about couldn't be around me if it were. And I'd never want to have to take it off. I'd never want to have any reason to take it off, Harry. Ever. Do you understand?"
"You wouldn't, ever. I promise," Harry's throat felt like it was lined with sandpaper. He swallowed again, his eyes not leaving hers.
"It would have to be modest enough to not embarrass my family, Harry. We're simple people, and there are things so much more important than what money can buy. Anyone I accepted a ring from would have to understand that what was in his heart is what is most important to me, and to them. No matter what is in his vault."
"Yes."
"And... it would have to be forever, Harry. I would want..." she hesitated.
"Ginny?"
"I would want what my parents have with the person who I accepted a ring from. My parents are soul-bound, Harry. I wouldn't want anything less."
The saleswizard, who was trying to stay inconspicuous behind the sales counter, gasped at this. Harry, although not entirely sure of what this meant, knew he'd never deny her anything.
"I'm bound to you in more ways than I could ever have thought possible, Ginny. I can't imagine not being."
"Then," Ginny took a deep breath before continuing, almost regretfully, Harry thought. "When you've spoken to my father, we'll look at what is available."
Harry smiled. "Then, as I spoke to him yesterday, and he gave us his blessing, as your mum did this morning, perhaps this gentleman would show us some rings that might qualify?"
Ginny stared, shocked. "You... already?"
"I wouldn't have asked you without talking to your parents, Gin. I know you too well to think I could get away with anything less."
"Harry!"
The stunned clerk grinned suddenly, and fumbled with his wand.
"Simple, I believe the young lady said. Gold, not silver, large enough to be proud of, and small enough to be considered modest. Pretty, but not ostentatious. I believe I have just the thing. As a matter of fact, I'm certain of it!"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
They were silent as they walked, hand in hand, back to the Leaky Cauldron. Tom greeted them and Harry ordered two butterbeers.
"You really spoke to my parents?" Ginny asked quietly, tracing the ancient indentations on the table with her finger.
"Would I lie to you?"
"No, I just..." she flushed, her bright eyes meeting his as her hand stilled on the table. "Oh, Harry... did you really ask that?"
"I don't think I've really asked anything at all, yet," Harry smiled. "Ginny, will you? Marry me?"
Ginny's face lit and she threw her arms around him, nearly knocking over the table just as Tom returned with their drinks.
"Oh, Harry, of course I'll marry you!"
Which was how it came ot pass that two versions of Harry Potter's proposal to Ginny Weasley were reported in various publications within the week.
Harry and Ginny returned to Potter Manor just before lunch. As it was Monday, Arthur was off at work, Charlie and Bill were both off on Order business, and the twins were at their shop. Hermione was in the library, beginning a cataloguing project that she had informed them would make studying for NEWTs easier, and Fleur was taking advantage of Pascal's nap time to get some extra rest herself. They found Molly and Ron in the kitchen.
With a smile, Ginny moved over behind her mother, who hadn't yet turned from the kitchen counter where she was rolling out pastry for what, Harry hoped, would be a treacle tart. His brand new fiance slid her arms around her mother's shoulders in a hug.
"Oh! Oh, Ginny, you startled...Oh, Merlin! Is that...?"
"Yes, it is, Mum," Ginny smiled and stepped back as her mother turned, grasping her hand to inspect her new ring.
"Is what what?" Ron asked from the table. He'd looked up from a Canon's game sheet, reaching for his cup of tea as he stuffed the remainder of what appeared to be a ham sandwich into his mouth.
"An engagement ring, Ron," Ginny laughed. "Harry's asked me to be Mrs Potter."
"You did it!" Ron stood, swallowing quickly, and grinning from ear to ear.
"I... yes. Yes, I did," Harry nodded, taking a deep breath.
"And she didn't knock you back? Silly cow."
"Hey!" Ginny growled.
"Congratulations, Gin," Ron came forward to hug his sister, lifting her off the floor with the force of his embrace, then held out his hand for Harry to shake. "About time you made an honest woman of her, Potter."
"Ronald Weasley!" Molly looked at him, horrified.
"Sorry, Mum," Ron colored, then winked at Harry. Harry grinned, and pulled Ginny to his side.
"Ron, I found just the book..." Hermione entered the kitchen, then looked up from the book she'd been reading. "Oh, you're back. What lovely pearls, Ginny."
"Pearls?" Molly turned questioning eyes on her only daughter before catching sight of the pearls at her throat. "Oh, my!"
