All characters are property of JK Rowling and I do not make a profit from this story.

Beta: Roman's Sundial

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Three Engagements

Ron Weasley – Present Day

April 22, 2000

Ron had woken up really early and headed to Grimmauld Place to go through a few documents that Harry had left there for him. Both Harry and Hermione had found it quite odd that Grindelwald had escaped Nurmengard, and so together with Ron, they were trying to figure out exactly how he had done it. They knew that he was under the Abracadabra curse, but without a wand, he wasn't able to cast it upon himself, so he clearly had inside help. The only people that it could be, however, were those employed at the prison. Although the Order of the Phoenix didn't think it was important to determine who it was, (after all, they already knew that Grindelwald had several followers), Harry, Ron, and Hermione knew from experience that every little detail mattered when taking down a dark wizard, and so Ron started to look through the employee files that Harry had retrieved. He had only just begun however, when he heard a noise coming from upstairs. He quietly pointed his wand up towards the ceiling and muttered "Homenum Revelio". Instantly, he saw the shadow of three people laying in the chamber where Fred and George used to sleep. He knew of course that these were the sleeping vessels of Remus, Tonks, and the muggle girl. There was a fourth shadow, however, in the room where Ginny and Hermione used to share. Knowing that Andromeda was currently not at Grimmauld Place since she had a follow-up appointment at St. Mungo's, Ron could only assume that it was Ginny up in her old room. Had her and Harry had a go at each other? He made his way upstairs, prepared to comfort his little sister, only to discover that it wasn't Ginny, but instead, Hermione. "Hermione?" he said, more surprised than anything else.

"Oh, Ron, I didn't think anyone was here!" she made to hide her face, but Ron noticed that she was crying.

"Hermione, what's wrong?" he asked, stopping her from trying to wipe her tears.

"It's n-nothing, Ron, I'm f-fine," she lied, still trying to turn away.

"You're not bloody well fine, Hermione! Just tell me what's going on," he pushed.

"It's silly, really," she said, giving up and allowing him to hand her a handkerchief. "It's just that I-I have nowhere to go."

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked, confused. "You've got the Burrow and here at Grimmauld Place, and you know you're always welcomed at Harry's flat."

"I know I'll always be welcomed at those places," Hermione smiled weakly. "But none of them are my home. I suppose it's just hitting me that I don't have a home of my own."

"But you do have a home; it's where your family is and we are your family, Hermione."

"My family doesn't know I exist," she whispered, tears pouring down her face.

"Aren't you and Healer Martus working on fixing that?" he asked her.

"It's on our list, but we haven't started yet. Still, there's no guarantee that we'll be successful and, even if we are, I can't bring them here whilst Grindelwald is a threat; it would be like Voldemort all over again, what would have been the point in modifying their memories to begin with?"

"We will beat Grindelwald, just like we did with You-Know-Who. Until then, you've always got us, I promise."

"Thanks Ron, I appreciate it, I really do, but it's hard not having my own home with my own stuff. I'm using your mother's towels at the Burrow, she's planning what's for dinner, I'm sleeping in a room that she's decorated! It's just not the same as having your own place."

"I was going to tell you eventually, so I may as well tell you now."

"Tell me what?"

Ron heaved in a big sigh. "You do have your own place."

"What are you talking about?"

"Remember your van full of stuff? I didn't just want to leave it where anyone can touch it…"

Hermione gasped. "You still have my stuff?"

"Of course I do! What did you think I did with it? Throw it out?"

"I don't know what I was thinking, really. Perhaps your dad got into it not knowing what it was, or your mum throw it out thinking it was rubbish. Perhaps you tossed it because…"

"Because I was angry with you for kissing Malfoy?" Ron finished for her. Hermione looked ashamed, but nodded. "I was angry, Hermione, but I also know what those things mean to you; I would never have tossed them."

Hermione was crying again, but this time it was of happiness. "Where are they, Ron? Oh, thank you so much! To know that I still have a piece of home…"

"You have more than a piece of home, you have a home."

"Ron, I appreciate your gesture, but-"

"Just come with me," he interrupted.

"What? Where?"

"I told you, to your home."

