Chapter 8: Engagement

They were still living in Grimmauld Place. Harry kindly let them stay there rent free until they had saved up enough money for a place of their own.
Ron was taking 2-year-old Belle out of the bath one afternoon. He had come back from an Auror mission the night before so he had a few days off. He had told Hermione not to take Belle to the Ministry's nursery school so he could spend the day with their daughter. Belle was more than happy to stay home playing with daddy since she hadn't seen him for nearly a month. Ron took her to her room, dried her with a towel and put a clean diaper on her. Then, he took her owl costume from the previous Halloween and put it on her.
"So... how about we play a little game, baby?" he asked the baby. Belle giggled and clapped her hands, excited. "Today you're going to be an owl and you are going to give mommy a very special letter that daddy is going to give you. Can you do that?" he asked. Belle nodded, smiling. Ron couldn't believe how much she looked like Hermione. Although her hair was the typical Weasley bright red, it was as messy as her mommy's one. Her eyes were dark brown, just like hers as well. She already had a passion for books and even started to read a couple of words by herself. Ron could already picture her in her Hogwarts uniform, raising her hand in every lesson to answer all the questions. They suddenly heard a pop! sound.
"Hello? I'm home!" they heard Hermione say. That particular day, Harry wasn't there. He had decided to spend his days off in Wales visiting Ginny at the Holyhead Harpies' training camp. That gave Ron the perfect setting for a special night he had been preparing for months. He picked up Belle and went downstairs with her. Hermione was in the living room, taking off her cloak.
"Mommy home!" Belle shouted as she clapped her hands, a big smile across her face. Hermione looked at her, smiling as well.
"Hi, baby girl! How are you? Mommy missed you so much." she said as she took Belle from Ron. The little girl giggled and buried her face on her mother's neck.
"Hi, love!" he said, kissing her full on the lips. She kissed him back. "How was work?" he asked.
"Awful. You think you can rely on other people, but honestly, all they do is nothing. If it weren't for me, those files wouldn't be nearly ready for tomorrow's case." she said. She kissed Belle on the cheek. She looked at the baby carefully and frowned. "Why is she wearing a Halloween costume?" she asked.
"Me owl, mommy." Belle said clapping her hands and giggling.
"We're playing." Ron said.
"I see. Just change her clothes before dinner. She looks a little flushed in it." Hermione said as she tried to take the hood off Belle. The little girl just shook her head.
"No, mommy! Me owl!" Belle said as she covered her head with her hands trying to keep her hood on.
"Why don't you sit on the sofa, read a book and relax while I get dinner ready?" he suggested as he took the baby from Hermione.
"Are you sure?" she asked. He leaned to her and kissed her on the lips. "Just relax, love." he said.
"I love you." she said.
"I love you more." he replied, then he left to the kitchen with Belle. Hermione smiled and laid on the sofa. She picked up one of her books that was on the coffee table from the previous night and opened it. She hadn't finished the first paragraph when she noticed Belle standing next to her with an envelope in her mouth. The little girl opened her mouth and dropped the envelope in the middle of the book. Hermione looked at her. Belle just smiled.
"So... you deliver mail now." she said, grinning. Belle giggled. "Who's this from?" she asked, picking up the envelope and opening it.
"Daddy." Belle just said. Hermione nodded and started reading the letter. Ron wasn't particularly fond of writing, but when he did, he could write the most beautiful things. Hermione was halfway through it when she realised that she was tearing. Belle placed her little hand on her cheek.
"Mommy sad?" she asked worried. Hermione looked at her and smiled as she wipped her tears away with her hand.
"No, sweetheart. Quite the opposite." she replied.
"Oppo...?" Belle asked, confused as she tried to figure out this new word. In that moment, Hermione noticed Belle was wearing something around her neck. It was a little blue box that said: "open after reading." Hermione read the letter till the end, still with tears in her eyes. When she was finished, she took a piece of parchment, scribbled something and put it in an envelope. Then, she opened the little box. There it was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It was a sapphire in the shape of a rose. Hermione took it from the box and put it in her finger. Then, she made Belle a sign not to say a thing. Belle copied it. Hermione gave Belle the envelope. "Give it to daddy, please." she said. Belle hopped back to the kitchen and kicked Ron's leg lightly to make herself noticed. Ron looked down to her and smiled. "for me?" he asked, taking the envelope. Belle nodded. He opened the letter. It said only three words: "My answer is...". He looked at Belle. She still had the box on her neck. It looked untouched. Between confused and disappointed, he walked out of the kitchen and to the living room. There she was, standing in front of him with tears in her eyes and the biggest smile he had ever seen on her.
"You should have opened the box." she said, sniffing. He looked at her, confused. As she brushed her tears off her cheek, he looked at her hand. And there he saw it. He smiled, ran to her, picked her up in his arms and kissed her as if he hadn't seen her in months. When they broke apart, foreheads together, she laughed a bit.
"My answer is yes. Yes, I'll marry you." she said. He smiled and kissed her again with more passion.