"They're an... engagement gift. From Harry," Ginny said softly, fingering the warmth of the gems around her neck. Her eyes met Harry's, and his softened as he looked at her. They'd agreed to keep the other gift a secret, for now. Ginny had insisted that Harry keep the emerald and give it to her as a wedding gift.
Hermione's eyes went wide with surprise at Ginny's announcement, then glanced down to Ginny's hand. Upon seeing the ring there, she squealed shrilly and launched herself at Harry, who barely had time to react before one hundred and ten pounds of bushy-haired witch hit him. Hard.
He hugged her happily, then set her back on her feet so that she could hug Ginny.
"Oh, this is so wonderful! This is so right! Oh, Ginny, congratulations!"
"She's a bit excitable these days," Ron commented drolly to Harry as the girls embraced, pulling Molly into the hug as well.
"No, really?" Harry responded. "I would never have noticed."
"You wait," Ron said. "Your time is coming."
"In spades, actually," Harry sighed. "Ginny made me promise her a big family."
Ron groaned.
"Which reminds me, Ron," Harry turned to his friend, remembering his conversation with Ginny in the shop and wanting to clarify something. "What is a...?"
"Soul binding!" Molly screeched. "Harry... you... really?"
"You didn't?" Ron paled.
"I'd do anything for Ginny, Ron," Harry said quietly, suddenly understanding that, whatever it was he'd promised, it was big. "It's what she asked for. Of course I agreed."
"Oh!" Molly squealed again as she pulled Harry into her arms as Ginny watched, happily, and Hermione watched, shocked.
"You do know what you've agreeed to, mate?" Ron asked after Molly had let him go and returned to the girls, excitedly talking about wedding plans.
"Um..." Harry swallowed nervously, glancing between the women and his best friend. "Not exactly. But I'm assuming it's big?"
Ron snorted, shaking his head, and looking at his best friend fondly. "You haven't a clue, do you, you daft prat? You know, you shouldn't be let out alone."
Harry smiled. "Doesn't matter."
"Doesn't matter?" Ron stared at him. "Yeah, I can see how it wouldn't. Small thing. Insignificant, really."
"Okay, what?"
"You've agreed to a soul binding, Harry. It means that a magical ceremony will be performed, binding your soul to Ginny's for eternity."
"So?" Harry shrugged. Was that all? "Sounds like a win-win to me."
"Harry!" Ron looked at him, stunned. "Eternity! As in, every life from this one on, you have to find each other. No one else. Ever. If you don't find her, you'll be alone for that lifetime!"
Harry glanced at Ginny, who was looking at him worriedly while giving half her attention to her mother, who was talking about flowers. He smiled. Ginny seemed to take a breath and relax before smiling back. Suddenly, he knew that she knew that Ron had been explaining it to him.
"Doesn' t matter, Ron," Harry said, loud enough for her to hear. "I'd do it ten times over it it meant that I got her in every life coming. It wouldn't be worth coming back, otherwise."
Hermione turned moist eyes up at him and gave a happy little hiccup before throwing herself into Ron's arms, and Ginny smiled. Harry felt his heart flip over in his chest as he watched her face light up with happiness. If the truth were told, he'd promise a soul-binding for nothing more than a smile from her.
Ron just shook his head, and hugged his wife.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Harry had never seen anything like it. Molly Weasley in full command mode was frightening... had been frightening when she'd taken over the organization of Ron and Hermione's wedding... but the organization of her only daughter's engagement party left that in the dust. Within an hour of their announcement in the kitchen, Molly had a full party planned, for that night, at Potter Manor. Food was being prepared, and hand-written invitations were being penned almost before Harry could take a breath.
"Harry?"
"Gin..."
"Sorry, love," Ginny sighed.
"For what?"
"For what?" Ginny laughed. "Hurricane Molly, that's what!"
"I'm glad that she's happy about this, Gin. I certainly wouldn't take the enjoyment of organizing a party away from her."
"But..."
"There is one thing, though."
"What?" Ginny looked up at him, her worry obvious.
"There's someone that... well, someone I'd like to tell personally, rather than tonight."
"Remus?"
"Yes." Sometimes he was amazed at how well she knew him.
"Let's go," she said, pulling him towards the floo.
"Do you mind?"
"Of course not, silly! Mum?"
"Yes, love?" Molly looked up from the stack of parchment in front of her. Hedwig, who'd been summoned had perched on a chair back and was looking at the stack with what could easily pass for a doubtful expression on her face. Harry nearly laughed.
"We're going to Grimmauld Place. Harry wants to talk to Remus."