"Ron…"

"Just come on!" Ron walked out of the room and towards the front landing before she could try and argue with him. As he had hoped, Hermione had followed him. He took a hold of her hand and without saying a word, apparated the pair of them to a familiar place.

"Where are we?" Hermione asked, as they landed at the end of a small lane. "This place looks so familiar; it's like I've been here before."

"You have been here before," son Ron with a smug look on his face.

"How do you know?"

"Because I was with you."

"But-"

"Just look around and think, will you?"

Hermione didn't respond but instead did as Ron had asked. She walked a couple of paces to a nearby street sign. "Griffin's Lane," she read aloud. She turned around and noticed a dainty inn in the distance. "Ron, this is…"

"If I remember your words correctly, your dream home." He walked towards the small little cottage that Hermione had fallen in love with, and produced a key. Astonished, Hermione watched him unlock the front door. "Are you coming in?" he asked her, when she hadn't moved. She finally stepped into the front door and looked around. A lot of the cottage had items that she didn't recognize, like a pastel green couch and a brown wooden rocking chair. But there were many things she did recognize, like the framed photo on the wall of her with her parents, as well as a crystal vase on the table that had belonged to her mother.

"Ron, how…?" was all she managed to say.

"I contacted the realtor the day after we saw it," he started to say. "I knew you wanted it and so I bought it," he shrugged.

"But how could you afford it?"

"Harry," he said, looking down. "But I've paid him back now; he deducted money every week from my pay at the Dobwig Association until I paid back the amount that I had borrowed from him for the down payment. He didn't want to of course, but I told him that I had to do this on my own, not just accept money from him. I pay the payments every month to the muggle bank now; Gringotts exchanges the sickles for me." Ron saw the tears building up in Hermione's eyes, so he continued talking before she could have a good cry. "The van is in the garage; it was probably the hardest part since I haven't a clue on how to drive it! Anyway, here's your key," he said, handing her the key that he had just used to unlock the door.

"I can't accept this," she finally had the ability to say.

"Of course you can, I bought it for you!" He noticed her eyes glance towards a picture of him and her on the opposite wall. "Oh, uh, I decorated the place when we were still together so, uh, there's some of my stuff here too," he said, looking at his feet. "I'll clear it away, of course, at the time I had just assumed that it would, uh, be us living in here…"

Hermione smiled, and then almost knocked him over when she flung herself into his arms. "Thank you," she cried into his shoulder. "Ron, thank you, I have no words!"

"No problem," he managed to say as he was trying to breath.

"You'll transfer the payment responsibility to me," she said, finally letting go of him. "And you'll tell me what I owe you for the down payment; I will pay all of it back."

"No, that isn't what I want," said Ron, but Hermione cut him off.

"Well, it's what I want. Now, how many bedrooms are there?" she asked him.

"Three," he answered. "There's the main bedroom, then the guest bedroom, and I set up the third one as an office for you."

"Then I shall move my items out of the master and that shall be yours, and I'll go into the spare room."

"What do you mean?" asked Ron, confused.

"You bought this place for us, Ron," she said. "Even if we aren't, well, together anymore, it doesn't mean that we both still can't live here."

"You want me to move in?" he asked her, astounded. "Of course! And don't worry about changing anything; we are friends that live together, so a few photos of us together have no harm at all!"

Ron stood there in shock for awhile before finally speaking. "I'm not taking the master bedroom though; that's yours and I won't argue about it. I'll take the spare and we can both continue to make the payments on the house."

Hermione smiled. "Fine, but I'm paying half of what you've already paid back to you."

Ron stretched out his hand. "Deal, roommate!" he said, waiting for her to shake his hand.

Hermione laughed and knocked his hand out of the way as she hugged him again. "Thank you Ron, you really are a great friend."

