Chapter 31

Ginny didn't know how long they sat up and cuddled but she was suddenly awakened by the sun beaming through Draco's window. She kissed him softly and left him asleep in his dormitory. Ginny took a shower and met the trio down at breakfast. She couldn't help but smile as she thought of what happened the previous night with Draco. Hermione eyed her suspiciously. "Ginny. You seem to be in a wonderful mood today."

Ginny blushed. "Oh really? I guess I just had a good night's sleep is all."

Ron shot his glance towards her. "Why are you all red?"

Ginny shrugged. "I was thinking of taking a walk by the lake. Do you all want to join me?" She addressed the trio. Ron and Hermione were obviously still not speaking as they were acting as if the other didn't exist.

They all nodded in agreement and left the Great Hall. Draco and Emmery noticed them leaving and followed them outside. Draco slid his hands around her waist and kissed the back of her head as they walked. Ron rolled his eyes and sighed in disappointment of his presence. There were several students and professors walking along the lake including Cormac McLaggen.

Cormac noticed them and walked towards them. "Well, if it isn't the golden trio and the traitors."

Draco pushed Cormac immediately but Ginny and Hermione protested and stood in between them. Ron chuckled at the scene. "You should listen to the girls Malfoy or Dumbledore will expel you for sure this time. Why do you even care what a loser like him says anyway?"

Draco didn't respond but stared dangerously at Cormac. Cormac seemed to be waiting for Ron to speak as he now shifted his focus on him. "Loser Weasley? If anyone's losing around here it's you with your poor excuse for Quidditch play! If that's even what game you're trying to play out there. At times it looks like a game of cricket!"

Ron turned crimson. Hermione now pushed Cormac in anger. "Cormac you couldn't hold a candle to Ron's Quidditch skills and you know it! You didn't last a week when you had the chance! And now you're Madam Hooch's assistant? I guess what they say is true. Those who cannot do, teach!"

Cormac pulled Hermione close and whispered but loud enough for them all to hear. "I can show you one thing I can do right now."

Ron gently shoved Hermione out of the way and punched Cormac clean in the nose. Everyone pulled him off and pushed Cormac away. They all walked quickly over to a small group of students and looked around wondering if anyone had seen anything. "Looks like no one noticed. What do you say Potter?" Draco said to Harry quietly.

Harry nodded. "Believe it or not, I think you're right."

Hermione was trying to calm Ron down as he was pushing her away. "Ron, it's okay. Thank you for doing that."

Ron gave her an evil glare. "What makes you think I did that for you? He had it coming to him didn't he? I just had a clean shot so I took it." Everyone went silent.

Hermione looked away as tears filled her eyes. Draco scoffed in disgust. "Look Weasley, I think we're all getting extremely tired of these games. Just get this over with!"

Ron looked over at Draco in shock. "What games? What do you know about anything Malfoy? Get what over with?"

Malfoy shook his head in frustration as everyone watched. "I know a lot more about you and her than you do! I know that every time she comes near you, you turn redder than your hair. I know that every time she walks away, you watch her. I know that as much as you try to hide it, you want to hear everything she has to say. And that's a whole lot to hear Weasley….No offense Granger." Hermione just smiled in shock at Draco as he continued. "I know that you can't stand the sight of any bloke other than Potter talking to her. I know that you don't have the courage to tell her that you're in love with her!"

Everyone gasped at this as Ron looked around at them trying to gesture how crazy Draco was sounding. Ron started to walk away when Draco stopped him. "Listen Weasley. That girl has done nothing but stand by your side and wait all these years to for you to drum up enough courage to tell her how you feel. There will come a day when she's going to give up on you so stop wasting time driving the rest of us crazy! Just tell her!"

Draco was staring Ron down with his hand on his chest preventing him from leaving and gesturing for him to look at Hermione. Ron looked around at the group who were waiting with bated breath for his response. Harry was giving Ron an encouraging smile while Hermione was speechless, embarrassed, and grinning.

Ron looked over at Hermione and took a long and deep breath. He walked over to her and cupped her face in his hands. He slowly leaned down and kissed her gently. Everyone was still silent, holding their breath, but smiling at the sight. Hermione suddenly flung her arms around his neck and kissed him back passionately. Everyone finally let out a sigh and started giggling and whispering. "Finally" "How wonderful." "Took him long enough."

