Chapter Two: Lily's Ring

Harry was still holding Ginny in his arms when the sun was setting over the hills. They knew that it was almost over. Their one day of togetherness was drawing to a close. Harry squeezed Ginny's shoulders more tightly as though trying to hold on to the precious time that they had left.

They were sitting in the same compartment as before. They were fully clothed and had their backs to the train's corridor. Harry was leaning with his back against the wall while Ginny was sitting between his legs with her back resting against Harry's chest.

When she felt his arm tighten around her, Ginny squeezed the hand that Harry had lain in her lap and laced their fingers together. Neither of them ever wanted to leave the train when it pulled into King's Cross, but this year they felt as if leaving would cause something in them to die. It was as though this compartment was the one place in the world where they felt safe and happy.

Ginny looked up at Harry, "Why do you suppose none of the others have come looking for us?"

Harry considered this question for a moment. Their entire ride home had been completely uninterrupted, barring a visit from the trolley woman. This seemed odd to Harry as most of the time his friends came looking for him. Then he said, "I suppose Neville and Luna told them to stay away."

Ginny nodded, accepting the answer as the most likely scenario. But then she looked down at their laced hands and asked, "What now?"

Harry didn't need to ask what she meant by that. He knew that she was talking about their relationship. He sighed heavily feeling utterly lost.

"I have no idea what we should do," he said truthfully, "but I suppose we'll have to start pretending to be 'just friends'."

Ginny nodded again. She understood that this was the way things had to be, "When are you coming to the burrow?"

"Two weeks," he said heavily, "that ought to be enough time to ensure the stability of protective spells."

"Speaking of protection," Ginny said quickly, "What about headquarters? With Dumbledore gone…"

"Don't worry. McGonagall took over as secret keeper the moment Dumbledore died."

Ginny relaxed into his arms a bit. "Do you think we should go see how the others are doing," she asked, "They may want to see us."

Harry nodded as Ginny pulled herself away from him. He stood up after her and smoothed out his wrinkled clothes. He sighed deeply as Ginny removed the locking spell from the door.

It didn't take very long to find the others. They were in the compartment at the very end of the train. Hermione and Ron were holding hands and talking while Luna and Neville played Exploding Snap. They all looked up when Harry and Ginny entered through the door.

"Hi," Hermione said softly.

"Hi," Ginny said back.

There was silence. Harry sat down right across from Hermione and Ron. They all looked at each other. Harry knew that they wanted to know what the plan was. They wanted to know what they were going to do about the horcruxes and had been waiting patiently all day to find out.

"So," Ron said, "what's on the agenda?"

"First," Harry said, "you two will go to the burrow. Your parents will be there, won't they, Hermione?"

She nodded, drinking in all of his words. "I'll go to the Dursley's," Harry continued, "and stay there for a fortnight before meeting you there."

"A fortnight," Ron exclaimed, "why do you need to stay for so long?"

"Just trying to be careful," Harry said grimly, "So, after that's done, we stay at the burrow until I become of age and we see Bill and Fleur get married."

Ginny rolled her eyes and sighed. Harry had to restrain the urge to laugh. Ginny would never like Fleur.

"Then we investigate," he went on, "McGonagall said that Dumbledore wanted me to have his pensieve as well as a few other things. She's bringing them to the burrow as soon as she gets everything settled with the governors."

"How will we know where to look," Hermione asked, "Did Dumbledore leave clues in the pensieve?"

"Sort of," Harry said, "It's up to us to figure out what everything means."

Hermione sat up straighter at this. This was something that she loved. If there were anything to figure out, she would be the one to do it.

"Then what," asked Ron, "What do we do when we figure out the clues?"

"We go horcrux hunting," Harry told him darkly. Ginny clutched Harry's hand but did not say anything.

The train pulled to a stop. Harry looked down at Ginny just as her eyes snapped up to meet his. There was fear written plainly on her face. She was on the verge of tears again. Harry squeezed her hand tightly and she did the same.

"C'mon," he whispered to her, "Lets get our things."

She sniffed and nodded before pulling herself up to leave. Harry followed her out the door and went to remove his trunk from their compartment. She reached up to retrieve her own trunk. Harry could hear her muffled sobs as she hid her face behind curtains of red hair.

Harry knew that Ron and Hermione were behind him, waiting for them at the door. But he had to hold her. He couldn't stand there and watch her cry and not reach out to comfort her.

He grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to face him. Before Ginny could speak, Harry wrapped his arms around her and brought his lips down to hers. He kissed her with all the strength he had left in him. He wanted to convey, without words, that he loved her and that this separation wasn't permanent. He wanted her to know that things would some day be better.

He pulled away from her and looked down into her sparkling brown eyes. She was so beautiful when she cried. It made her seem fragile and precious. She backed away and pulled her trunk down to the floor. Harry did the same with his own and followed Ginny to the nearest exit.

"It doesn't have to be so hard, you know," Hermione said quietly to Harry as they watched Ron walking ahead of them with his arms around Ginny's shoulders.

"What else can I do," he asked with tears in his voice.

"We can bring her with us. She's dealt with horcruxes before. She could be a big help."

Harry conceded that this was true. She had dealt with them before. But that experience didn't exactly go well, a fact that he pointed out to Hermione.

"But now that she knows what they are she'll know to be careful."

"I just want to know that she's safe," Harry said, "and she won't be if she's running after horcruxes with us. Besides, I don't want Voldemort to know how much I care about her. What if he uses her against me?"

"But, Harry, don't you see," Hermione said, "Snape will have told him by now that you two are together. You can't protect her anymore. She doesn't need you to be her savior she needs you to be her boyfriend."

"Fiancé," Harry said before he could stop himself.

"Excuse me," she said, her eyes wide, "did you say fiancé? You two are engaged!"

"Sort of."

Hermione sighed. "Well," she said, "all the more reason to stay by her. As a matter of fact, I would encourage you two to hurry up and get married as soon as possible."

"Why," Harry asked, "Do you think one of us is going to die or something?"

"No," she said, "But if you two are married she won't be able to divulge any information about you against her will. Not even with Veritaserum."

"Really?"

Hermione nodded sagely. Harry considered what she had said. Voldemort already knows about them and marrying her would actually keep them both safer. What the hell, he thought, why shouldn't we get married?

"Doesn't she have to be of age to marry," he asked.

"Not if she has her parents permission," Hermione said smiling.

Harry looked up at Ginny, still walking directly in front of him with her head on her brother's shoulder. He smiled at thought of how wonderful it would be to marry her.

"I don't have a ring," Harry said as they stepped onto the platform.

"Actually," she said, her face lighting up as she pulled a box out of her pocket, "McGonagall gave me this earlier, before we got onto the train. She said it was from Dumbledore and that she would have the rest of the things he gave you once she found them all."

"It's not that black and gold ring, is it?"

She blushed and said, "Why do you just assume I looked at it?"

"It seemed like you knew what it was. And besides, you're a girl," he said watching her blush grow.

"Well, no, its not a black and gold ring."

Harry opened the box and lying inside was a beautiful ring of intricately woven silver, with a fairly large square shaped diamond sitting on top of it. He pulled it out and examined it before noticing that there was a note underneath the cushion. He took it out and unfolded it. In Dumbledore's handwriting it said:

Harry,

This ring belonged to your mother. One day, I hope you will find someone who will wear it with the same grace and pride that Lily did.

Albus

P.S. I think that it looks best when worn by someone with red hair.

Harry showed the letter to Hermione. She laughed as tears sprang to her eyes. "Well then," she said, "you had better go ask her before she crosses the barrier."

Harry ran ahead and stopped Ginny just as she was about to step through. She spun on her heal with blazing curiosity written on her face.

Slowly he got down on one knee. Silence swept through the platform. Harry presented the ring and Ginny's breath hitched in her throat. Harry could feel all eyes on him as he took a deep breath.

"Ginny," he said steadily, "I know I said that we had to be apart. But I can't do that. I love you far too much to let Voldemort come between us. I want to be with you forever. I don't want to let this war control my life any longer. Say that you'll marry me as soon as possible, the first available moment, and I promise to be there for you for the rest of my life."

"What are you, crazy," Ginny bellowed, "Of course I'll marry you!"

Screaming applause broke out over the platform. Harry stood up quickly and took her in his arms. He held her tightly as he spun her around. She shrieked with laughter and he told her that he loved her over and over again.

Setting her down on her feet, Harry placed the ring on Ginny's finger. She looked at it, awed by its beauty. And then kissed him deeply in front of the entire school population.

More applause could be heard and even a few calls of 'Get a room!' Harry pulled away from her and grabbed his trunk that was lying beside him.

"Lets go tell your parents," he said excitedly.

He looked up at Ron who was utterly dumbfounded. "Well," he said clapping Harry on the back, "guess that makes us brothers now."

