Tears of Loss, Joy of Gain

*The Burrow, at about 8 a.m.*

Ron had no idea what was happening in the United States, particularly California, at this time and place. After all, how could he? Let's cut the poor man some slack for not knowing that at this second, his ex-fiance was being proposed to by the man who had broken them apart. He figured that they were already married anyway.

Ah, but isn't it poetic justice, or what a coincidence that Ron was going to propose to Luna this day (or...er, night?) It seems like too much of a coincidence to me, so, maybe the fates decided to play with the little people again. Ron was confident that this time, the marriage would last instead of ending before it began like last time.

Ron fiddled with the ring in his pocket. Just wait till tonight, just wait, he thought.

*Wherever the Ministry of Magic is, same time*

George woke up on a brand new morning with a stiff neck and a bad feeling. He wondered just what was going to happen to him for trying to kill Neville Longbottom. He hadn't known what he was doing at the time, and if he didn't know better, he'd say that he'd have been drunk. Of course he hadn't been, though, because why would they ever give a prisoner booze after that prisoner had tried to strangle the owner of Quality Quidditch Supplies? It just didn't make sense.

He rolled over, groaning as he thought that the least the Ministry of Magic could do is to invest in some beds that didn't kill a person's spinal cord. This was probably the least comfortable bed he had ever slept on, and that counted the time when, after getting very drunk, he had slept on the counter of Weasley Wizard Wheezes. I'd better not tell that story, though, because it's for another time.

George looked out of his cell and saw his breakfast lying there. He brought it into the cell and the smell of the rotting cabbage and soggy cream of wheat there made him gag. Almost immediately, he shoved the meal back out of the cell, thinking that this meal made McDonalds seem like a gourmet meal.

George poked his head out of the cell, asking, "So when do we get a shower?" He was answered by a person in another cell with a disgusting answer of, "I've been here 15 years, and I haven't gotten a shower yet!" This made George put his head back inside and think, 'So that's what that smell is!' He was miserable and hoped he would be released from this soon.

*Los Angeles, California*

"Hermione, will you marry me?"

Funny that for a man, as soon as he says those five magic words, it seems like he's going down a rushing tunnel of wind. Harry was trying not to be blown back by the wind, all the while trying to kill the bright lights and nasty voice in his head that both said the same thing: YOU IDIOT, SHE'LL NEVER MARRY YOU.

It seemed like hours before she answered, so Harry looked up. Great, she was crying. Abso-bloody-lutely fantastic, he sarcastically thought. Sometimes those British mannerisms will just sneak up on a person.

Finally, Hermione spoke. "I've been waiting 10 years for you to say that!" she exclaimed. "Of course I'll marry you, why wouldn't I? I love you!"

The tunnel of wind stopped for Harry. 'Did she just say yes?' he thought. Then he spoke out loud. "You just said yes?"

Hermione grinned. "Yes I said yes! I'll marry you! Honestly, what ever made you think I wouldn't want to marry you?"

Harry grinned and said nothing, but sometimes a person doesn't have to say anything to their loved one without them knowing the answer. Hermione realized that it must be common for men to be nervous.

"So, how does it feel to know you're going to become my wife?" Harry asked her.

Hermione smiled and said, "It's the greatest feeling in the world, how's that for an answer?"

*Back in England, but a very different part of it, actually near Scotland or so, same time*

Albus Dumbledore smiled as he learned of the two former Gryffindor's engagement as it happened. Somehow, he knew everything. Even he wasn't sure just how he was aware of everything as soon as it happened, but lo and behold, he had these special abilities. He knew where they lived and where Harry worked. The reason he hadn't gone after them was because he respected what people wanted.

However, he thought, maybe he didn't have to keep this particular news a secret, as he flooed one person whom he knew would be happy to hear the news of Harry and Hermione getting engaged.

*Another part of England, the same time*

Remus Lupin was buttering his toast when all of a sudden, Albus Dumbledore's head popped up into his fireplace. This might have surprised a Muggle, but Remus being a wizard, he wasn't shocked in the slightest. He still did some spy work, but there wasn't much to do since Voldemort fell, so this might be about a mission, but it was unlikely. Maybe the headmaster wanted to try and persuade him to take the vacant DADA job again, which Remus had refused many times.

"Remus, I have good news for you!" the headmaster began.

Remus replied, "You found a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher so you'll stop pestering me about it?" This was a rather rude thing to say to a person as respected as Professor Dumbledore, but Remus wasn't a morning person and Professor Dumbledore knew this.

"No, Remus, the Defense Against the Dark Arts position is still vacant as of now, and I can't imagine why," the headmaster said. "However, there is news on two of your former students, and dare I say two of your favorite students."

"Headmaster, you know as well as I that I do not play favorites with my students, except for one, who.....you have news on Harry?"

"Indeed I do, Remus," said Professor Dumbledore, and he continued, "it seems that Harry has become an engaged man."

"To who?" Remus asked, before realizing what a stupid question that was, for he knew full well whom Harry would get engaged to, having become sort of a person to have heart-to-heart discussions such as this with Harry, when he didn't want the Weasleys to know who he truly loved. He continued, "He got engaged to Hermione?"

"For the second time in a short while, my answer is indeed he did, Remus," the headmaster said. "In fact, they just got engaged a couple of minutes ago."

"But what person gets engaged so early in the morning?" Remus asked, before once again mentally slapping himself. Of course they didn't live in England anymore. "Professor Dumbledore, could you tell me where they do live, so I can congratulate them on the good news?" he asked. The headmaster began to speak, saying......

*Back at the Burrow, different person's perspective*

Molly Weasley was worried about her son George, locked up in that cell in the Ministry, but she had sent Arthur to help get him out of trouble. She was also happy for Ron, who had told her that he was planning to propose to Luna this night. She only wished there were two more people to celebrate this news, even if they had broken up Ron's earlier wedding.

No, she wasn't mad at Harry or Hermione. She had realized that Harry had special feelings toward Hermione, and she had always suspected the same about Hermione having special feelings toward Harry. Besides, why should she be mad, because she had treated Harry like a son and thought of him as such. She was happy that Harry had found his true love.

*Back in LA, 3:00 a.m., PCT, 11:00 a.m. in England*

Harry and Hermione were sleeping their first night together as newlyweds this early in the morning, when at this time, they were woken up by a loud THUD coming from downstairs. Harry, thinking it was a burglar, grabbed his wand just in case and moved silently from the room, as Hermione did the same.

They crept down the stairs, seeing the outline of a man or a woman wearing robes in their living room. Harry stopped short. "Identify yourself," he said.

A familiar voice said, "Lumos," and Harry looked into the face of........