Harry stood in front of the door to the study in Grimmauld Place. He could hear the quiet voices of James and Sirius from inside, yet they were too indistinct to make out individual words. After a mental nudge from Ginny, he pushed open the door and walked inside. He was met with a curious gaze from Sirius and a strange expression he couldn't identify from James.

"Hello Harry," Sirius said. "Did you need something?"

"Ah, well, mum said I should ask you for help, umm, James," Harry said, feeling suddenly very nervous.

Why can't I just fight Dark Wizards and be done with it? he wondered, earning laughter from Ginny.

"What did you want help with, Harry?" James asked, not unkindly.

"I need to go to Diagon Alley," Harry said. He took a deep breath and then, "I need to buy a ring for Ginny."

There was a pause as James looked at him, shocked. Harry, unable to stand the silence, tried to fill it desperately.

"I mean, we're already soul bonded, and nothing can change that. But we don't want to be apart again. We've already thought the other was dead for several months and also several years. And it is really hard to sleep at night without being together, but we doubt Mrs Weasley will be happy with that unless we're married. But we don't want to put anything on official record until the war is over, so we were thinking of doing a small bonding ceremony, then we can make it official after the war."

Sirius started to chuckle, "He reminds me of you, James, when you wanted help finding a ring for Lily."

James smiled slightly at the reminder.

"If Lily told you to ask me, I'll never hear the end of it if I said no. When did you want to go?" James said lightly.

"Umm, now?" Harry said, trying to ignore the idea that James was only going because Lily told him to.

"Alright," said James.

"Did you need company?" Sirius asked.

"No, you stay here, mate," James said as he stood and made his way over towards Harry. "Or head home to avoid Molly; she's either going to be on a rampage or gushing over everyone."

In the privacy of their minds, Ginny snorted at the honest appraisal of her mother.

Aren't you meant to be the one talking to her?

Shut up.

Harry's lips twitched upwards at Ginny's response before he turned his attention back into the room around him. He realised that James and Sirius were both looking at him curiously.

"Umm, sorry. Just something Ginny said," he said with a shrug.

"Merlin, that is strange," Sirius said, shaking his head. "Imagine having someone else able to listen in on all your conversations!"

"We can hide stuff from each other if we both agree to it. If we don't agree, it doesn't work though; I can't hide anything from Ginny if she is determined, and vice versa," Harry said. "But we only ever really do that for surprise presents, that sort of thing. We got used to sharing everything back in my world."

"Right," James said as he pulled the door open. "Come on, I have to let Lily know we're going."

Sirius clapped Harry on the shoulder as Harry followed James out of the room.

The two Potters made their way down to the kitchen where they found Lily pouring over a recipe for biscuits.

"We're just going to Diagon Alley, Lils," James said as he walked over to press a kiss on the top of her head.

"Okay, be careful and don't stay too late," Lily said smiling up at him.

Harry was caught suddenly with how ridiculously domestic the whole scene appeared to be, even as another part of him mind told him he had seen it thousands of times before. He clamped down hard on his emotions, not letting anything show. Ginny just sent warm understanding through the bond as she felt his mood shift so rapidly and saw the cause.

James beckoned for Harry to follow him as they went to the floo in the living room. A few seconds later, Harry stumbled out of the in the Leaky Cauldron to be steadied by James.

"Still hopeless with the floo then?" James said with a grin. "We can apparate back when we're done."

"I don't want to talk about it," Harry muttered.

James just snickered as he led the way out into Diagon Alley. The first thing Harry was struck by was the mood in the Alley. Half the shops were boarded up and everyone moved quickly with their heads down, determined not to be noticed. A few tattered newspapers rustled in the breeze from where they lay on the ground, and various wanted posters were pasted on shop windows, lending a dark atmosphere to the street. He also noticed a large empty building that should've been Weasley Wizarding Wheezes, but here is stood empty and barren.

Nobody gave them the start-up money in this world, Ginny reminded him quietly.

