Disclaimer: I've been trying for years to trade JKR my most worldly possessions (26 cents, a rubber band, and a broken candlestick) but she still wont give me the rights to Harry Potter!
A/N: And this is the last bit! The fluff continues, beware and enjoy!
FireFlies
Chapter Three
That day had been the start of the most magical journey of her life. The rest of the year had flown past in a whirlwind of sweet nothings and soft kisses. She hadn't thought he was much for romantics but he'd proven her wrong, as he had done so often before. On graduation day he and Harry had planned a surprise proposal for her and Ginny.
She smiles at the memory. When Harry had taken Ginny by the hand and led her into the gardens which had been magically grown for the celebration of the seventh year graduation, and he had brought her to the edge of the Forbidden forest, leading her past Hagrid's hut and into the clearing of thick trees, just as he'd done that first night with the fireflies.
She remembers how her stomach leapt into her throat; he'd only ever taken her there when he had something special planned, and this time was no exception. Once they were surrounded by the dark blackness of the tree trunks he stood in front of her, hands in his, and whispered sweetly in her ear.
He took her breath away, though, when he bent down on one knee and reached into his graduation cloak, pulling out a small velvet box. She had started to shake, completely taken aback.
He had asked her in a gentle voice, to make him the happiest wizard at Hogwarts, to marry him. And of course, without hesitation she'd answered yes, pulling him up to tower above her small frame. He'd slipped the beautiful white gold band with the single diamond, which, even she had to admit, was rather large for the Weasley finances, but he didn't seem to mind as he leaned in gently to kiss her softly.
Now, though, she plays with the band around her finger as she remembers Ginny's face as the four of them meet up in the garden again. She's wearing an equally gorgeous ring, too, and the four of them are surrounded in pure bliss.
Harry and Ginny will get married at the beginning of the summer, as long as her parents will allow it, since she won't have even graduated by then. And they will tie the knot just before they leave for battle.
She smiles to herself, remembering how happy that summer had been. Full of love and laughter, two marriages. Mrs. Weasley had never been so happy.
But by the end of the summer the four of them were forced to leave their newly married blissfulness behind as they ventured into the battle that would break them all.
She continues to twirl the band around her finger, reminiscing on their final hours together. They had finally distorted every Horcrux, making the Dark Lord mortal once more. Harry had led them into battle, confident but cautious, instructing them to leave if things got out of hand. He knew that was pointless instruction, none of them would flee, leaving him behind. Never.
He had died in battle, the way she'd known he'd have liked best; fighting to protect their love, their friendship, their lives. He had protected Harry, his best friend, from a nasty spell cast by Lord Voldemort, allowing Harry to carry on battling to the end. Which is exactly what he had done.
She had sobbed uncontrollably after, sitting with Harry and Ginny, both as beaten and bruised as she was, in St. Mungo's nights after.
It had taken her so long to finally live again, punishing herself for living and him dieing. It had been hard on all of them, but they managed to get through it together. Harry and Ginny had moved her into the flat they'd bought before they left for battle, not wanting her to be alone, and for that she was more than thankful, because only the truest of friends would do something so kind, even though it was the beginning of their marriage.
Now, though, she smiled at his memory, twisting her wedding band around her finger, remembering the day they'd first met, the day they'd first fought and all of the other times they'd filled the common room with their angry screams. She remember his smile and his friendship. She remember the fireflies, always the fireflies, because whenever she saw one as she walked through the park by the Potter's flat, and saw a stray one fluttering past, she would smile and remember the only one she'd ever loved.
Because, to her, he lived on through her fireflies.