"Of course, love. Ginny... do you want the Longbottoms?"
"Whomever you think, Mum."
Harry stepped forward and pulled out his money-bag from his robe pocket and laid it on the table. "Hire some post-owls, Mrs Weasley."
"Oh, Harry... do you think...?"
Harry smiled. "I might need Hedwig later. Use her for the local ones, but send post owls along to the rest."
"Oh, well..." Molly smiled. "I'll do that, then, love. Thank you."
Harry winked at his bird, then followed Ginny to the floo. He could have sworn he saw Hedwig straighten her back indignantly, but he couldn't really tell if she was mad or not. She wouldn't look at him.
"Bloody bird," he muttered. Ginny giggled.
"I had no idea," he said quietly as he wrapped his arms around her in preparation for their tandem trip through the floo network.
"No idea of what?"
"That the engagement party would happen this fast. Or that it would rival Ron and Hermione's wedding for the number of guests," Harry smiled, before tossing a handful of floo powder at their feet and speaking. "12 Grimmauld Place."
Upon arrival, Ginny looked up uncertainly. "Do you mind?"
"Mind what?" Tonks asked, looking at them from where she sat at the kitchen table, three quarts of ice cream in front of her, and a spoon in her hand.
"No, I don't," Harry replied. "Hi, Tonks. Hungry?"
"Hungry, nothing. Bloody cravings," the pink-haired auror said, disgustedly. "Can you believe that the corner shop didn't have any Chunky Monkey?"
"Shocking," Harry comisserated, watching as she dipped her spoon into what appeared to be strawberry. "Where is Remus?"
"The corner shop didn't have Chunky Monkey!" She said by way of explanation, looking at him over the rim of the ice cream carton as though he'd lost his mind.
Just as Harry was about to question this further, they heard the front door close and footsteps in the hall. Tonks perked up expectantly.
"Sorry, love," Remus entered, carrying a shopping bag. "I've been to six stores, none of them have... oh, hello Harry. Ginny."
Tonks shot him a look that very clearly asked what he was doing back if he'd been unable to find the flavor she was craving.
"The last place had something called 'tiger-tail', though," Remus smiled, pulling a carton out of the bag.
Tonks pounced, ripping off the lid to reveal a disgusting blend of orange and black. Plunging her spoon in, she took a mouthful and moaned happily, her hair turning the same colors as the ice cream.
"That can't be hygenic," Harry commented. "Shall I get her a bowl?"
"You're assuming that she intends to leave any for someone else," Remus returned, gazing fondly at his wife.
"That bad?"
"That good," Remus laughed. "What brings you two by?"
"Well, we have news."
Remus stilled, the smile fading from his face. He'd been in the process of making a pot of tea, but turned to look at Harry.
"News?"
"Good news," Harry said.
"What... kind of news?" Remus asked quietly, apprehensively glancing at Ginny, then back again.
"Not Ron and Hermione kind of news, Remus," Harry grinned. "Relax."
Remus raised his eyebrows.
Harry looked at Ginny, who smiled, then held up her hand, wiggling her fingers so that the light would catch the stone in the ring.
"You..." Remus turned to look at Harry. "Really?"
"Really."
"Oh, Harry!" Remus came forward, pulling Harry into a hug. "Congratulations! Oh... your parents... Harry, they'd be so proud of you!"
Tonks was exclaiming over Ginny's ring.
"Mum wants you to come by tonight," Ginny said.
"The formal announcement?"
"Rather," Harry sighed. "Be prepared for a crowd."
Remus laughed.
"Mum was taking care of the invitations as we left," Ginny said, her cheeks pink. "She's kind of like... well, rather like a dragon in full battle mode, to be honest."
Even Tonks giggled at that.
"I wanted..." Harry looked up at the aging werewolf as the laughter died. "I wanted you to know. First."
"Thank you, Harry," Remus said gently, his pale grey eyes softening as they looked at the younger man. "That means a lot to me."
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
There is number four, my friends. Hope you enjoyed it – pure fluff, of course... but that's what it was meant to be. Remember, Voldie's dead, and the wizarding world is breathing, relieved... what could possibly happen?
To my brilliant reviewers: You're all great. Every last one of you. Thanks so much for taking the time to read, review, encourage, critique, and generally spend time helping me become a better writer. It's very much appreciated! The site owners of ff dot net have deemed it now against the rules for me to respond to you all – I will try to respond to you all personally in the coming days – rest assured, every review is important to me. Thanks!