James set a brisk pace down the Alley, until they reached the first jewellery shop where he quickly ushered Harry inside, looking nervously up and down the street. Harry wandered up to the display of rings and started looking for one that would suit Ginny.

Ooh, some of them are nice! Ginny said in his mind.

Ginny! You're not allowed to look for this bit! Go talk to your mother!

But she'll be cross with me.

So will I, if you don't let me pick your ring, Harry grumbled.

Fine. Spoil sport, Ginny pouted.

Blocking Ginny from his mind, Harry noticed James standing next to him, looking at the rings.

"Found any you like?" he asked Harry.

"Not yet," Harry said. "I had to stop Ginny from snooping first."

James chuckled, "Are you sure you know what you're letting yourself in for?"

"Yeah, but she'd hex me if I tried to run away," Harry said with a snort.

He looked over the rings in more detail, hoping one would stand out when he had a sudden thought.

"How am I going to pay for this? I didn't bring any money from my world across."

"I'll pay for it," James said immediately. "And, if you want to later, you can always pay me back."

"Thank you." Harry said, surprised. "I don't want anything too extravagant. Anything too over-the-top would just annoy Ginny."

"Well, given that you're bonded, why not something like these?" James asked, pointing at an eternity ring with two entwined bands supporting a delicate diamond on the top.

Harry smiled, looking at it.

"It's nice, yes."

At his comment, the shop assistant finally approached and offered to take the ring out.

"Do you have any in this style with different stones?" Harry asked. "Maybe with some green in it?"

"Those might be emeralds, Harry," said James, sounding amused.

Harry just shot James a dirty look as the assistant bustled about, pulling out more trays of rings from various counters. After a few more minutes of looking, Harry finally found a ring that caught his eye. It had two entwined bands with alternating emeralds and diamonds at each crossover, up to a modest square diamond held in the middle.

"What do you think of that one?" Harry asked, indicating it to James.

"I'm not the one wearing it," James grinned. "But it looks very nice. Not too overstated."

After Harry finished buying the ring, he turned back to James to find him staring out of the window. Following his gaze, Harry saw a group of people in black cloaks moving along the Alley, wands out, floating a young man above them, who appeared to be unconscious.

"What's happening?" Harry asked.

"Just the usual," James growled. "Setting an example by showing the world what happens to 'criminal' muggleborns who steal magic."

"Why are we just standing here? We should do something?" Harry cried, pulling out his wand.

James grabbed Harry roughly and pulled him back into a corner of the shop until they were eye-to-eye.

"Listen to me, Harry," he said quietly and urgently. "This is what the world is like at the moment. They aren't Death Eaters, they're the Ministry. We can't afford to pick a public fight here; we would lose. If you want to help them, then we need to win the war, not save them one at a time. The Order already does what we can to help refugees out of the country, or to shelter in Hogwarts. The only reason they let me walk around is because I told them I haven't seen Lily since before this all started. So, we're going to keep our heads down, and get back to the apparition point. Understand?"

Harry deflated slightly at hearing James' reasoning, "I still don't like it."

"I should be worried if you did like it," James said curtly. "Now, let's get going before they start trying to make examples of the rest of us."

They walked back out onto the street, and started to make their way back towards the Leaky Cauldron.

"Why is the ministry so deep under his control?" Harry muttered to James as they walked.

"Everyone in a position of power answers to You-Know-You. Those below them are under the Imperius, and the rest are afraid of what will happen to themselves and their families if they disobey. The whole ministry isn't on his side, but just enough to keep the rest in line," James said in a low voice. "I can talk more back at home, it isn't safe enough to talk here."

As Harry and James left through the Floo, Ginny hesitantly tried to find her mother. She decided to quickly stop off in Harry's room first in an attempt to put off the conversation. Ginny wasn't so much afraid of what would happen if her mother said no; she was more worried about what her mother would do when Ginny went ahead with a bonding ceremony, regardless. While she sat on the bed, Ginny immersed herself in the bond to Harry to watch how Harry and James were interacting as they walked though Diagon Alley. She noticed Harry looking curiously at the shop that should've been her brother's colourful joke shop, but was currently standing bare and bland.

