A/N: Okay, this looks like it will be the final chapter. I hope you all enjoy!
Harry Potter let out a nervous sigh. "Come on! You are a Gryffindor! Be courageous, Potter!" He brought himself to his full height and knocked on the door.
Dennis Creevey's face answered, "Ah Harry! What can I do for you?"
"May I come in? I need to talk to you about something."
The younger man nodded and let Harry in. The flat was small, but there was a nice homey feel to it. There were many pictures from Hogwarts all around.
They both sat down in opposite couches, "So what is it that you needed to talk to me about Harry?"
Harry sighed once again, "Ginny."
"Oh…erm…what about her?"
Harry looked him straight in the eyes and finally felt his Gryffindor courage flow into him, "I am here to give you a formal challenge to win the heart of Ginerva Weasley."
Dennis sputtered, "What? That's some pretty old magic you're trying Potter."
Harry smiled at him, "Old magic is my specialty. Especially when it comes to love, you might have heard about it."
"Don't get smart with me Harry. Fine, I accept your challenge. What are the guidelines?"
Harry summoned the contract with his wand, "Six rounds in six days. The last round will be dinner and a proposal. The first five you can do whatever you'd like."
Dennis signed the contract and stood up. He stuck out his hand, "For six days there will be many hard feelings for you Potter, after that we will know who is the better man and I hope that we can get back to being friends. Colin really looked up to you Harry, I don't want to let him down."
Harry shook his hand and took that as his cue to leave, "I looked up to him just as much Dennis. I just wish he was alive so that I could have told him that."
And with that Harry left and started to prepare for the most important week of his life. Inside of the apartment Harry just left, the wheels in Dennis' head were spinning madly.
Ginny Weasley looked up in surprise as an owl dropped a letter on her desk and flew away. She opened the letter and read:
Ms. Weasley,
I am to announce that Dennis Creevey and Harry Potter have entered a formal challenge for your love as of June 3rd, 2008 at approximately 11:18 a.m.
Attached is a copy of the rules that were set by Harry Potter.
Thank you,
Lauren Parker
Magical Contracts Department
Ministry of Magic
Ginny sighed as she read over the rules of the challenge she knew she could not fight. Six days for her to decide who she wanted to be with. "This is going to be a tough six days," she thought to herself.
Day one:
As she went back to her work, two more owls arrived. She opened the first letter and a bouquet of lilies popped out of the envelope with a note attached. She recognized Harry's writing at once:
You told me once that lilies are your favorite flowers, what I didn't tell you is that they are mine too because they remind me of my mother. I have been told that you have the same fiery spirit in you that was in her. And I hope one day we can pass it on to another little girl with fiery red hair.
Love,
Harry
P.S. There is an everlasting charm on these. The charm will turn off when I stop loving you. If for some reason I die first I hope you will notice the charm will still be there. This is my promise to you, a full heart of love from now until forever.
Tears escaped as she read the P.S. that he left her. She put the flowers in a vase and opened the second envelope. Once again a bouquet popped out but this time it was simple carnations with a letter from Dennis:
Ginny,
This challenge is absolutely ridiculous, but I am willing to win your love and to learn to love you as well. I picked carnations because they reminded me of you, simple but beautiful. I have put an everlasting charm on one of the flowers and I will care for you until that one dies.
Love,
Dennis
Ginny smiled and put them in another vase next to the lilies from Harry. She finally got to finish her work for the day and started cooking a dinner for one. An owl dropped in and dropped an envelope on the table. She grinned and opened it to find a letter from Harry:
Ginny,
Please join me at the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. sharp. I have a surprise for you.
Love always,
Harry
P.S. Bring your broom.
She went back to her dinner and as she was finishing an owl brought another letter from Dennis:
Ginny,
Please join me at the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow night at 9 p.m. I have gotten tickets to a muggle dinner theatre for us.
Dennis
"I better get to bed, looks like I have a full day tomorrow." She cleaned up and went to bed with a smile on her face.
Day two:
Ginny woke up at 6 a.m. and got ready for the day. She arrive at the Leaky at 7:55 and looked around for Harry.
He snuck up behind her and whispered, "I hope you remembered your broom."
She smiled as she turned around to look at him, "of course I did! Now are you going to tell me what this surprise is?"
