Chapter Thirteen: Visits.
Ever since discovering who RAB was and destroying the third Horcrux Harry had been searching through the memories at every chance he got which was hard since he had Quidditch, classes and lots of homework. He even apparated out of the school to talk to Remus about it but so far he'd gotten nothing. Harry knew that the next Horcrux would be harder to find and probably harder to destroy. After Hermione had already ended up in the hospital wing twice Harry wasn't sure Ron would let her help any more and would certainly try to stop her all that he could. Harry wasn't sure if he could do it without Hermione's help, she was by far the smartest person he knew.
On Saturday Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny decided to go and visit Hagrid. They walked down to his hut after breakfast and knocked on the front door.
'Bin' wondrin' when you'd come visit me' Hagrid said 'you alrigh' Hermione? Heard 'bout you two, woulda' 'preciated if you'd told me yerself but 's all the same in the end innit?' He added.
Hermione placed a hand, without notice, on her belly 'who told you?' she asked.
'McGonagal,' he said. Ron and Hermione had gone to talk to her after the second stay in the hospital wing and arranged it so that they could finish school with the rest of the seventh years, 'all the teachers have gotta know don' they?' Hagrid added.
They were all taken aback 'I suppose they do,' Ron replied.
They had a pleasant time with Hagrid, he assured Ron and Hermione he'd stand by them and help them out all he could. At lunchtime the five of them headed back up to the castle to eat, then Hermione decided on a walk around the lake while Harry and Ginny went up to the Gryffindor common room to play chess and perhaps have a conversation.
Ginny had been unusually distant towards him lately so he brought it up now 'Gin, are we alright? Is something wrong?' He said gently.
'No Harry, it's nothing. We're fine,' she replied.
'Are you sure?' He asked.
'No, not really' Harry looked alarmed 'oh it's nothing to do with us… it's just me, well I suppose it sort of is us' she said.
'Ginny what's wrong?' Harry tried.
'Nothing really… it's just Hermione and Ron, I'm sorry I've backed off a bit I just…' she trailed off.
'You don't want to end up like them do you?' Harry said.
Ginny nodded, she had tears in her eyes.
'Gin you don't think. I mean yeah… you know… one day, but we'll… you know precautions… But not until you're…' This was awkward and Harry really had no idea what to say.
'That's the thing Harry I am… I mean… I want… No I've never' she said at a strange look from him 'It's just… I know we'd… but maybe we should… you know… wait… until we… I mean if we… we should wait until we finish school' she finished lamely, she meant to say until they got married (if they got married) but she loved Harry and she did want it, she was just scared because of Ron and Hermione.
Harry just nodded he'd never felt so awkward around Ginny before but he wasn't going to force her in to anything she wasn't ready for. As he watched one of his bishops wrestle one of Ginny's pawns in to submission silence fell over them. Both were thinking the same thing.
After their little talk Ginny was almost back to her normal self, though still a bit distant but Harry let it go. The next day Pigwidgeon delivered a letter to Ron.
Dear Ron and Hermione,
We're good thank you. How is everyone there? How have you been feeling lately Hermione? We are sorry to hear about your parents' sweetheart. Arthur and I are still getting used to the idea of being grandparents but of course we'll support you all the way please keep us up to date with everything.
Ron just be there for her, let her cry, hug her a lot and reassure her that you love her it's a hard time at the moment but everything will be worth it when you're holding that little baby in your arms. We have a proposition for you and please take all the time you need to think about it, please consider coming home to stay with us after the baby is born and you've finished school (Professor McGonagal sent us a letter to tell us that it has been arranged for you to finish this year) until you get on your feet. Well we had better go now we'll see you in a few months we love you both.
Love from
Mum and dad
The next weekend was a Hogsmeade weekend it was pretty cold and windy. Harry, Ron and Hermione walked in to the town together with scarves pulled up around their faces and cloaks wrapped around them tightly but split up when they got there. Harry and Ginny headed to the Three Broomsticks while Ron and Hermione went in to Madam Puddifoot's coffee shop. Harry had been there once with a girl called Cho Chang, there had been a lot of kissing couples in there and Harry wondered why his friends chose to go there, it was a truly horrible place. He and Ginny each had a butterbeer, and then went to Honeydukes sweet shop and visited the shrieking shack before heading back up to the school.
Ron and Hermione had been seated in a booth towards the back of the shop and ordered a hot chocolate and a cake each since Hermione could not handle coffee.
