Charlie had spent days thinking about just how he would propose to the woman he loved. Days thinking about how much he loved her. Days thinking about how he could hide this from the Daily Prophet and the other Wizarding media so that his family and their friends could find out before the entirety of Wizarding Britain.
Lyra was oblivious. She had spent days laughing with her two best friends, days befriending Fleur properly, days working within the Ministry. She had spent days cooing over her little godson, playing with his little feet and swinging him round her uncle's garden.
She was so focused on spending time with her friends that she hadn't noticed the odd behaviour of Sirius, Remus and Tonks. The way that they stopped themselves speaking halfway through conversations, flickered their eyes down to her left hand and subtly change the conversation. The way that they shared secret glances between themselves and Charlie. Instead, the besotted godmother would have shocked Moody if he had seen her now. His cry of 'Constant Vigilance' now silent, his catchphrase forgotten. Of course, there was no need to be so vigilant in her own home, not with a godfather, an uncle, an auror friend and a dragon fighter boyfriend all there to alert her of danger, to give her a chance of fighting. She definitely did not need to be alert with a loyal House Elf who was dangerous if Lyra was threatened. Lyra could hold her own in any fight - if Kreacher allowed her enemy to get that close. So Lyra was not aware of any different, surprising behaviour. She didn't notice a thing, which of course, was what the others were hoping for.
One day, Lyra dropped round to Charlie's before heading home like she normally did, only to find him looking serious.
"Lyra.." He said when she asked if he was ok, "I've got to go to Romania tomorrow. They've got some dragon eggs that they want me to look at. Do you want to come with me?"
She paused, and ran her fingers through her hair.
"You actually want me to come to Romania with you?"
Charlie nodded, looking bashfully at the floor. When she remained silent he looked at her anxiously, only to find that he had been worried about nothing as she threw herself into his arms.
"I've never been to Romania" she mumbled again his shoulder, "and I've never seen dragons in the wild." Her voice was filled with so much wonder and excitement that Charlie thought their impromptu holiday was a perfect way to propose - and it was out of the publics eye.
The next day, Charlie dispatched his luggage to the reserve with a wave of his wand and made his way to Grimmauld Place. There, he joined Lyra and Sirius, sent Lyra's luggage including her broom to join his own and after bidding farewell to Sirius, he took Lyra's hand and disapparated.
The pair reappeared at the gates of the corner of Romania that had been Charlie's other home for so many years. He led Lyra through, greeting the other workers and leading her to his hut on the edge of the forest.
Has this always been your hut?" Lyra asked as Charlie showed her round. He nodded, before spinning her round and pointing outside the window.
"That's why", Charlie said, as he showed her the view over the lake, and the mountain beyond, "sometimes the dragons come down to bathe. It's beautiful" he sighed. Lyra laughed, she had always known how much he loved dragons.
"Right" he said, as he led her out again, "I have to go and see these dragon eggs, I can't take you with me today, so I'll take you somewhere else first."
Lyra nodded, and as their hands twined together he took her to the centre of the little village that had sprung up in the reserve for the dragon workers. There, in a circle, were seated some women - the friends, wives and girlfriends of some of the workers.
Knowing he was leaving Lyra in capable hands, he strode off, nearly going the wrong way as he heard Lyra laughing with the others.
Later that day, Charlie returned, and took Lyra back to the hut.
"Come on!" He cried, "it's nearly sunset and I want to climb the mountain!" He grabbed the two brooms that were resting near the door and together, they flew up the mountain, passing several caves which Charlie swore the dragons roosted in. As they reached the summit, Charlie admitted that normally they'd walk but as he'd returned so late there hadn't been enough time to reach the top in time to see the sunset.
Lyra gasped as they stood on the top of the mountain. Far below her she could see the lake, glistening with the light of the setting sun. She could see dragons, both enclosed and flying freely. She could see lights from a faraway village. As she turned to see the rest of the view, her eyes fell on Charlie.
He was on one knee, a small box in his hands and his blue eyes met hers steadily.
"Lyra, would you marry me?"