He grinned mischievously at her, "Nope, you'll just have to trust me. You trust me, Gin?"
She smiled at the nickname, "Yeah, I guess so."
He laughed and took her hand, "Hold on tight then." He turned on the spot and when Ginny opened her eyes she saw the Harpies stadium in front of her.
"Harry, the game doesn't start for hours. Don't tell me you wanted to find good seats."
He laughed again, she loved the sound, "Well there is that, but first there are some people who I want you to meet."
She looked at him with an excited fire in her eyes, "You didn't?"
He smirked at her, "Apparently being famous does have a few advantages. Let's go!"
They ran into the stadium and found the Harpies getting ready for their pre-game warm ups.
The coach was talking to the team, "Alright girls! We have a couple special guests that will be helping us get ready for the game today. I know we're all girls but I think we'll be okay letting Harry Potter join us."
Gwenog Jones looked him up and down, "Yeah, but by the time we're through with him he'll wish he picked another team to chill with."
The team and Harry and Ginny laughed. Harry looked at them all, "I'll be up there today but this is mainly for Gin. She's been a fan since before she could walk."
Introductions were done and they all mounted their brooms. An hour and a half later and Harry was sweating bullets. "Maybe you were right, I should have picked another team." They all laughed and landed again.
The coach came up to them, "All right girls. Time to get into our game jerseys and go over our game plan one last time," she turned to Harry and Ginny, "Go on up to the Manager's booth, she's expecting you."
Excitement flashed through Ginny's eyes again and Harry's heart soared at the look. The game started about a half hour after that and Ginny watched as her team clinched the division title to head to the championship.
Harry grinned at her, "Maybe we can come and watch the game in two weeks?"
She looked at him and smiled softly, "Maybe."
His heart skipped a beat, she really was considering him even after everything that happened, "So what do you have planned for today," he asked as they finished a late lunch at the Leaky Cauldron.
"I have to go home and get ready for a muggle dinner show with Dennis," she answered between bites.
"Ah, well have fun with that."
"I don't go to the muggle world often, I'm excited."
He smiled at her, "I'm glad. But don't have too much fun, okay?"
She mock glared at him, "We'll see about that."
Harry paid for the bill and stood up to hug her good-bye. As she pulled away Ginny kissed his cheek and smiled at him, "See you later Harry." She turned on the spot and apparated away leaving a very happy Harry in the restaurant.
She went home and napped and then got ready for her date with Dennis. She met him at the Leaky at 8:50 and they walked down the street to the crowded theatre.
"You look great tonight Ginny," he smiled at her.
"Thanks Dennis, you look quite dashing yourself," she gave him a kiss on the cheek and leaned into him, "So what is a dinner theatre anyways?"
He grinned at her, "Well basically you eat dinner while some type of show is going on with live actors. The one we are going to is with pirates."
She grinned, "that sounds like fun!"
They laughed and arrived at the show. They were taken to their seats and they laughed for the next two hours at the theatre. At the end he apparated her home.
"I had a lot of fun tonight Gin," he said.
She smiled at him, "So did I Dennis."
"Would you be okay with me coming by tomorrow night, say 11:30? We could go for a walk somewhere."
She nodded, "That'd be nice."
He gave her a long sweet kiss and left for the night.
Ginny smiled and went inside. She was just laying down to get some rest when there was a knock on her window, which is quite odd seeing as how her apartment was on the third floor. She opened the window to see Harry on his firebolt.
"Harry? What are you doing out there?"
He grinned at her, "I was wondering if you'd like to go on a magic broom ride with me?"
She giggled, "What are we? Fifteen?"
He laughed that laugh that she loved, "I missed out on that time period, I'm making up for it."
She lifted herself into the window frame and he flew closer to her. He scooted back, letting her drop onto the front and he put his arms around her waist. "Ready Gin?"
She smiled, "I'm with you Harry. I'm always ready."
He put a soft kiss on her neck and flew off. They flew for hours; they talked, they played, they laughed. They caught up on the years that they should have had together. By the time they got back to her apartment the sun had started to rise and Ginny had fallen asleep. He flew into the still open window and gently laid her down on her bed. He watched the beautiful woman he loved sleep soundly, her chest rising and falling in perfect rhythm. He knelt down on the side of the bed and softly kissed her on the lips. He must have woken her up because they next thing he knew she was kissing him back and her arms were around his neck. He pulled back after a few moments and smiled at her.