Ron nervously took Hermione's hand across the table and she thought he was going to start kissing her like the rest of the people in there but he didn't 'Hermione, I don't want you to think that what I'm about to ask you is just because of the baby,' she had tears in her eyes, several people in the shop unstuck their lips to look at the young couple. Ron produced a ring box from the pocket of his robes and opened it. Inside was a silver ring with a small diamond set on a claw 'Will you marry me Hermione?' he said.
Hermione was speechless for a moment before saying, 'are you sure?'
'Of course I'm sure, I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't, I love you hon,' Ron answered.
'It's not just because of the baby?' She asked.
'No, I've been in love with you for ever. You don't make this easy for a guy do you?' He said smirking.
'Sorry,' Hermione said.
'So will you?' Ron asked.
'Of course I will,' Hermione answered.
Ron beamed and slipped the ring on to her finger, it glowed for a minute, and it was a perfect fit. They kissed 'Shall we go and tell Harry and Ginny?' He said when they pulled their lips apart.
Hermione nodded and they got up, Ron went to pay for their orders 'No need dear, it's on the house, congratulations,' Madam Puddifoot said pushing the gold back at Ron.
'Thank you' Hermione said and they left.
They guessed that Harry and Ginny had headed back to school so they set off in that direction, Hermione very aware of the new ring on her finger, their smiles didn't leave their faces all the way back.
They found Harry and Ginny kissing in an armchair in the corner of the deserted common room, they walked over to them. Ron cleared his throat. Harry and Ginny went on kissing.
'Will you two kindly stop that for a minute?' Ron said loudly 'we have something to tell you' he added.
They pulled themselves apart 'Ron you're loosing your marbles. We already know about Hermione' Ginny had noticed the ring on Hermione's finger and had decided to play with them a bit. She looked at Harry, and then at the ring on Hermione's finger, he understood.
'Yeah you told us about a month ago' Harry said.
'What?' Hermione said, confused.
'Yeah we know about the baby,' Ginny said.
Hermione placed a hand on her tummy again 'No, it's not that' she said.
'Well what is it then?' Harry and Ginny said together, smirking.
'We're engaged!' Hermione practically screamed at the top of her voice.
Ginny jumped off Harry's knee and threw her arms around Hermione 'Congratulations!' She squealed.
Harry also got up 'congratulations mate' he said to Ron giving him a brief hug, Harry then hugged Hermione and Ginny hugged her brother 'you'll have to let mum know right away she'll be really excited and want to know everything. When do you actually want to do it?' Ginny said.
'Actually… Um… I've always wanted to be married on Christmas day but we want it to be before the baby's born so I guess that won't hap…'
Ron cut Hermione off 'Why not hon? There's still two months before Christmas it's not like it'll be huge, we don't know that many people,' Ron said.
Hermione's face lit up 'do you really think we could?' she said.
'I'm sure we can. I'll write to mum and dad and tell them. You wait, we'll be married on Christmas day' Ron said putting his arms around Hermione's waist and resting his chin on her shoulder 'I love you' He said in to her ear.
'I love you to' she said and kissed him.
Half an hour later they were headed to the owlery to send two letters, one each to Ron's parents and Hermione's parents (she thought they should know).
Dear mum and dad,
Hermione and I hope that you are all right. We have some news for you, not the baby if that's what you were thinking either.
Well the news is that Hermione and I are engaged! We want to get married on Christmas day if that's at all possible, Hermione's always wanted to be married on Christmas day and I think the sooner the better. We know it's a bit fast but we sort of already screwed that up when she got pregnant so there you go. There won't be many people, just close friends and family, we reckon thirty to forty people max, maybe not even that many. We don't want anything fancy but we want the normal stuff like tux's and dresses and a cake and that. I've always wanted to be married at home too if you don't mind, I don't just want the reception there like Bill and Fleur did, I want the ceremony there to. We also don't really know how her parents will react but we both agreed that they should know and be invited to the wedding. Well let me know about everything as soon as possible so that we can start planning. We love you all.
Love from
Ron and Hermione
Ron's said, Hermione's said.
Dear mum and dad,
I know you don't really want to hear from me right now but I have something to tell you. I thought you should know that Ron has asked me to marry him and I have accepted, we hope the wedding will be on Christmas day at his parent's house but we don't know for sure yet. If you decide to come though we'll let you know all the details, I must go now.
Love from
Hermione
Ps. I'm your only child you SHOULD be at my wedding!