Harry laughed loudly and started shaking Draco's hand. "I couldn't have said it better myself Malfoy! Shall we leave them to it?" Draco nodded as the four of them trotted back to the castle leaving Ron and Hermione to enjoy their first kiss in private.

Ginny kept glancing back as she skipped. "My Mum is going to be so happy. I can't believe you said all that Draco! It was so romantic!"

Draco gave her a fake disgusted look. "It wasn't romantic Ginny. It was just the truth. I just couldn't bear to see Herm-Granger go through it any longer. I was about to tell her to give up on him myself. I think your brother's more stubborn than you…If that's possible." Ginny whacked him in the shoulder as they walked back into the Great Hall for Lunch.

Draco and Emmery sat with Harry and Ginny at the Gryffindor table and were relieved that the latest buzz wasn't about them but about Ron and Hermione. They were almost finished with their meal when Ron and Hermione floated in hand and hand. They were both the same shade of crimson and bore permanent smiles. They sat down across from Ginny and Draco and didn't speak a word but began eating quickly. Ginny noticed them exchanging glances at each other and smiling flirtatiously. Ginny made a mental note to send an owl to her Mum after lunch to announce the wonderful news.

As the weeks went by, Ginny and Draco spent even more time together as did Ron and Hermione. It was at the Valentine's feast that Ron did something that even shocked himself. Professor Dumbledore had waived Ron over for a word. Ron walked over slowly as he wondered what he could possibly want. "Mr. Weasley, I have noticed that you and Miss Granger have finally discussed how much you care for one another. I just wanted you to know that I am pleased to see you two together and I have been told that you're now receiving top marks in all of your classes."

Ron blushed. "Yes sir. I guess that since it's all out in the open, I can concentrate on my studies."

Dumbledore laughed. "Indeed. I simply wish we could have gotten that out of the way your first year. I daresay you would be in much better shape now would you not?"

Ron laughed also. "Yes sir." He turned to walk away but then hesitated and looked back at Dumbledore. "Sir, do you think that it's too soon to know-well what I mean is….Is it too soon to start thinking about-or planning for the future?" Ron was beside himself at his question. He didn't even know what he meant.

Luckily, Dumbledore knew exactly what Ron was getting at and winked at him. "Mr. Weasley, I think you've wasted enough time already. You know what your heart is telling you and I would suggest listening to it. You were meant for each other. But, if you don't choose to listen to your heart then at least listen to your Mum. She knows you best." Dumbledore winked again as Ron clutched onto something in his pocket.

Ron took a deep breath and walked quickly towards Hermione. He grabbed her hand and helped her up. Many students were already watching him speaking to Dumbledore and had yet to look away. Hermione looked at Ginny and Harry wondering what was going on. Ginny and Harry simply shrugged not knowing anything.

Ron kissed her gently and whispered. "I love you Hermione."

Hermione gasped and kissed him back quickly. "I love you Ron." She was so delighted as he had never spoken those words to her before. She turned to sit back down but Ron gripped her by the hips and smiled at her. Everyone in the Great Hall was watching in silence. "What is it Ron?" She asked curiously.

Ron was staring at her with certainty and a smile. He suddenly got down on one knee as the entire Great Hall gasped and shrieked in excitement. Hermione put both hands over her mouth in shock. Ron chuckled and removed a small black box from his pocket. At that very moment Ginny had never seen Ron appear so in charge and confident in his life.

He opened the box and revealed a small diamond ring that Ginny recognized as her Mum's engagement ring. "Hermione, I've loved you since the first moment I saw you. I love everything about you and love who I am when I'm with you. Well at least now that it's all out in the open and I'm not acting like a cowardly prat that can't talk about how he feels…." Hermione giggled and Ron shook his head trying to get back on track. "Anyways, I don't want another moment to go by not knowing that we will be together forever. Will you marry me Hermione?"

Hermione shed one small tear and cried out. "Of course I'll marry you! I love you Ron!" They hugged and kissed as almost the entire school clapped and yelled words of approval. Ginny began to cry and ran to hug them both. Ron was bombarded with handshakes from many of the boys including Harry. When Draco extended his hand to him, Ron pulled him into an awkward hug and yelled over the roars of the Great Hall. "I wouldn't have ever done it if you hadn't made me! Thanks mate!"

