Tranquility
Author's Note: Originally published on February 14, 2009
It was an unseasonably warm mid-February night at the Burrow. Ron and Hermione drowsily cuddled together on the sofa; it was their first moment of peace since making the big announcement. Hermione let out a contented sigh and snuggled closer to her husband-to-be, while gazing at the elegant ring which now adorned her finger.
"I love you," she whispered.
Ron, who couldn't stop grinning, kissed the top of her head. "I love you too."
Their tranquility was shattered by a half-amused, half-irate Ginny. "Why didn't I know about this, Ron?"
"It was a surprise, and you tend to have a big mouth."
"Git. I still don't know what you see in him, Hermione."
"Oi! I'm sitting right here."
"He's my diamond in the rough," Hermione quietly stated, flushing at her embarrassingly sappy sentiment. Ron's smile widened as he leaned down and gave her a voracious kiss.
Ginny grimaced. "Ugh, you two are worse than Mum and Dad."
"What did you want anyway? Shouldn't you and Harry be waiting for the singing dwarf to arrive?" Ron teased.
Ginny glowered at him before her expression softened. "Between Mum's shrieks and Dominique's wails, I didn't hear how you proposed."
Hermione sat up in excitement. "He said he had a surprise, so he took me by the hand and Apparated us to the seaside cliffs near Shell Cottage. The waves were crashing against the shore and the setting sun was reflecting off the surface of the water, bathing us in a warm glow. It was breathtaking."
"He got down on one knee, reached into his cloak," she giggled as Ron turned beet red, "and his hands were shaking so badly that he dropped the ring."
Ginny let out a loud laugh, "Really smooth, big brother."
"Bloody nervous," he mumbled under his breath.
Hermione put her head on his shoulder. "It was adorable."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Then what happened?"
A joyous tear slid down Hermione's cheek as she continued. "Once he found it, he wiped away my tears and kissed me. Then he made the most beautiful declaration I've ever heard and asked me to marry him."
"At which point," Ron interjected, "she said yes and tackled me."
Hermione blushed and buried her face in his chest.
Ginny chuckled and got up to leave. "I'm very happy for you both."
As Hermione drifted off in his comfortable arms, his earlier words echoed through her thoughts.
Meeting you on the train changed my life forever.
I'm the person I am today because of you.
You are a part of me.
We've been together through the best and worst moments of our lives.
This is the place where I thought I lost you.
It was here I realized I was completely in love with you.
I fall deeper in love with you each day.
I know this will continue for the rest of my life.
I want to share my love, my life, and my future with you, and only you.
Hermione, will you marry me?