Harry Potter – Present Day

April 29, 2000

It was only about a week ago that Harry had taken Ginny to St. Mungo's to get tested, and sure enough, Ginny was indeed pregnant. After using the week to process everything in his mind, he came to the decision that he had to do the only sensible thing that there was; marry Ginny. Of course, his intentions had always been to marry her, but he had hoped to do it on his own terms and not like this. Nevertheless, last night, he got down on his knee, pulled out his mother's ring, and proposed to Ginny in the flat that they shared. She was, of course, thrilled, and believed him when he explained that he had wanted to do this all along, regardless of the pregnancy. But now it was time to do the hardest part of all: ask her father for permission. Harry had apparated to the Burrow early that morning, hoping to catch both Molly and Arthur. Just as he had wanted, he encountered Molly alone in the kitchen. "Hello, Molly," he said, as he walked in.

"Harry, Dear, what a surprise! How are you?"

"Fine, just fine, thanks. I was hoping we could schedule a dinner tonight?"

"Here, Dear?"

"Yeah, I figured it's a Saturday, so most people should be home."

"Why not!"

"Great! I was just thinking we should invite those we are close to, so all the Weasleys, Hermione, Hagrid, and such."

"I'll send owls right away, Dear! What's the occasion?"

"It's a bit of a surprise, really."

"But how do I know what kind of cake to bake, then?"

"Chocolate is fine," said Harry, not knowing what else to say. "Where's Mr. Weasley? I would like a word with him."

"In the shed, but I need to know what shape to make the cake; simple cakes bring down the mood, don't you think?"

"Uh, yeah, okay… Um, a heart would be fine, then."

"A heart?" repeated Molly, sounding disappointed.

"Yeah, a heart will be great. See you tonight, then!" he said, and hurried off towards the shed before she could ask him anymore questions. "Mr. Weasley?" Harry called out, once he entered the shed.

"Harry, m'boy! How are you?" he responded, clapping Harry on the back once he got near him.

"Great, yourself?"

"As good as I could be, I suppose. I'm trying to understand how these fellytones work, but don't you tell Molly!"

Harry laughed. "Don't worry, I won't."

"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Harry froze; it was now or never he supposed. "I've asked Molly to organize a small dinner party tonight," he started, trying to find the nerve to ask what he needed to ask.

"Oh? Is there something to celebrate?"

"Yes," Harry said plainly. Mr. Weasley looked at him curiously but did not speak. "See, I was wondering if, er, you would g-give me Ginny's hand…"

Arthur dropped the telephone that he was holding in his hand. "You wish to marry my daughter?" he asked. The look on his face was impossible for Harry to read.

"Er, yes," was all Harry could muster.

"And this celebration is to let the family know?" Arthur asked. Harry nodded. "Which means," continued Arthur, "that you have already asked Ginny and I would presume that she said yes."

"I wanted to ask you first, I swear," he blurted out. "But I think Ginny was catching on and I wanted it to be a surprise and-"

Arthur raised his hand to silence Harry. "Had it been anyone else, Harry, then I would admit that I would have been cross. She is my only daughter, after all." Arthur and Harry stood quietly looking at one another until Arthur beckoned to the chair behind him. Harry took a seat as Arthur followed, and after what felt like ages, Arthur finally spoke again. "You have done more for this family then anyone I know, Harry. You have saved my life, you have protected Ron, you have awoken two of my children, and that is only the tip of the iceberg. Harry, you have always been family to us, and now is the chance to legally make you my son."

Harry blinked quickly out of nervousness. "You mean you're not mad?"

Arthur laughed. "Of course I'm not mad! I would be honored if you would marry my daughter."

"Really?"

Arthur nodded. "She is a little young, I must admit, but I know you two are right for each other, and there's no rush or anything, is there? Engagements can last years!"

Stomach turning, Harry chose to ignore the latter of what Arthur said. "Thank you, Mr. Weasley," was what he chose to say instead. "Really, thank you."

"Harry, I think it is time to call me Arthur. Now run along to your fiancée; I believe I have a dinner to help my wife set up."

"You won't tell her?"

"It is not my place to tell anyone. She will be thrilled though, Harry, truly. I shall see you tonight."

Sighing a breath of relief, Harry apparated back to their flat to an anxiously awaiting Ginny. "I've got his permission and your mum is setting up a dinner! She doesn't know of course, but she will soon enough."

Ginny kissed him passionately out of excitement, and then released him to look down at the new ring on her hand. "I suppose I should act surprised then, when you propose to me at dinner," she said, slipping the ring off temporarily and giving it to Harry so that he could place it back on her finger later tonight.