Day three:
"Good morning gorgeous," he said to her.
She smiled sleepily, "Mornin' handsome."
He kissed her forehead, "Get some sleep. I believe you have another date tonight."
She fell back asleep and Harry watched her for a few more minutes. Sleepiness settled in so he grabbed his broom and apparated back to his hotel for a few hours of sleep.
Ginny woke up at around 3 p.m. and smiled. She had a great night with Harry and waking up to him kissing her was the best wakeup call she could imagine. But now she needed to get some work done and get ready for her date with Dennis tonight.
At exactly 11 p.m. Dennis knocked on her door and she invited him in.
"So where exactly are we going for a walk so late anyways?"
Dennis smiled softly, "I was thinking of this beach that my parents used to take Colin and I when we were kids."
She kissed his cheek, "sounds like a plan, lead on!"
He chuckled and as they apparated Ginny couldn't help but think of how Dennis didn't really laugh with her all that much. She walked and talked with him and even though it was nice it felt weird. And it felt much different than it did with Harry. When she was with Harry, everything was easy and simple but with Dennis she couldn't help but feel a lot of it was forced. And that's when she realized that Dennis didn't love her. He liked her a lot but she remembered his letter with how he said that he'd learn to love her. If he was doing all this, he needed to be in it for the long haul. She didn't say anything but she knew that he needed to kick it up if they were to have a happily ever after down the road.
They talked for another hour or so and he apparated her back home at around one in the morning. He kissed her and wished her a good night and she went to bed, a sense of disappointment creeping into her.
Day Four:
She woke up to a knock on her window again but this time it wasn't Harry, but an owl from him again:
Good morning beautiful,
I hope you had a good night's rest because tonight we're going to see the Weird sisters! I'll pick you up at 8 o'clock and we should be back by 2 a.m. at the latest.
Forever yours,
Harry
She smiled and sat down to eat some breakfast. She was doing clean up when she heard her name being called from the fire. It was Dennis.
"Morning Gin," he said.
"Morning Dennis, what can I do for you?"
"I was hoping you'd join me tomorrow morning at around 8 a.m. to go to a muggle theme park?"
She smiled, "Sure thing! I'll meet you at the Leaky at 8."
"Sounds good, have a good day Ginny." He cut the connection.
She sighed, he didn't seem to know her all that well. She liked having fun but they weren't doing much to get to know her. Only how to get to know him.
At 7:45 there was a knock on her door, "Harry! You're early," she greeted him with a kiss.
He smiled at her, "I wanted an extra fifteen minutes to bask in your beauty."
She laughed and kissed his cheek, "Well aren't you sweet? All these compliments are just too much."
He looked at her with so much love in his eyes that she almost buckled right then and there and put a stop to the challenge, but she knew she couldn't, "Well I have one other surprise as well," he pulled flowers out of nowhere. This time it was roses, "I remembered you said they were your second favorite."
She smiled as she smelled the beautiful scent, "How do you remember these things from more than ten years ago?"
He smirked, "that's my little secret. We're a bit behind schedule. Are you ready?"
She nodded and they linked arms. They apparated and she opened her eyes to see that they were in the front row of the area where the concert was being held.
"These seats are insane Harry!"
They laughed together and spent the rest of the night dancing and jumping around together. As promised, he returned her to her apartment by 2 a.m. and kissed her good night.
"I know that Dennis is taking you out tomorrow, but my gift for you is a day of rest. So rest up once you're home and Dennis and I set up a spa day starting at 9 a.m. the day after tomorrow. Once you're ready after the spa you will get directions where to meet each of us since it'll be the final day. Good night Ginny Weasley and know that I love you." He left right after, not giving her time to respond.
She went to bed smiling again and couldn't help but love it.
Day Five:
Ginny woke up early again and she was still smiling from her night with Harry and him saying that he loved her. She still couldn't believe that Harry Potter loved her but now it was time to meet Dennis and have fun at the theme park. She arrived promptly at 8 a.m. and they made their way to the theme park in a car. The last time she was in a car, it had been her dad's that flew and she thought this was rather tame compared to it. They arrived at the park and they made their way around all of the rides and attractions. By 3 o'clock she was exhausted and he drove her home. She kissed his cheek and went upstairs to sleep until the morning.
