Chapter 1: Ron and Hermione are Engaged

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"One second!" Ginny shouted indignantly across the hall when the bell rang for the third time in under 10 seconds. She threw her wet towel on the bed, and hurried to the front door ready to give it off to the person ringing the bell.

"Where's the fi - oh, it's you Hermione - what's-"

Hermione pushed past her and entered Ginny's flat. There was something going on with her. Ginny closed the door and turned towards her. Hermione had her handbag in a tight grip and was biting back a smile. She looked at Ginny as if she wanted her to talk first.

"Okaaay…what's going on?" Ginny said, her annoyance with the incessant bell-ringing forgotten.

"You know Ron cooked for me to celebrate our anniversary last night." Hermione said, her grip on her bag getting stronger.

"Yes…and?" Ginny said, becoming a little more alert.

"…and he asked me to marry him over dessert."

"Oh, oh, OH! That's mental! Get over here!" Ginny moved towards Hermione and squeezed her in a tight hug, and they started doing a little jump and dance. They broke away laughing after a minute.

"I am so proud of Ron, I can't believe he did this without even telling me!" Ginny said to Hermione, genuinely surprised that her brother kept it from her.

"I'm just surprised he asked without me having to give him an ultimatum, to be honest. For a while there, I was going cuckoo hearing about all the people we know getting married, and here we were - we got together in the time of Voldemort, bloody hell - not moving forward at all."

"What do you mean not moving forward?"

Hermione picked up her bag from the floor and started walking over to the table in the living room.

"You know what I mean, we were just sort of...in a routine of being serious and committed. Dinners and lunches with family, planning vacations together, etcetera..."

Ginny smirked, while pulling up a chair for herself. Only Hermione could use "etcetera" in a sentence and pull it off.

"...but we weren't really going anywhere. We're practically living together anyway, and our parents all know it. What's next?"

"Riiight, so getting married is the next logical step, you mean?"

"I think so! Frankly, I'm tired of having to say goodbye in the morning because he has to go home to get ready before work. Why can't we just live together? And if we're talking about moving in together - why stop there when we're absolutely sure this is it?"

Ginny couldn't stop herself from beaming at her best friend talking so matter-of-factly about her relationship with her brother. Having seen them bludgeon their way through their feelings all throughout Hogwarts, she was delirious that they'd reached a stage where communication was easy for them.

"I'm just really really happy for you guys. This is the best news I'm going to have ALL YEAR," Ginny said.

"I'm really happy, too! And I'm happy I caught you before you left for practice. Ron's going to see Harry at work, so he'll break the news to him - but, I wanted to tell at least one of you first!" Hermione said, practically bouncing along the living room.

Ginny observed her, beaming smile still intact. "I'm honoured! We should all get together and celebrate - drinks at that new pub across the Ministry tonight? I should be able to reach by 7pm."

"Sorted! I'll tell the boys when I see them at lunch. Don't be late - you know they're going to get started with their drinks and I don't want to be the only sober one there."

"Oh, you won't be for long - not if I have anything to do with it!" Ginny laughed, as Hermione gave her a quick hug before apparating to work.

—

Ron and Hermione decide on a date 3 months from the day they got engaged. Ron wanted to get married in a week, but Hermione and Ginny (and their mums) shut that thought down as soon as it came up. Both Granger and Weasley households have been driven mad trying to get everything ready in time. Venue, decorations, food, clothes - everything needs to be just right for Ron and Hermione's wedding.

Ginny has seen her brother and her best friend go from being shy and awkward at the prospect of being married to each other, to Ron jokingly calling Hermione "wifey-to-be" and Hermione laughing it off as if she can't wait for him to remove the "to-be". While they've fought (loads) over many (stupid) things, it's clear that discussing the logistics of the wedding is only bringing them closer as a couple.

It hits her the first time when she's over at the Burrow, making tea for everyone. Hermione's parents have come over so they can all discuss the decorations. Things are going really well. Both sets of parents are regaling the other with embarrassing stories about their progeny, as said progeny sit red-faced on a two-seater. Ron - who is the redder of the two - has his arm round Hermione's shoulder, and is absent-mindedly massaging her upper arm. Hermione - also blushing profusely - keeps her hand on Ron's knee as she laughs at Molly's anecdote about a completely starkers 6-year-old Ron running around in their backyard trying to get away from a swarm of bees Fred and George had set on him.

That's when it hits her. This inexplicable pang in her chest. She can't place her finger on what it is. She feels like she's bursting with happiness. But, her chest feels heavy, almost like she's having trouble breathing. She's confused. What is this feeling?

She ignores it. Maybe it's indigestion.

It hits her a second time when the four of them go into town for dinner, and she notices Hermione idly playing with her ring while smiling at Ron as he retells a fiasco that happened at work. It's like a bludger whammed into her from nowhere. Harry chokes on his drink and spits some out on the table at that moment, and Ginny is brought back to reality as the other 3 erupt into laughter. She joins them as Harry looks at her with butterbeer-soaked glasses.

That night, they say their goodbyes and Harry and Ginny decide to walk the 15 minute distance to her flat. The weather is a little chilly but pleasant. They're holding hands and chatting about how the night went. They've both had a few drinks and are fairly buzzed.

"And that story about Ron's boss - what a shocker! Bloody ruined my sweater, didn't I.." Harry said, taking a couple of steps ahead and pulling Ginny behind him.

Ginny stops in her tracks. She's finally placed that weird feeling in her chest. Was it…jealousy?

"Oh."

Harry stops and looks back at her.

"What happened?"

Ginny just looked at him, caught like a deer in the headlights.

"Nothing!" She says, her pitch unnaturally high. She starts walking, just a tad stiffer then before.

Harry notices. He doesn't know what's wrong, but he knows that something definitely is.

"Are you sure? You look a little panicked." He says, taking a few strides to keep up with her.

"No, no, I'm sure. Just remembered that I had to finish something for work.."

"…for the Holyhead Harpies? They give you homework now?" Harry starts giggling.

Ginny starts turning red. Damn those redhead genes.

"Well, kind of - I have to send suggestions for our play strategy…never mind, forget it. Look, should we just apparate home? I'm feeling sleepy, and I have an early day tomorrow."

Harry is a little taken aback. Something is definitely up.

"Okay, okay, sure. Here, take my arm - "

But, Ginny has already twisted on the spot and apparated. Harry sighs, and follows her.