Chapter 4: Home
They apparate back to Harry's flat. They're still holding hands.
"Wait -"
Harry pulls Ginny closer to himself with one hand. With the other, he flicks wand towards the speakers so soft music starts playing. He throws his hand on a low table, and puts both his hands around her waist. He starts swaying with her.
"That was smooth," Ginny says a little taken aback at the change in mood.
"You know it," he grins into the top of her head.
She relaxes against his body and hugs his torso.
"Now tell me. What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Harry pulls back and looks at her. She lifts her head and looks back at him.
"What's wrong?" He asks her again.
She takes a breath. "I feel like we're...stuck."
"What do you mean?" He stills.
"Like we're not moving."
"Not moving where?"
"Not moving out of our comfort zone."
"Is that so bad?"
"It is if we're being left behind."
"I wasn't aware it's a race."
"You know what I mean."
"I don't, actually -"
"Forget it."
She makes a weak attempt to push him away. He holds her in place.
"No, tell me."
"I don't want to talk about it"
"But I want to know."
"I shouldn't have to tell you."
"You have to tell me."
"Let's not do this right now."
"Let's not do what right now? Tell me what you're thinking."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I just can't."
"Just tell me!"
She burst out.
"I want us to get married and have a life together! Just like everyone we know is doing. And they all got together after you and I did, so it's not even a time thing. I can't believe that my idiot brothers had enough sense to ask their partners, but you still refuse to budge. I'm tired of pushing this relationship ahead all the time - you're not lifting your end of the weight, and I'm just…tired. I can't, I just can't."
She stopped, breathing heavily. She'd been pacing around unwittingly and had to turn around to find Harry.
She found him kneeling on the ground behind her, with a small box on his knee. His arms were folded across his chest, as he held in his laughter and waited for her to calm down.
"This isn't funny."
"Of course it isn't."
"What are you doing?"
"I have something I want to ask you."
"Stop it."
"Stop what? I just said I have a question for you. Can I ask you?"
"No, you can't. You're only doing this because I had an outburst."
"Then how do you explain this?" He opened the box and took out a plain platinum wedding band. He held it out to her. She stood there paralysed.
"Gin."
She made a strangled sound in the back of her throat.
"Ginny."
"Yes?" She said after clearing her throat. He reached out and held her hand.
"Growing up, I never thought I'd ever know what it felt like to have a family. Then I met Ron, and your family took me in. I finally had people who cared about me - but it all still felt like a dream, like something that could disappear any second. I felt indebted. And so I wanted to make sure I was always on my best behaviour. I didn't want to make any mistake - what if I pushed my new family away?"
Ginny made a tch-ing noise to show her disapproval -
"Till you happened. I don't think I really understood family till I fell in love with you. That I could depend on you to take care of me. To be secure in the knowledge that you would rip apart anything that tried to harm me, in the same way that I would do for you. You are my family. Not just my partner, or my best friend - you're my family. Now that I know that, I can't afford to lose you. Ever."
A slow, shy smile spread across Ginny's face. She stopped breathing.
"So - Ginny Weasley. I didn't plan for it to happen this way. But, you're incredibly pushy" - Ginny scrunches her nose sheepishly - "and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love everything about you - even the things I find annoying. So, will you please, please marry me and keep pushing me for the rest of my life?"
"I'll think about it."
"Excuse me?"
"Yes, you idiot", Ginny said bursting into laughter looking at Harry's incredulous face, "what, only you can spring surprises?" Ginny pulled him up to his feet.
Harry grinned and slid the ring onto her left hand. He put her hand on his chest, and encircled her waist. She slid her other hand into his hair, and pulled his head down towards her. He kissed her wholeheartedly, holding her firmly in place.
—
When they came up for air several aeons later, he put his forehead against hers and asked -
"Now what?"
"Now we move on to the rest of our lives," she answered.
"Sounds like a plan."
—