Day Six:
Harry woke up at 7 a.m. He was nervous, but he thought that he had a good chance. He had gone to the ring shop the day before and got everything ready. He just needed to go and pick it up today now that it was sized perfectly. He had gone to Gringott's the day before and picked out 3 pieces of jewelry that had been his mothers. The ring stayed with him but the necklace and bracelet had been sent to the spa to be worn with whatever outfit Ginny would be wearing when she joined him. She would be having dinner with Dennis first and if things worked the way he hoped, she would come and join him. If they didn't, well Dennis would be the better man and he would step aside.
Dennis woke up at 9 a.m. He wasn't very nervous because he knew that Ginny wouldn't be able to fully forgive Harry. She hadn't even mentioned him the entire time they spent together the past six days. He thought about getting a ring but he realized that he wasn't ready for marriage and hoped Ginny would agree. She would have dinner with him first and if all went as planned they would leave together and not look back.
Ginny woke up at 7 a.m. and got ready to go the spa. She arrived a few minutes early, but was ushered in immediately. She got her hair and makeup done, 2 dresses picked out (one for Dennis, one for Harry) and by 6 p.m. she was getting dressed for Dennis. She had on a blue floor length dress with her hair up and matching heels. She met him at the restaurant at 7 p.m. and they were shown to their table immediately.
"You look great Ginny," he said.
"Thanks Dennis. You look good too," she replied.
They ate dinner and as they finished their dessert Dennis spoke, "I was going to propose you tonight Ginny but I realized I'm not ready for marriage. But I'd love to continue to date you and just take it slow and see where this takes us. And I hope that is what you want to. We'll leave right now and just go somewhere. What do you say?"
She looked at him and thought he was crazy, "Dennis I'm sorry, but all I've been shown these past six days is that you don't know me at all. And I'm not only very ready for marriage but I want things to work out with Harry and I. And I'm really sorry but I hope we can continue to be friends. You are a great friend but not what I'm looking for in a relationship. Now excuse me, I need to get ready for Harry."
She left and he sat back stunned, "That's not what I was expecting at all."
Ginny went back to the spa dressing areas and changed into a beautiful emerald green silk dress that went down to right below her knees. She had silver heels and as she was letting her hair down two items appeared on the table with a note. It read:
Ginny,
I hope you will wear these tonight and I am sure you will look amazing in them. These belonged to my mother and I know that she would want you to have them.
See you soon.
Love always,
Harry
She slipped on the necklace and bracelet and she had to agree that they looked great. She looked at the clock and she saw she only had five minutes to meet Harry. She quickly turned on the spot and arrived by Harry's side at the last minute.
Harry smiled widely at her, "You look amazing Ginny."
She gave him a hug and a soft kiss, "So do you Harry."
They linked arms and made their way to a small secluded section of the restaurant. They ate dinner and chatted quietly. As they finished dessert Harry started to look more and more nervous.
Ginny looked at him with worry in her eyes, "Harry what's wrong?"
He looked at her and after what seemed to be an inner struggle he stood up. He walked over to her and got down on one knee. Her breath caught and her eyes started to water.
Harry cleared his throat and began, "Ginny, I know we've been through a lot. Much more than we should have. And I know I made some stupid mistakes but I want you to know that I love you. I love you more than life itself and I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy and making up for all the mistakes that I have made. You are beautiful and funny and charming and probably the nicest person I know and I want to pass all those things to any possible future beautiful children that you would allow me to have with you," he pulled a box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a ring that matched the necklace and bracelet he gave her, "Ginny, will you give me the honor of marrying me and letting me make you happy for the rest of our lives?"
Tears rolled down her cheeks and when she didn't answer he started to get nervous again. Then the craziest thing happened. She stood up and pulled him up so that they were equal.
She looked at him and said, "Yes Harry. A thousand times yes!" She hugged him tight and he couldn't believe that he had waited ten years for this moment.
A/N: Well that's all I wrote folks! I hope you liked it! Please review and keep an eye out for my new story that will be up sometime next week.