Nobody gave them the start-up money in this world, Ginny pointed out as she picked up on the memory of Harry handing his Triwizard Winnings to Fred and George in the last world.

She idly watched as they went into a jewellery shop and began to look at rings. Ginny was feeling quite excited as she realised that Harry was right now buying a ring to propose to her with.

Ooh, some of them are nice! she couldn't help but notice as she smiled.

Ginny! You're not allowed to look for this bit! Go talk to your mother! Harry said, as he noticed her watching.

But she'll be cross with me. Ginny thought, weakly, as she berated herself for letting Harry notice her thoughts.

So will I, if you don't let me pick your ring.

Fine. Spoil sport, Ginny responded, pouting in the privacy of her room. She felt the link to Harry goes blurry, like there was some kind of interference. Recognising it as Harry blocking her from watching, she sighed and went back to trying to find her mother. It didn't take long until she found Molly sitting in a small armchair in her bedroom, as Arthur sat on the only other chair in the room.

"Hi mum," Ginny started, sounding far more casual than she felt as she walked over to perch on the edge of the bed.

"Ginny," Molly said stiffly.

Ginny winced internally at the poor start.

"I wanted to talk to you about Harry," she continued.

"Oh, you too then?" Molly said, looking pointedly at Arthur. "What is it you're both so desperate to talk to me about then?"

Ginny glanced at her father and, after receiving a small nod, turned back to her mum.

"Well, you see, we're soul bonded. And, so, we're going to always be together now. And…we love each other," Ginny said, hoping to soften her mother up.

"How can you be so sure of that after having met only two days ago?" Molly said briskly.

"Part of the soul bond, mum, means we can't hide our emotions from one another, and we can never lie to one another. I know I love Harry, and I can feel that he loves me back," Ginny started. "As for how long it has been, since we bonded, I've gained all the memories of the Ginny from Harry's world. In a way, I think I've sort of become that Ginny too. I feel different now, much stronger than I was. Remember how I was before Harry died? I feel more like that loud and strong girl than I have done for the past seven years. That is from the other world. I didn't lose Harry in that world, and we've been together for years. About three years, since the bond formed there."

Molly pursed her lips as Ginny talked.

"So, he came and changed you, did he? Replaced you with somebody else?" Molly said.

Ginny sighed, "No, mum! I'm still me! I'm just, also another me at the same time. So is Harry! He's the young boy you knew who died in the Chamber and he is the Harry I formed a soul bond with when I was fifteen."

"That may take some time to get used to, Ginny," Molly said.

"I know, mum. But there's something else I wanted to talk to you about. And I hope you remember what I've just told you. He is still Harry and I love him very dearly," Ginny said, imploringly.

"And what's that?" Molly asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Harry and I want to have a bonding ceremony," Ginny blurted out quickly. "And then, when the war is all over, we'll lodge it with the Ministry to make it all official."

Molly gaped at Ginny for a few moments before pulling herself together.

"Why now, missy? Surely you can both wait until we get to know this Harry, at the very least? It seems like you're rushing," Molly said sharply.

"In the last world, mum, we did wait. But by the time the war was over, everyone else was dead. Even me," Ginny said, adding the last bit very quietly, though by how pale Molly went, she had heard it too.

"We just want everyone to be there before…before anything happens," Ginny said quietly.

Molly sighed as she had to concede to Ginny's point.

"Is that the only reason, Ginny?" Molly asked.

Ginny squirmed slightly trying to think of a way to avoid the question when Arthur spoke up.

"I believe she and Harry would be most uncomfortable being separated due to the soul bond. From what I understand, trying to sleep while half of your soul is somewhere else would be a painful experience," he said, sounding reasonable, if still somewhat uncomfortable himself.

Molly frowned, "You're doing this to sleep with him?"