"Actually, your dad figured out that I've already done it. He didn't mind though!" he added, seeing the look on Ginny's face. "But we will announce it at dinner, so maybe it's best for me to keep the ring for now so that nobody sees it on your finger until we are ready to tell them."

Ginny nodded in agreement. "And what about this?" she asked, placing her hand on her flat (but not for long) stomach.

Harry's stomach turned but he tried to ignore it. "We'll figure that out when we need to. For now, it's just about our engagement."

"Okay."

"Ginny, you know I want this, right? I would be lying if I said I planned it for now, what with Grindelwald and everything, but eventually I did want to marry you and have children."

"I don't doubt it for a moment," Ginny said smiling, then, wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him onto the couch where they were able to celebrate on their own first, before tonight's dinner.

Ginny Weasley – Present Day

April 29, 2000

Ginny ate until she could not eat anymore; she was surrounded by the majority of her family and friends and loads of her mother's cooking. Included at the table set up in the yard of the Burrow was a very pregnant Phlegm, a happy George and Angelina finally reunited, a healthier looking Andromeda and her grandson Teddy, Jessica and a fully recovered Amelia, all of her brothers including Charlie, her parents of course, Hagrid, Hermione, and, oddly enough, Draco. Ginny got up from the table to stretch her legs and was encountered by Hermione. She looked around to ensure that everyone else was busy in their own conversations, before asking why Draco was there.

"We're supposed to be engaged now, remember?" answered Hermione, twisting the ring on her finger. "Which means I need to bring him to things like this; the Ministry is watching!"

"But you aren't really engaged."

"No, but we have to play the part for now. Draco is enjoying it a bit too much, though."

"Don't act like you aren't either, Hermione!"

Hermione blushed. "Maybe a little; but there is no way I am getting involved with him again. I need a break from all these men and their drama!"

Ginny laughed. "That's why you moved in with Ron!"

"It's not like that!" she said, playfully hitting Ginny on the arm. "Anyway, enough about that; what is this dinner about?"

"You'll see," said Ginny, as she walked away from Hermione and took her seat again beside Harry.

"Shall I bring out the cake?" asked Molly.

"Just one moment," said Harry, standing up. "Er, as you all know, I asked you all here because I, uh, wanted to show you something." Confused at where Harry was going with this, Ginny looked towards him and attentively listened. Everyone else at the table was doing the same thing. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out her engagement ring. "This ring belonged to my parents; it has been in the Potter family for generations and it was the ring that my dad proposed to my mum with." Harry looked at the ring in silence for a moment before continuing. "Anything from my parents mean a lot to me, given the circumstances."

"I remember your mum wearin' that ring, Harry," said Hagrid.

"You do?" asked Harry, excitedly.

"She was right proud of it, she was," Hagrid continued. "I'm glad you were able to get it in your hands."

Harry nodded. "It's not for my hands though, is it?" he asked out loud. "This ring belongs to Ginny, and uh, it's the reason you're all here right now." Silently, Harry turned to Ginny and once again put the ring on her fourth finger of her left hand. Realizing Harry wasn't going to say anything else, Ginny spoke.

"Harry proposed to me last night and I said yes." As if on cue, all the gasps and claps started. Soon, both Ginny and Harry were swarmed with hugs, and Hagrid could be heard blowing hard into his tablecloth-sized handkerchief.

"Oh I knew it!" cried Molly. "I knew you two would get married!"

"Welcome to the family, Harry," said Bill, shaking Harry's hand.

Once the commotion settled down, Ginny turned to Hermione. "Looks like we'll both be planning weddings now." Ginny laughed at Hermione's expression, and even harder at the look of excitement on Draco's face.

"It's time for cake, I think!" said Molly, still wiping tears off of her face.

"Well done, Harry," said Percy, once everyone was settled back into their seats eating Molly's delicious cake. "Ginny, should you need any advice, do not hesitate to owl Audrey."

"That girl you said you were seeing?" asked Molly. "You met her at the Ministry, wasn't it?"

"Assistant to the Head of International Magical Cooperation," Percy answered proudly.