Draco nodded in response and let Ron continue his handshakes to the other students. Another few weeks flew by as Hermione and Ginny began to plan the wedding in between classes. Ginny was dying to ask Hermione questions about the relationship and finally got her alone one Saturday afternoon. "Hermione? Ron is going to be your first right?"

Hermione spit out her pumpkin juice she was sipping in the common room. "What kind of question is that? Of course he will be! You know me Ginny!"

Ginny laughed. "I know, I know. It's just that well obviously I'm so inexperienced and I don't know what to do when the time comes with Draco."

Hemione sighed. "Ginny. You'll know exactly what to do because it will be the right time. Don't take this the wrong way but I'm sure Draco knows what he's doing."

Ginny laughed loudly. "You can say that again."

Hermione sat up quickly with her mouth opened widely. "What is that supposed to mean? Have you? How far have you?"

Ginny just smiled and quickly brought Hermione up to speed. Hermione sat back in shock with a grin. "Well Ginny. It sounds like you guys are going to be just fine. Don't worry about it though. It will happen when it's supposed to and you will know what to do. But….Can I be honest with you Ginny?"

Hermione was now whispering and looked rather nervous. Ginny nodded and leaned in closer. "Well it's just that Ron has been discussing how wonderful our honeymoon is going to be and I know it's because he thinks we are going to…well you know do it our wedding night and well…."

Ginny interrupted. "Hermione, it's kind of part of getting married you know. You can't just not do it. That wouldn't really be fair to Ron."

Hermione laughed loudly. "That's not what I meant. Ginny, I've always planned on waiting until my wedding night to have sex for the first time but now that Ron and I are finally together….Well I just don't think I can wait that long."

Ginny started laughing hysterically and eventually Hermione joined in. "It's just that, well I really love your brother and when we're alone….I don't know what it is. Maybe all those years of anticipation, but I just don't want to waste another minute putting it off. But I want him to think of me respectfully and if we do it now it may ruin it don't you think?"

Ginny stopped laughing suddenly. "Hermione, you are giving Ron way too much credit. He would be so wrapped up in what just happened that he wouldn't care whether or not it was before or after the wedding. Ugh! Let's change the subject." Ginny started to feel her stomach turn thinking of Ron that way. They laughed and went down to the Great Hall together and caught Ron, Harry, and Draco discussing an article in a Quidditch magazine.

Draco was looking at Ron in disbelief. "How could you possibly think that a broom like that could beat the one I have?" Draco said as he pointed to the newest broom in the magazine. "I don't care how new it is Weasley. Mine is simply much faster."

Ron laughed loudly. "You keep telling yourself that Malfoy. Just don't be surprised if you get out flown by the Ravenclaw seeker. He just got one and I saw him practicing on it this morning and know that it's faster than yours."

Hermione and Ginny interrupted their discussion with talk about the wedding. Ginny was acting as if it were her own. "You know Ron, the bridesmaids dresses are going to be a powder blue so you need to make sure the shop knows to make your dress robes to match."

Ron looked at her as if she had thrown him off the Quidditch team. "Why can't you tell them that? Isn't that a maid of honor type of job?" Ginny nodded happily. "And when did we decide on powder blue? I don't remember discussing that!" Ron said in a deep voice.

Hermione responded casually. "It's because I've known that the dresses were going to be powder blue since I was three. There was nothing to discuss. Oh and the flowers are going to be lilies. Isn't that wonderful?"

Ron looked at Hermione as if she were crazy. "Sure. Lilies are great." He looked over at Draco and Harry who shrugged happily as they had no intention of joining the conversation. "Look why don't you two just continue planning it and just tell me when and where to show up? Then I won't need to know any of this."

Hermione and Ginny laughed and broke off into discussing more details of the wedding. Draco eyed Ginny with satisfaction as he hadn't ever seen her so excited about anything. "You know Weasley, you're lucky they're inviting you at all. It seems like weddings were invented for girls anyways." Draco whispered.

Harry chuckled. "He's right you know. Hermione's been planning this day for years and she's not about to let you ruin it." Ron laughed in agreement and was thankful that she didn't want him to make any of the decisions. The remainder of the day was spent as usual for the group since the proposal. Hermione, Ginny, and Emmery talking about wedding plans and the boys talking about how lucky they were to be excluded. Harry, Ron, and Draco would often sneak off to the pitch for hours without even being missed by the girls.