Chapter 38: the stress of planning

News of Ron and Hermione's engagement traveled fast. Apparently, assisting the 'Chosen One' in the defeat of the most evil wizard of all time had earned the two of them a bit more fame then they were aware of. The morning following their New Years Eve festivities, their picture was plastered on the front page of the Daily Prophet. Hermione sat at the kitchen table at the flat she and Ron had been sharing for the past several months, chewing on her bottom lip as she read the article. They had all thought that by going to a muggle pub to celebrate the holiday would be the safest bet in their ongoing efforts to avoid the wizarding press. Hermione knew how frustrating it was for Harry and Ginny when their every move was the next mornings news. She had always told the two of them to not let it get to them, but here she sat staring at a picture of Ron down on one knee in front of her, absolutely fuming. Hermione tossed the paper on the table and crossed her arms over chest. It was almost 9:30, Ron was still sleeping and she desperately needed someone to talk too.

Deciding that she could wait no longer, she picked the paper back up off the table and stomped back to the bedroom. Ron was still sleeping soundly, his mouth gaping open and snoring slightly when she opened the door.

"Ron," said Hermione, shaking him roughly. "Ron, get up. We have a problem."

"Huh . . . what . . .," mumbled Ron before rolling over and pulling the blanket over his head.

"Ronald Weasley, wake up!" she said loudly.

"Mione," whined Ron. "What time is it?"

"Time to get up," huffed Hermione in exasperation. "We have a big problem."

Slowly, Ron sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes sleepily. When the room finally swam into focus, he was met with Hermione looking down at him with a slightly panicked expression, clutching the Daily Prophet in her hands. Without saying a word, she handed him the paper and sat down on the bed, putting her head in her hands.

Ron furrowed his brow in confusion but unfolded the paper. "What the . . . ?" he exclaimed when he realized what he was looking at. "But we were at a muggle pub!"

"I know," said Hermione. "What are we going to do? This is just horrible!"

However, to her surprise, the only answer she got from Ron was his laugh.

"What's so funny?" she demanded, standing up and placing her hands on her hips.

"I was so nervous about telling my family," said Ron, trying to catch his breath. "And now I don't have too!"

Hermione stared at him in disbelief before a small smile spread across her face. She knew just the thing that would sober him up and she just couldn't resist. "You know what? You're right," she said slowly. "But just remember, my parents don't get the Daily Prophet." And with that, she spun on her heel and exited the room, leaving a dumbstruck Ron in her wake.

* * * * *

"Harry, have you seen this?" asked Ginny, holding up a copy of the paper when Harry emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. Harry couldn't disguise his smile and nodded.

"Yeah," he said, grinning at her. "I saw it before I got in the shower. I bet Hermione's not happy right now."

"Mum's going to have a fit," said Ginny as she followed Harry into the bedroom. She sat down on the edge of the bed and flipped idly through the paper. "She doesn't like to be the last to know something like this," she mused as she watched Harry get dressed.

"I know. And this is the first time Ron and Hermione have ended up on the front page," said Harry as he pulled on a fresh t-shirt. He moved over to the dresser and pulled on his watch before turning to face her, a mischievous grin on his face.

"You are evil, Mr. Potter," said Ginny, playfully. "You just want to watch him squirm."

"You bet I do!" said Harry, pulling her to her feet and wrapping his arms around her. "You ready? I want to get there early. Besides, I have something I wanted to talk to Hermione about."

When they entered the kitchen at the Burrow a few moments later, they found the entire Weasley family gathered around the table. Various copies of the Daily Prophet were scattered in front of them. George looked up when they entered and winked at Harry before he and Ginny took their seats. After a few moments of conversation, the sound of someone apparating in the back garden made the room fall silent and everyone spun in their seats, watching the door expectantly.

As soon as the door swung open, Molly rushed forward and engulfed both Ron and Hermione in a huge, bone-crushing hug while the rest of the family yelled their congratulations.

"What took so long?" shouted George above the noise causing both Ron and Hermione to blush. Harry looked over at George, who winked at him and he had to stifle his laugh. He knew from experience that it was no fun to end up on the front page of the paper, especially for something that should be private. But seeing as Ron did choose a rather public place- muggle or not- to propose to Hermione, he found Ron's embarrassment over the situation rather amusing. He glanced over at Ginny, who was trying to hide her own amusement behind her cup of tea.