"Mum, that is hardly the main reason!" Ginny cried. "Harry and I are already bonded, getting married at this point is nothing more than a formality! And, yes, it will be more comfortable, but even without the bond, I'd feel safer with Harry than without."

"Molly, Ginny is eighteen. There is nothing we can do to stop her having a bonding ceremony. But wouldn't we rather be a part of it?" Arthur asked.

Molly slumped down in her chair.

"I suppose. I'm just so used to you being my little girl. I always thought I'd have a bit more warning and time to get to know the boy," she said.

"That's what dad said," Ginny said, with a small smile. "You'll help me then? We were hoping to have it organised for this weekend."

"Of course, I'll help you, you're my daughter!" Molly said, jumping up from her chair and grabbing Ginny in a rib-crushing hug. "I just want you to be happy, dear."

"Trust me, mum," Ginny said, pulling back, "This will make me as happy as I can be."

Harry and James appeared back on the doorstep of Grimmauld place with a crack. As James opened the door and pulled Harry through the wards, Harry opened the bond to Ginny again to pinpoint where she was. He just realised she was close before he was knocked backwards by a red-haired missile crashing into him.

Did you miss me? Harry asked with amusement.

Mum said yes! Ginny crowed. She'll help us have a proper bonding!

Harry whooped, albeit quietly to avoid waking the portraits in the front hall, and gave Ginny a tight hug. How did you manage that?

I just kept emphasising how long we'd known each other, and made sure she knew that we were doing this anyway, whether she approved or not. She realised she will have to help, if she wishes to be a part of it. How was Diagon Alley?

Harry grimaced. Bleak. There was a heap of Death Eaters there but nothing I could do about it. And everyone else just stayed out of their way.

We won't exactly have much time for a honeymoon, will we, Ginny thought with a sigh.

We can have a proper one when the war is over, Harry replied, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Shaking off the sombre mood, Ginny grinned mischievously. Do I get to see the ring then?

What ring? Harry asked trying to sound innocent. I might not have found one I liked.

You had better of brought me a nice ring, Potter! Ginny said, poking Harry in the stomach.

Come on, Harry said, grabbing Ginny's hand and pulling her back to what had become his room.

Once they were sat side-by-side on the bed, Harry pulled out the small velvet box from his pocket.

"I know we don't exactly have a typical relationship, because of the bond, but I want to get this bit right," he said.

Ginny smiled fondly at him, "I wouldn't expect any less from you, Harry."

"Umm, right. Anyway, I, err...I love you Ginny. I have loved you for years now and when you died, it nearly killed me. But now I've got you back and you've made me laugh again for the first time in months, you've given me something to fight for again. You just seem to make my world so much brighter and…and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. So, Ginevra Weasley," here, Harry finally opened the small ring box, showing the ring to Ginny. "Will you be my wife?"

Ginny swiped away a few tears, as she just nodded frantically, with a huge smile on her face.

"Yes! Yes, Harry, I will," she said when she finally got her voice back. "I knew you were going to do something like that, did you have to make me cry though?"

Harry just beamed as he carefully put the ring on Ginny's left hand. He wrapped his arms around her as she burrowed her face into his chest.

I love you too, Harry James Potter. So much.

A/N: Here we go, another chapter. I hope you like it. James is starting to warm up to Harry, but I don't know he will fully accept Harry as his son for a while yet. Though, the characters don't always behave how I expect when I start to write.

The storyline of the war will start to progress more in a few chapter's time, but there needs to be a bonding ceremony first. Please, give me any feedback you might have, some of these later chapters have been influenced by points people have made in the reviews, so don't be surprised if something you ask to know more about does get explained a bit further in later chapters. It isn't in my style to spend a great deal of time on exposition, I prefer to have an active running plot.

Oh, and those reading on the day I post this, you may notice it is April Fool's Day. I should've included Fred and George in this chapter, but I finished writing it before I noticed the date. I'll try to include them in the next one then.