They walked into Kings Cross smiling widely. The Weasley's were easily spotted. Mr and Mrs. Weasley were standing a little way off with Bill, Charlie, the twins, and Fleur. Lupin and Tonks were with them, holding hands. They all seemed rather surprised to see the students smiling and laughing with each other.

Ginny raced towards her mother while Harry dragged both of their trunks behind him. She thrust her left hand upon Mrs.Weasley speaking franticly and casting her head over her shoulder in Harry's direction. He could not properly hear everything that had been said but was soon met by Mrs.Weasley's, Tonk's and Fleur's shrieks of delight. The Weasley men all laughed and Fred and George ran towards Harry and dragged him over to the congregation.

Harry laughed with them as shouts of "Congratulations!" and "I knew it!" met his ears. He realized suddenly that he had a real family now. The Weasley's would be his actual family. Harry smiled until his mouth hurt as he hugged everyone and Fleur kissed him repeatedly on the cheeks.

Soon Harry was standing face to face with Arthur Weasley. He would have to get his permission in order to marry his daughter. Harry swallowed nervously and looked up at his, hopefully, soon-to-be father-in-law.

"Mr.Weasley…" Harry began.

"Of course you can marry my daughter Harry," he boomed before Harry could even ask, "We'd be proud to have you in the family. And you can call me Arthur now, or Dad if you like."

"Really," Harry asked, thrilled at the prospect of having a 'dad'.

Mr.Weasley nodded and Harry stuck out his hand saying, "Well thanks, Dad."

Harry had intended to shake Mr.Weasley's hand but he batted it away and gave Harry a bone-crushing hug.

"I think I'll go see my fiancé now," Harry said smiling as Mr.Weasley put him down.

Ginny was standing in a small circle with Tonks, Fleur and her mother, showing off her new engagement ring. Fleur was holding Ginny's left hand and holding the ring close to her face.

"Eet is Magneeficent," she said, her beautiful face glowing.

"Harry," Mrs.Weasley exclaimed, "Where ever did you get such a beautiful ring?"

"It was my mothers," he told her.

"When do you plan on having the wedding," Tonks asked happily.

"Well, actually," Harry said inclining his head towards Fleur, "I was hoping that it would be okay to double with you and Bill. That is, if it happens after my seventeenth birthday."

"I am sure zat we can accommodate you," Fleur said, "But eet will have to be a treeple wedding."

"What," Ginny and Harry said simultaneously.

"Remus and I are getting married," Tonks blushed into her violently orange hair.

"That's great," Harry said hugging Tonks for what must have been the fourth time since he got off the train, and locking eyes with a very happy Remus as he looked over her shoulder.

"Do you theenk zat 'Ermione would agree to be a brides maid," Fleur asked, "seeing as we 'ave lost one already."

"She might," Ginny said, "As long as Ron isn't over there popping the question right now."

They laughed and looked over at Ron and Hermione who were standing very close together and speaking in frantic whispers.

Harry shifted his focus to the people standing behind them. The Dursley's were staring at the loud group in confusion, causing Harry to laugh even more loudly.

"I have to go soon," Harry said to Ginny, "How'd you like to meet my aunt, uncle and cousin before I do?" She smiled and followed him over to his family.

"Hello," Harry said cheerily to his aunt and uncle.

"Who's this, then," Vernan asked gruffly.

"Oh," He said, "This is my fiancé, Ginny."

She smiled and extended her hand politely. The Dursley's simply stared at her and Ginny lowered her hand again.

"Fiancé," Petunia shrieked, "I should've known you'd marry young just like your mother."

Harry and Ginny both laughed even though it was not meant as a joke.

"I do hope you can make it to the wedding," Ginny said genially. The Dursley's looked highly offended at the insinuation that they would like to attend.

"I'll be right back," Harry told them, "I just have to say goodbye."

Without waiting for a response, Harry and Ginny turned back to their family. Harry kissed her and sent her back to her mother as he made his way over to the male members of the family who were all standing in a circle not far off from the women.

"I just wanted to say goodbye before I left." Harry said to all of them.

"See ya soon, mate," Fred said.

"Yeah," George added, "and you better remember to be good to our sister or we'll start using you to test our products on."

Harry laughed and said, "I'll remember that." He then turned his attention to Remus Lupin, who was smiling more widely than Harry had ever seen him do.

"Congratulations," Lupin said sincerely.

"Same to you," Harry said.

"You know," Remus said, "I always knew you'd be a sucker for a redhead just like your father."

Everyone laughed at his joke and said their goodbyes. Harry couldn't wait for the next two weeks to be over so that he could be with his family again.