After the excitement died down a bit, Hermione and Ron were able to take their seats at Molly started talking with Hermione about wedding plans.

"Have you decided on a date yet?" she asked a flustered looking Hermione.

"Oh, uh . . . no, not yet," she said. "We haven't really had the time to discuss anything yet."

"Hey, Hermione," said Harry. "Can I have a word?"

Hermione shot him a grateful look at being rescued from Molly's wedding discussions and followed him into the sitting room. When the door closed behind them, shutting out the noise from the kitchen, Hermione let out a long sigh of relief.

"How did you and Ginny do this?"

"I have no idea," said Harry with a chuckle. Hermione shuffled over to the sofa and flopped down onto it.

"It'll get better," said Harry, trying to reassure her. "I actually had a question for you. What are the rules for letting a muggle know about our world?"

"I know that it's supposed to be only immediate family, like parents and spouses. Who were you thinking about telling?"

Harry walked over and took a seat next to her on the sofa. "I was thinking about Dudley's girlfriend, April. Things are looking pretty serious between the two of them and if I want this whole friendship thing to work, I don't want to hide anything," he said.

"Hmmm. I'm not really sure how that would work. I'll have to look into that and let you know," said Hermione. "Why don't you ask your boss or maybe even Kingsley?"

Harry rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I actually don't want anyone to know. I think I might tell her even if I legally can't. And don't look at me that way," he added when Hermione gave him an incredulous look. "I'll only do it if they get married or something. I just want to know what the laws are about it first."

"Harry, I . . .," began Hermione, but Harry cut across her.

"Please Hermione? Would you please do this for me?"

Hermione seemed to weigh what Harry was asking her to do in her mind for a moment before finally answering. "Fine, I'll do it. But if you get caught . . ."

"I won't. Thanks Hermione," said Harry. He pulled her in a quick hug before pulling her to her feet and ushering her back into the kitchen before she could protest any further.

The next few weeks flew by in a blur of flower arrangements and seating charts to Harry. Since the holidays were over, wedding plans were in full swing. Harry decided that when it came to planning a party, Molly was truly in her element. On this particular day, however, he was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed. Molly, Hermione and Ginny were deeply immersed in a discussion about favors, but Harry wasn't listening. His head was spinning from the seemingly never ending planning. On days like this, he wished that he and Ginny would have just eloped and completely forgone the huge wedding. Sensing his mood, Ginny temporarily turned her attention away from the wedding plans.

"Harry, why don't you go for a fly. You look like you could use a break," she said, catching Harry off guard.

She knows me so well, he thought to himself. "That's a good idea," he said, standing from the table. He gave her a quick kiss before hastily exiting the house. He pulled his new firebolt out of the broom shed, mounted it, and kicked off hard from the ground. Immediately, he felt the weight of the world lift from his shoulders. Flying had always been an escape for Harry and Ginny knew this. As the wind whipped through his hair, he was once again reminded of why he was enduring the endless planning. It was for Ginny. She was the one person that truly knew him and the only one he could see spending the rest of his life with. Almost as if his thoughts willed her to appear, Ginny was flying at his side a moment later.

"I needed a break," she said as they hovered above the treetops, side by side.

"I'm sorry about that. It was just getting a bit . . ."

"Overwhelming," she finished for him. Harry nodded. They were both silent for a moment before Ginny turned to Harry, a mischievous grin on her face.

"Hey Potter!" she said. "Do you think you can keep up?" Before Harry had time to react, she leaned forward on her broom and took off through the paddock, laughing at the shocked expression on Harry's face.

Harry finally caught up with her by the steam they frequented during the summer months to escape the overwhelming heat. He landed on the cold ground next to her right as it began to snow. Looking at her now with the snow gently falling in her windswept hair, her cheeks red from flying, he fell in love with her all over again.

* * * * *

A/N: I wanted to say a quick thanks for all of the great reviews. I'm hoping that the next chapter will be the wedding so it might be a while before it's posted as I want to do it right. Let me know what you think! :)