"I almost said it last night."
Harry and Ron rounded the last curve of Ottery St. Catchpole's largest pond, a sure sign that their long-standing morning jog through their village was near its end. It wasn't disappointing for either of them: their first words to one another when they first met that morning were, "It's cold, isn't it?" and "Damn cold, even for Christmas Eve."
Harry looked to his friend with a smirk. "I'm sure that would make for a great story. You know, that time you proposed to Hermione on December twenty-third."
"Shut up, Harry! You know how nervous I am about this!"
Harry hastily brought his palm up to tap Ron's shoulder. "Of course, I do, Ron. You have no reason to fret. You know she'll say yes."
Ron sighed deeply. "I know. I'm still nervous. Or… what's the word? Anxious, I'm anxious."
Harry and Ginny's house came into view as Harry's legs began to give out. Just a few more seconds!
Harry looked to Ron. "I'll be at the Burrow tonight, and you'll do fine. But if you need a pep-talk for your proposal, just say the word. I'm here for you man."
They stopped in front of Harry's porch. Ron looked down to Harry and said in a relaxed tone, "Thank you, mate."
Harry nodded and felt a bead of icy sweat drip from his nose. "I have complete faith that she will say yes." Harry's faith was, of course, rightly placed. He lowered his voice to say, "Just think of all the sex you're going to have tonight!"
Harry began to retreat up his porch. Ron smiled and looked back at him. "And I've told you how good it is, too!"
Harry pondered for a moment, and then laughed as he ran toward his front door and yelled, "Trust me, sex with Ginny has got to be just as good, if not better!"
Ron, slightly disgusted, turned the other way to run toward the Burrow. "Fuck you, Harry!"
They both laughed to themselves as Harry entered through and then shut his front door. Behind him, he heard Ginny's voice. "Sex with Ginny is good, is it?"
Harry smiled and turned to his girlfriend. "Care to prove me right?" He winked at her.
Ginny couldn't help but smile back at him. The morning took a quick turn for the warmer.