"Does she plan weddings on the side, then?" asked Angelina.

"Only ours," answered Percy nonchalantly. "But I must say she has quite the knack for it."

"Yours?" said Molly, spraying her butterbeer everywhere.

"We are getting married next month, didn't I tell you, Mother?"

"Married? Next month? No, you bloody well didn't tell me!"

"Oh, well Audrey will send out the invitations shortly, so you'll know all of the details."

"Invitations? Percy, I am your mother!"

"Which is why you'll be there of course!"

"WE HAVEN'T EVEN MET HER!"

As Molly and Percy continued their row, Ginny turned to her fiancé. "Never a dull moment at the Weasley house, is it?"

"No," Harry laughed. "But I'm thankful he's taken the attention off of me." Ginny laughed and put her arm through his. The first of two steps was over, but soon it would be time to deal with the harder one; announcing her unwedded pregnancy. She looked around the room again and shrugged to herself. If Percy could get away with a secret engagement, maybe she could pull this baby thing off after all.

Remus Lupin – The Past

October 31, 1981

He had apparated James to the cemetery immediately and asked for the staff to prepare him for burial. There was no need to have a Healer see to him first; although it was the norm, there was no denying what had killed James Potter. When he returned to the house, he took a moment to place his hand on Lily's stomach. His Godchild wasn't even given a chance at life. He sat there crying for hours when he suddenly felt a small kick. Flinching, Remus removed his hand and stared at Lily's stomach. Surely there was no way for the child to be alive? After a moment of hesitation, he placed his hand on her stomach again, only to feel two more kicks. Excited and scared at the same time, Remus made to reach for his wand to apparate Lily to St. Mungo's, when it was kicked away from him by Sirius Black.

"You!" screamed Remus, staring at his old best friend. "How could you? How could you?"

"Remus, listen-"

"No, I won't! You may have killed them, but their children live, and I will not allow you to hurt Harry and my Godchild!"

"The baby… The baby lives?"

"Get out of my way, Sirius; I am not afraid of you! I am taking Lily to a Healer and I am saving this child!"

"No," said Sirius, although he was stumbling his words. "Owl a Healer and have them come here, but don't move Lily."

"You truly are mad! First you have them killed, and now you want a baby to die?"

"Remus, I didn't have them ki-"

"I am taking her to a Healer; you've done enough, now move."

"No," Sirius said more firmly. "You need to owl them and have them come here, you cannot move Lily."

"Owl them? Owl them? By the time they get here, the baby will have died! I do not have time to owl them!"

"Then I will. Trust me Remus, you'll understand one day."

"Sirius, please!"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Author's Notes: LOVE all the reviews! Thank you so much, they truly make my day! So, let's talk about this chapter. Nothing too big in this one, except that Harry's sibling was alive in the womb after Lily perished (if the baby is alive now I will not tell you; you will eventually find out!)

Next chapter ends with a bit of a cliff hanger, followed by what I think is a sad flashback.

Lets reply to some reviews: In terms of Ginny's baby, I won't say anything except that James was born in 2004. In terms of how Harry acted, he truly had no idea what was going on.. I hope this chapter helps explain his view a little better and yes, Harry truly does care about Ginny! To answer the question about Yaxley.. This Yaxley is Rubin Yaxley who is a member of the Yaxley family but not the Death Eater (that was Corban Yaxley) which is why Rubin was never imprisoned (the point is to show that not all Death Eater's families participate in the dark magic) Also, he never defended Draco because he has no connection to the Malfoys; he simply supported whatever he felt was right or wrong, it doesn't matter to Rubin which family someone belongs to. There will be more about the Malfoys in time (for instance, we will find out who that intruder was and what they were after) The ritual knot - the idea kind of just came to me, I can't really explain how. I just feel that pureblood "toujour pur" families would want a magical way to ensure that their bloodlines stay pure and there's no chance of mixing blood, etc. I won't speak about Draco and why he was or wasn't set up to have a ritual knot with someone because you will eventually find out. Astoria comes from the Greengrass family so yes, she is part of the Sacred 28.. She will eventually enter this story.

Okay, I think I answered all of the reviews! Thank you so much, keep them coming!