Shopping Trip
Author's Note: Originally published on March 7, 2010
Ginny stood with her hands on her hips at their agreed meeting spot—just outside of the entrance to Honeydukes. As she tapped her foot impatiently, a sudden crack broke the stillness of the sleepy winter dawn.
"It's about bloody time!"
"Hello, fairest Ginevra!" Ron exclaimed, a twinkle in his eye. "What a gorgeous and perfect morning."
Thinking he was taking the mickey, she narrowed her eyes in suspicion, unused to such poetic—and frankly, ridiculous—words from her brother.
"Don't you 'hello' me! You're late! Don't forget that I'm the one doing you a favour."
"Look at how the fresh snow sparkles like diamonds."
Angered by his odd behaviour, she reached out and punched him in the arm, hoping to knock some sense into him.
"What is the matter with you, Ron?"
Instead of retaliating, like he normally would, he responded by throwing a long arm around her shoulders and steering her down the snow-lined streets of Hogsmeade.
"My sincerest apologies, dear sister. The lovely Hermione just left our flat to attend breakfast with her parents. I came as soon as the opportunity arose."
"That still doesn't explain why you're prattling on like some silly git. Did Hermione get you a book of big words as an early Christmas present?"
He dropped the act and let out a laugh. "Very funny, Ginny. I'm just excited. I've been looking forward to this day for a long time."
Now she was thoroughly confused. "What are we doing, Ron? You said in your owl last night that you desperately needed my help."
He stopped suddenly, causing her to lurch. "I do need your help—to pick out Hermione's Christmas gift."
Ginny pulled away and turned to face him, before smacking him on the arm.
"Ow! Why do you keep hitting me?"
"You prat! You made me get out of bed early, on the first weekend in months when I don't have a practice scheduled, all because you don't know what to get Hermione? She's only been your girlfriend for what, five years?"
She spun around in a huff, only then noticing the shop they'd stopped in front of.
Pearle's Precious Stones and Jewels.
She stared at the rows of rings in the window for a moment, before turning back around. "Does this mean?"
Ron nodded his head. "You know how much I love Hermione, she's everything to me. On Christmas Eve, I'm going to ask her to be my wife. But, I need to find the perfect ring, the ring that she deserves, and there's only one person I trust to help me."
A swell of emotion hit her as she witnessed the mixture of sincerity and anxiousness on Ron's face. All of her anger fell away upon hearing the news. She reached up, brushing the moisture out of her eyes.
"Now don't go getting all girly on me, Ginny. I'll get enough of that from Mum."
"Prat." She grinned at him and pulled the door open. "Ready?"
"Yes. Yes I am."