Chapter 37

Ginny POV

One year later...

"Thanks for taking the time to come visit my parents with me," Ginny commented as she and Hermione walked along through the field behind the Burrow at the beginnings of dusk. Ginny had just wrapped up a gruelling first season and as such, had earned some well-deserved time off. She had been living with Hermione in London for the past week, but had requested that the older girl accompany her to the Burrow this evening. They would be going home to their flat later tonight, but only after they went on the walk that Ginny insisted that they go on.

"Of course," Hermione replied with a bit of a laugh. "Why wouldn't I come?"

"I don't know," Ginny said in a bit of a mumble. She normally would've come up with a bit of a wittier response, but her mind was a bit preoccupied right now. She smiled quietly as she felt Hermione take her hand.

"Well, you should know that I love your family. I get to see your father at work relatively frequently, but I don't necessarily get a chance to come out here to see your mom so often."

Ginny's heart swelled at the thought of her girlfriend not only making an effort to spend time with her parents, but the fact that she wanted to spend time with them. It was really too good to be true.

"That's really kind of you, Hermione," Ginny asserted. "We're really lucky to have you around." She ignored Hermione's mild look of admonishment with a smirk.

After Ginny was happy with their location, she had laid out a blanket for them in the grass and they sat down to absently watch the sunset while chatting away. The weather was very mild that night; even though it was dark out now it was still warm enough that neither girl needed a jacket. Ginny had started a small enchanted fire before them and it reminded her a bit of when they had spent the night in that tent. Actually, Ginny was remembering a lot this evening.

The night wore on and Ginny nodded inwardly as she suggested that they head home. They stood and Ginny shrunk the blanket and tucked it into her pocket, but let the fire continue to blaze for the time being.

"Remember when you came to the Burrow a few years back and we went for that walk? I carried you over the creek," Ginny laughed affectionately as she recalled Hermione's reaction, the redhead's laughs increasing as Hermione gave her a playful shove. Ceasing her laughter, Ginny carried on. "You pointed out Jupiter to me when we were up on the hill," she said as she gestured to the hill that wasn't so far off now. "I loved you so much it hurt. I love you even more today, but it doesn't hurt anymore."

Hermione gave a bit of an uncertain chuckle, though her hand came up to brush along Ginny's arm. The redhead could imagine that Hermione was puzzled as to why she was bringing up such a sentiment.

"The Burrow is where I really got a chance to know you. I know you were Ron's friend, but I was always secretly happy that we had that time together by ourselves when we shared my room. Even when we didn't know each other very well, it always felt special to me somehow," Ginny went on, undeterred by the way a look of confusion was slowly forming on Hermione's face.

"This is where I fell in love with you," Ginny said as she gestured to the Burrow off in the distance. "And this is where I first told you I loved you, and you, by some miracle from the powers above, told me you loved me, too."

"Ginny-"

The younger girl did her best to ignore the overwhelming tension that had manifested itself in her chest and she let out a quick, steadying sigh. She hurriedly reached into her pocket in a bit of a haze and pulled out the desired object before swiftly dropping to one knee before the brunette she loved so dearly.

"Hermione," Ginny started as she held out the small box and opened it for Hermione to see the ring that lay inside. The redhead was initially panicked not only by the stunned look on Hermione's face, but also by the way she nearly lost her own voice because of how absolutely dry her mouth and throat felt. A moment later, she regained her focus and forged on. "You are the most brilliant, kind, and all-around wonderful person I have ever known. I know we've been through a lot over the past few years, but it has done nothing more than strengthen my feelings for you. I've been in love with you for years and just when I think I can't possibly love you more, you do something that makes me fall even further for you." Swallowing down a bit more of her anxiety, Ginny continued.

"I feel so absolutely lucky to not only call you my lover, but my best friend, as well. And," Ginny took another steadying breath, "if I'm granted even more luck, someday I'll be able to call you my wife. Nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with you. You may think that we're too young for this, but you were the one for me when I was 13, you're the one for me today, and I could live to be 100 and I know I'd still feel this way for you. You're everything to me and there isn't a single other person I'd rather spend even a day of my life with. It's always been you, Hermione, and it always will be," Ginny said earnestly as she stared beseechingly at the girl before her. The nervous redhead dropped her gaze for a split second before bringing it back up to Hermione, looking at her intently, yet too afraid to process the brunette's reaction. Ginny tightened her grip on the box and held it out a bit further before finally laying the last bits of her soul bare.

"Hermione Granger," she said, feeling like she had to push all the air out of her lungs to speak Hermione's name, "will you marry me?"

Ginny felt like time had temporarily frozen as she awaited a response. She had no idea how long she actually waited, she just knew it felt like an eternity as she knelt there, hands held out, heart beating so strongly inside her chest that the sound of it seemed nearly deafening. When Ginny's mind began to work again and she actually truly took notice of Hermione's reaction, she immediately saw that Hermione had a trail of tears going down her cheeks. Before Ginny's mind could work past that, the brunette dropped to her knees and urgently wrapped her arms around the younger girl.

"Ginny," Hermione squeaked out as she gripped the redhead ever-tighter and buried her face in the hollow of Ginny's neck.

Ginny, caught off-guard by the action, slowly put her arms around Hermione in a delayed reciprocation of the gesture. Ginny waited patiently for what felt like a long time, but was probably only a few seconds as she felt Hermione crying against her shoulder, but the weight of the ring still in Ginny's hand ebbed on her apprehension.

"Mione," she said softly, feebly almost, and the brunette's crying came to a near-stop, though she didn't remove her head from Ginny's shoulder. "Mione," Ginny repeated, "you didn't give me an answer," she pointed out nearly breathlessly though she forced out a weak chuckle. She let her arms fall away from Hermione as the older girl pulled out of the embrace with a pronounced sniffle to look at her. Ginny's brows furrowed in concern the second she saw Hermione's red, watery eyes.

