Three days later the couple slipped off to Hogsmeade and went to the one jewelry store there, a latter-day version of Zales Jewelers, but this one specialized in magical jewelry. In this case, however, they simply needed one that could virtually guarantee a happy marriage even before it occurred—at least according to legend. Not that they really needed it, but neither did it pay to take chances, not after what they'd already been through.

Finally one was found that was virtually the same color as Harry's eyes and surrounded by a dozen small diamonds, set in 24k yellow gold. It naturally fit Ginny's finger perfectly, but then all the rings in this place were magically treated so that would happen with whomever tried the ring on. Ginny fell in love with it at first sight; it was the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen—and most importantly, it reminded her of a certain pair of green eyes that she loved very much … not to mention the rest of him!

It didn't take much for Harry to guess which ring Ginny wanted, so he didn't bother to ask, just quietly asked the clerk how much it was and went from there. He was told three hundred pounds, which translated to just over two thousand dollars (or three hundred Galleons).

Once they managed to leave the store, he asked her if she wanted to stop and have something to eat. It was close enough to suppertime, though, that she shook her head with a smile and said it was best that they headed home. Harry didn't argue, particularly since he'd managed to ready the special picture frame he'd bought her earlier and planned to give it to her later that evening just before they retired.

They got home just in time for supper, Apparating into her room and when called, appearing to have been in there a while, supposedly studying, even having changed clothes to their everyday preferences before heading down to join everyone else at table. It took a while for Ginny's ring to be noticed (and Hermione, being roughly as sharp-eyed as the proverbial hawk, spotted it almost immediately). Nor was she afraid to comment on it, which started everyone else asking questions. It got so bad that Harry was ready to threaten everyone with a silencing spell before they finally subsided.

"When did you get that, Ginny? It's beautiful," Hermione opined from beside her friend.

"We went to Hogsmeade earlier today and Harry got it for me. It's a promise ring." All knew what that meant, so they didn't question either of them further—at least not publicly, which meant in front of anyone else in the house. "I fell in love with it right away. Doesn't the green gem remind you of Harry's eyes? It certainly did me."

Naturally everyone smiled and agreed with that, at least to Ginny's face, and the rest of the meal passed without incident. Once they got back to the room, Harry thought he'd better give her the special frame while he still had the nerve. After the door closed behind them, he quickly snatched it from the bedside table and hid behind him until he reached her.

"There's something else I want to give you, Gin. Hold out your hands and close your eyes."

She gave him a skeptical look but didn't argue; he carefully placed the framed picture in her hands and put his own behind his back, patiently waiting for her to notice the latest gift and give him her opinion.

"Okay, open them now."

She opened her eyes to see a beautifully carved picture frame which looked like wood but was actually a type of metal. Ginny especially liked the inscription at the top of the frame: "To Ginny – I'll Always Love You – Harry". She had no idea when he'd had it done, but what mattered was that it had been done.

These types of frames could be made to order, with a limit of three poses, the first simply showing a smiling Harry (which was rare enough to be unique in itself, although he had been doing it far more often than before since he and Ginny had officially been reunited), another pose showing them with their arms around each other – or more accurately, both of them smiling with his arms around her from behind and his cheek resting on her hair. The other showed them holding each other and kissing.

"Do you like it? It was hard to choose just the right poses, but I thought you'd like these best."

"It's beautiful. I love it. Thank you, love. I especially like it when I move it to the left and it shows us snogging." She gave him a sly smile. "I think I'll pose it that way on the nightstand, at least for now. Just so you don't forget who you belong to any more than I do."

"I don't think there's too much danger of that, especially when you consider this," he commented, reaching for her hand with the ring and kissing it.

"I would hope not, but it doesn't pay to take chances," Ginny returned matter-of-factly. "Which reminds me—do you think it gave my clueless prat of a brother any ideas regarding Hermione? Specifically, making him consider proposing to her? Even if she has to wait until you lot graduate, it's still not as long as I'm going to have to wait." He gave her a hurt look. "Nothing against you, love. I just don't like the idea of having to wait until I get out of school, that's all."

"Who can be sure what will provoke Ron into action? We'll just have to wait and see. If it doesn't work, I may have to spike his drink with Felix Felicis or something. As for you … if you want to be able to get married without having to ask permission, waiting until your graduation is the best thing to do, since you won't be of age until next August ... and by then I'll be eighteen."

"That reminds me … I've put an Invisibility Charm on your birthday present so you won't be able to see it until I want you to see it."

"I wish you could give me a hint," Harry mock-groused.

"Sorry. No hints. Besides, it's only three more days until your birthday. Surely you can wait three more days," Ginny mock-scolded him. " Now maybe you have some idea of how I'm going to feel waiting for my graduation. By the way, have you heard anything new on the legal front?"

"I was told the Ministry finally found some stuff on Draco, and that they'd send it to me, but I haven't got it yet. Wouldn't it be something if it came in the midst of my party?"

"I hope not. I don't want anything to detract from the party. The day after would be all right, though."

"Why not? A party's supposed to be a happy time, and anything that adds to the positive feelings of the participants can hardly detract from it. Especially something that ensures that Draco will get put away for life, just as I intend Dudley to be."

"You have a point," she had to admit.

"Damn bloody right I do," he declared. "What do you want to do now? We could study some more, watch a video … or even go to bed and shag each other silly. Personally, I vote for the latter."

"I declare, my love, you are absolutely insatiable!" Ginny scolded him.

"Can I help it if you're so delicious I just can't get enough of you?" Harry countered with a sly wink.

"All right … on one condition," she returned.

"Name it."

"Let me make love to you first. There's something I've always wanted to try and it requires the woman to take the initiative."

He looked kind of surprised at first, then smiled. "Is this part of my birthday present?"

"You could say that. Now is it a deal or not?"

"How can I possibly say no? After all, I don't want to miss out on any part of my birthday."

"Then let's get to it, Mister. But make sure the door's locked first."

"Oh, it is. It's been locked since we've been in here."

"Great. Now come to bed and I'll give you the most memorable shagging of your life."

And one may be assured that it was! In fact it was something that Harry wasn't sure he would ever recover from … but at the same time, something he wouldn't mind repeating on occasion, if not on a regular basis. It was frankly too exhausting, albeit extremely pleasurable, for the man to endure very often. Also, if this was only part of his birthday present, only Merlin knew what she had planned for him that night!