Chapter Three:
A Bundle of Surprises
Disclaimer: You know the drill…I don't own any of the characters (except the ones you don't recognize)…they all belong to J.K. Rowling!
A/N: (3-28-06) I'm sorry that it's been awhile since I've updated…it's the end of the quarter for me right now and I have had a test almost every day this week. But guess what happens after the end of the quarter? (which is 3-30-06 by the way) Spring Break! Yay! Even though I'm not going anywhere…my parents' stupid jobs! So I'll be doing a lot of typing then! So expect quicker updates! But for now – enjoy Chapter 3: A Bundle of Surprises and don't forget to review! thanks to all my readers. kisses, rupertgrintfanatic
Hermione awoke the next morning to find Ron gone and very little memory of what had happened the night before except that Ron had said he was sorry.
"Good morning Antares," she said cheerfully, tying a note to her leg. "Go bring that to Ginny." Antares hooted and flew out the door and downstairs.
"Hi Hermione," Ginny said happily, appearing a few minutes later. "How are you feeling?"
"A little better. Where's Ron?"
"No idea. He left early this morning. Didn't say where he was going or when he'd be back." Ginny gave Hermione a searching look. "Why?"
"He never came to see me." Hermione lied. Although lying wasn't her thing, she didn't feel like she could talk to Ginny about what had taken place the night before. "That's all."
"Oh." Ginny looked surprised. "I'm sure he will today. Now you rest up. I'll come by around lunchtime if he hasn't shown up yet." She smiled knowingly.
Ron was happy. He had bought a ring for Hermione. Actually he had just picked it out, Fred and George had paid for it. They owed him something.
He was going to have Mum cook a fancy dinner and have just the two of them eat it. And then he'd propose. Hopefully.
Ginny of course had a mission. She had to find out if Hermione would accept. Ron didn't particularly like the idea of him making a fool of himself.
But no matter what happens, he'd still love her.
"Ginny I have a job for you." Ron said urgently the moment he got home.
"What?" She groaned. Usually, Ron's jobs consisted of her cleaning up his room or doing his chores or something of that sort.
"Ask Hermione if I asked her, would she marry me. But don't tell her I told you to ask her that."
"Why exactly am I doing this again?" Ginny questioned.
"Because you're my little sister. And you love me." Ron teased.
"No why do you want me to ask her that?" Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Oh." Ron's ears began to turn red. "I'm going to propose to her tonight."
"So you want me to say 'Hermione, if Ron were to propose, would you say yes?' Right?" Ginny asked, clarifying her job.
"Brilliant. Now go do it!" Ron shoved her out of the kitchen.
"Hi Hermione. How are you feeling?" Ginny said knocking on the door.
"Better." Hermione smiled, putting down the book she was reading.
"You have hair!" Ginny looked surprised.
"A simple growing charm," she smiled. "What's new?"
"Nothing really," Ginny sat down on the chair by Hermione's bed. "If Ron were to propose to you, what would you say?"
"Yes of course," Hermione replied automatically. "Why?"
"I'm just wondering," Ginny shrugged. "I've been thinking a lot about Harry. He's still not home yet."
"I'm sure he's fine. He might be out shopping for something special." She laughed.
"Well Mum's making a special dinner tonight so you'll have to come down. Bill and Fleur apparently have a special announcement to make. Hopefully it's not that she's pregnant." Ginny shook her head. "See you later."
"So?" Rona asked anxiously.
"She said yes," Ginny sighed.
"Hey," Ron said softly as he walked into Hermione's room that evening.
"Hi. I thought you'd never come back." Hermione smiled.
"You have hair!" Ron ran his hand through her hair.
"I know." Hermione touched her hair self-consciously.
"Are you ready to go down to dinner?" Ron asked, scooping her up in his arms.
"Only if you are," she smiled.
They ate in silence, Hermione not commenting on the fact that they were eating alone.
Ron felt nervous. He needed to get it over with.
"Ron," Hermione said suddenly. "Why isn't anyone else here? I thought Bill and Fleur were coming."
"Well. Hermione…" Ron said, getting down on one knee.
Hermione gasped her eyes wide with shock as Ron produced a huge diamond ring outlined in sky blue sapphires.
"Hermione – will you marry me?" He asked.
"Oh Ron!" She said, tears running down her face. "Of course I will!" She allowed Ron to slip the ring on her finger.
"I promise never to be as stupid as I was when I wrote you that letter again," Ron vowed as he carried her back-up to Percy's old room.
"Ron, I don't think that's a promise you can keep," Hermione laughed, kissing him.
"Hey!" Ron said, pretending to look offended. "I'm hurt Hermione Gra-"
"Shh. Don't talk," Hermione silenced him with another kiss.
"Hermione we shouldn't…" Ron protested as he laid her down on her bed, hovering over her reluctantly.
"Ron," Hermione pleaded her eyes full of longing.
"No." Ron said firmly, kissing her on the lips. "You need your rest."
"But…" Hermione looked disappointed.
"Don't make me help you get changed," Ron threatened.
"You'll come back right?" Hermione whispered.
"Of course," Ron kissed her once again before leaving the room.
Hermione admired the sparkling diamond in the light, moving it side to side to admire all aspects of it.
She had never been happier. Ron had asked her to be his wife. She was going to be a Weasley. And there was nothing that could stop that.
"Harry?" Ginny asked in confusion as she opened the door.
"Ginny," Harry breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh Harry!" Ginny threw her arms around him, sobbing.
"You're safe," Harry held her close, inhaling her familiar sent. "Don't cry." He wiped the tears off her cheeks.
"I was so worried that something happened to you." Ginny sniffed
"No, I just made a stop at Godric's Hollow. I bought a house there." He followed Ginny into the kitchen.
"Why?" She asked confused.
"I bought the house that was built over my parents' old house." Harry said numbly.
"Why?" Ginny asked again, feeling more confused.
"I felt I had to," Harry said. "I'm moving in next week."
"You'll be so lonely," Ginny looked concerned.
"Not if you come with," Harry suggested.
"I don't know Harry. We had trouble enough when we went on vacation together."
"Think about it," Harry pleaded.
"I will," she promised.
Mrs. Weasley entered Hermione's room the next morning, finding both Hermione and Ron asleep, Ron holding Hermione in his arms protectively. She shook her head in amazement and gently prodded Ron awake.
"Ron!" She whispered.
"Whozzair?" Ron jerked awake and blinked dumbly at him mum.
"Ronald Weasley! I thought you had better common sense than this!" She scolded.
"Sorry Mum," Ron turned crimson.
"You should be! Hermione's been through a lot. She needs rest. Not a 'fun night' with you," Mrs. Weasley frowned.
"Mum…" Ron groaned, realizing what she meant. "We did nothing of that sort. Now go away before you wake Hermione."
"Don't you order me around, Ronald!" Mrs. Weasley shrilled loudly. "I expect you downstairs in ten minutes." She stormed out of the room.
"Ron? What did you Mum want?" Hermione questioned as soon as Mrs. Weasley had left.
"Me to leave you alone," Ron replied brushing Hermione's hair off her forehead.
"She doesn't know yet?" Hermione looked worried.
"Not yet." Ron stated. "But she will soon."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Stayed tuned for Chapter Four: A Bag Full of Bad News! Coming soon – I promise…until next time: rupertgrintfanatic