"Yes!" Hermione exclaimed suddenly as a wide grin formed on her face and she threw her arms out in emphasis. "Yes, yes, yes, a million times over," she continued with a laugh and Ginny instantly released a heavy sigh of relief that felt like it expelled all of her anxiety.

"Oh, thank goodness," Ginny sighed happily as she finally sat down and threw her head back in conjunction with the action. "Oh sweet Merlin, Mione, you scared me so badly."

"I'm sorry, Gin," Hermione whispered as she knelt forward and cupped Ginny's cheek before planting a slow kiss on the redhead's lips.

When their kiss finally broke, Ginny let out a relieved laugh. She glanced down and realized that she was still holding the ring box. She quickly sat up and reached for Hermione's hand.

"Here, try it on," she said as she plucked the ring out of the box and held it before Hermione's ring finger for a second, needing to ready herself for the moment. She shot a glance up towards Hermione's face and a warm smile crossed her lips as she took in the sight of Hermione staring at her hand and the ring with a large smile of her own. Enjoying this moment a touch longer, Ginny looked back down to the ring and slipped it onto Hermione's finger. They both gazed at the sight in awe for a several seconds as Hermione tilted her hand to examine it from varying angles. With a giggle, the brunette's hand shot forward to grasp Ginny behind the neck and pull her into a heated kiss. Ginny could swear that she could feel the ring band against the back of her neck and just the thought of Hermione wearing it made her bubble over with excitement.

"Hermione," Ginny breathed as she pulled the brunette closer to her and happily soaked up every moment of this occasion.

"God, Ginny, I can't believe this," Hermione said in wonder as she pulled back just a bit, though keeping her hands on the younger girl's shoulders. Ginny's smile broadened as she spotted Hermione's eyes flicking away from her own to gaze at the ring once more.

"Come on," Ginny teased, "Is it that shocking? I mean, I've been in love with you forever, you gave us those rings a couple of years ago, and I said I'd get you a new ring, so..." Ginny was tempted to finish her sentence, but was pleasantly interrupted by Hermione diving in for a quick kiss. "I chose well?" Ginny inquired.

"It's gorgeous!" Hermione exclaimed, drawing a laugh out of the redhead. "I don't want to know how much this must've cost you. I'm sure we could've put some of the money towards paying off the flat."

"Oh my dear, sweet Hermione and all your rationality," Ginny smirked as she brought her hand up to cup the side of Hermione's face. "Don't worry, we're far from broke. Our flat will get paid off just fine, and I'm still going to take you on an amazing honeymoon."

"Oh, really?" Hermione challenged with a bit of a come-hither stare that drove Ginny just a tad wild.

"Yes, it'll be the best honeymoon you've ever had," Ginny replied with a confident nod and laughed when Hermione gave her a light nudge coupled with that look she always gave when Ginny was being silly.

"Well, here's hoping it's the only one I ever have," Hermione said as she arched her brow, half in warning, half in question.

"Nonsense - I'm taking you on a honeymoon every year," Ginny proclaimed proudly, causing Hermione to shake her head with a laugh.

"What am I going to do with you?" Hermione asked in a flat voice, though the tenderness in her eyes wasn't hard to read at all.

"So, Hermione Weasley, where would you like to go on your first fabulous honeymoon?" Ginny asked as she waggled her eyebrows at her fiancee.

"Hold on...Hermione Weasley? When did we decide that? We've gone over this - Ginevra Granger is so much better," Hermione rebutted.

"What?" Ginny exclaimed. "No way!"

"Are you saying you don't like my last name?" Hermione questioned. "It happens to be a very good one," she continued loftily.

"Granger," Ginny repeated in a tone - one laced in eminent defeat.

"Yes, Ginny Granger, my lovely wife." Hermione smiled in such a sweet way that it nearly made Ginny look away in shame over being so easily manipulated.

"Mione," Ginny whined.

"Ginny," Hermione said warmly before leaning in and kissing the girl softly on the lips.

The younger girl heaved a dramatic sigh before straightening her shoulders. "Well, I suppose there are enough Weasleys around..."

"I'm just kidding, Gin," Hermione chuckled. "I wouldn't mind having your name at all- honestly."

"Well," Ginny blushed in anticipation of what she was about to say, "I'd be honoured to have your name. I just had to put up a bit of a fight anyway - my withering pride, you know," she finished with a wink.

"Oh Ginny," Hermione laughed. A beat passed and the brunette cleared her throat before looking up at Ginny in slight apprehension. "So...Granger?"

"Granger," Ginny confirmed with a small smile.

The two joined in another hug and both seemed content to stay like that for several moments. Eventually, Hermione spoke though she didn't remove her head from Ginny's shoulder.

"Quite the journey, hm?"

"That's putting it lightly. For a period in time there I thought you and I were never going to get together. Then I nearly lost you," Ginny replied.

Hermione pulled back to cup Ginny's cheek, the brunette's hand as warm and comforting as ever. Then she spoke, that voice the one that Ginny had every intention of waking up to for the rest of her life.

"But we made it."

AN: Well, that's it from me. And I depart the same way I came in, with little fanfare and just quiet thanks for the outstanding, generous, and most of all, unexpected support I've received for my so-called creative efforts :p Honestly, it's the support I received in varying ways from various readers, that encouraged me to not only complete my first story, but then to write a second. And believe me when I say that these stories have changed my life in the most incredible of ways and for that I cannot thank any of you enough. Ultimately, I'd like to dedicate both stories to my wonderful girlfriend whom inspires me in everyday life and did so in written word before I even knew it.

Endless thanks to everyone for everything. Best wishes to all ;)