Vendetta

Three days later the couple slipped off to Hogsmeade and went to the one jewelry store there, a latter-day version of Zales Jewelers, but this one specialised in magical jewelry. In this case, however, they simply needed one that would virtually guarantee a happy marriage even before it occurred--at least according to legend. Not that they really needed it, but neither did it pay to take chances, not after what they'd already been through.

Finally one was found that was virtually the same colour as Harry's eyes and surrounded by a dozen small diamonds, set in 24k yellow gold. It naturally fit Ginny's finger perfectly, but then all the rings in this place were magically treated so that would happen with whomever tried the ring on. Ginny fell in love with it at first sight; it was the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen--and most importantly, it reminded her of a certain pair of green eyes that she loved very much ... not to mention the rest of him!

It didn't take much for Harry to guess which ring Ginny wanted, so he didn't bother to ask, just quietly asked the clerk how much it was and went from there. He was told three hundred pounds, which translated to just over two thousand dollars (or three hundred Galleons).

Once they managed to leave the store, he asked her if she wanted to stop and have something to eat. It was close enough to suppertime, though, that she shook her head with a smile and said it was best that they headed home. Harry didn't argue, particularly since he'd managed to ready the special picture frame he'd bought her earlier and planned to give it to her later that evening just before they retired.

They got home just in time for supper, Apparating into her room and when called, appearing to have been in there a while, supposedly studying, even having changed clothes to their everyday preferences before heading down to join everyone else at table. It didn't take long for Ginny's ring to be noticed (Hermione, being roughly as sharp-eyed as the proverbial hawk, spotted it almost immediately). Nor was she afraid to comment on it, which started everyone else asking questions. It got so bad that Harry was ready to threaten everyone with a Silencing Spell before they finally subsided.

"When did you get that, Ginny? It's beautiful," Hermione opined from beside her friend.

"We went to Hogsmeade earlier today and Harry got it for me. It's a promise ring." All knew what that meant, so they didn't question either of them further--at least not publicly, which meant in front of anyone else in the house. "I fell in love with it right away. Doesn't the green gem remind you of Harry's eyes? It certainly did me."

Naturally everyone smiled and agreed with that, at least to Ginny's face, and the rest of the meal passed without incident. Once they got back to the room, Harry thought he'd better give her the special frame while he still had the nerve. After the door closed behind them, he quickly snatched it from the bedside table and hid it behind him until he reached her.

"There's something else I want to give you, Gin. Hold out your hands and close your eyes."

She gave him a skeptical look but didn't argue; he carefully placed the framed picture in her hands and put his own behind his back, patiently waiting for her to notice the latest gift and give him her opinion.

"Okay, open them now."

She opened her eyes to see a beautifully carved picture frame which looked like wood but was actually a type of metal. Ginny especially liked the inscription at the top of the frame: To Ginny - I'll Always Love You - Harry. She had no idea when he'd had it done, but what mattered was that it had been done.

These types of frames could be made to order, with a limit of three poses, the first simply showing a smiling Harry (which was rare enough to be unique in itself, although he had been doing it far more often than before since he and Ginny had officially been reunited), another pose showing them with their arms around each other - or more accurately, both of them smiling with his arms around her from behind and his cheek resting on her hair. The other showed them holding each other and kissing.

"Do you like it? It was hard to choose just the right poses, but I thought you'd like these best."

"It's beautiful. I love it. Thank you, luv. I especially like it when I move it to the left and it shows us snogging." She gave him a sly smile. "I think I'll pose it that way on the nightstand, at least for now. Just so you don't forget who you belong to any more than I do."

"I don't think there's too much danger of that, especially when you consider this," he commented, reaching for her hand with the ring and kissing it.

"I would hope not, but it doesn't pay to take chances," Ginny returned matter-of-factly. "Which reminds me--do you think it gave my clueless prat of a brother any ideas regarding Hermione? Specifically, making him consider proposing to her? Even if she has to wait until you lot graduate, it's still not as long as I'm going to have to wait." He gave her a hurt look. "Nothing against you, luv. I just don't like the idea of having to wait until I get out of school, that's all."

"Who can be sure what will provoke Ron into action? We'll just have to wait and see. If it doesn't work, I may have to spike his drink with Felix Felicis or something. As for you ... if you want to be able to get married without having to ask permission, waiting until your graduation is the best thing to do, since you won't be of age until next August ... and by then I'll be eighteen, the age of consent in the Muggle world."

"That reminds me ... I've put an Invisibility Charm on your birthday present so you won't be able to see it until I want you to see it."

"I wish you could give me a hint," Harry mock-groused.

"Sorry. No hints. Besides, it's only three more days until your birthday. Surely you can wait three more days," Ginny mock-scolded him. "Now maybe you have some idea of how I'm going to feel waiting for my graduation. By the way, have you heard anything new on the legal front?"

"I was told the Ministry finally found some stuff on Draco, and that they'd send it to me, but I haven't got it yet. Wouldn't it be something if it came in the midst of my party?"

"I hope not. I don't want anything to detract from the party. The day after would be all right, though."

"Why not? A party's supposed to be a happy time, and anything that adds to the positive feelings of the participants can hardly detract from it. Especially something that ensures that Draco will get put away for life, just as I intend Dudley to be."

"You have a point," she had to admit.

"Damn bloody right I do," he declared. "What do you want to do now? We could study some more, watch a video ... or even go to bed and shag each other silly. Personally, I vote for the latter."

"I declare, my love, you are absolutely insatiable!" Ginny scolded him.

"Can I help it if you're so delicious I just can't get enough of you?" Harry countered with a sly wink.

"All right ... on one condition," she returned.

"Name it."

"Let me make love to you first. There's something I've always wanted to try and it requires the woman to take the initiative."

He looked kind of surprised at first, then smiled. "Is this part of my birthday present?"

"You could say that," she half-promised. "Now is it a deal or not?"

"How can I possibly say no? After all, I don't want to miss out on any part of my birthday."

"Then let's get to it, Mister. But make sure the door's locked first."

"Oh, it is. It's been locked since we've been in here."

"Great. Now come to bed and I'll give you the most memorable shagging of your life."

And one may be assured that it was! In fact it was something that Harry wasn't sure he would ever recover from ... but at the same time, something he wouldn't mind repeating on occasion, if not on a regular basis. It was frankly too exhausting, albeit extremely pleasurable, for the man to endure very often. Also, if this was only part of his birthday present, only Merlin knew what she had planned for him that night!

* * * * *

The next three days passed a lot faster than Harry thought they would. Usually the last few days before one's birthday seemed to go by in slow motion--and he was often nearly ready to climb the wall before the day finally arrived. But not since he had gotten emotionally attached to the Weasley family ... in more ways than one!

Just the same, there were some things he'd learned to expect once it had--at least one, if not two or three, people trying to keep him out of the kitchen so he didn't catch how his birthday cake was to look. Not to mention one or two of those same people doing their best to keep him busy so others could sneak their presents past him without his seeing them. Why they didn't just put Invisibility Charms on them like Ginny had, Harry could never figure out.

At the moment, though, virtually everyone was busy preparing for his birthday, and he was finding it progressively more difficult not to sneak down to the kitchen door and stick some of Fred and George's Extendable Ears beneath it, so he could find out at least some of what was going on. But Ginny had obviously been recruited to keep him busy so he didn't do that ... and so far, she had been doing an excellent job. It seemed that every time he began to even consider doing it, Ginny would croon, "I wouldn't try it if I were you, luv. How about this instead?" and she would snog him at such length and so thoroughly that he would almost literally forget his own name.

Once he came back to earth this latest time, she had been called away for a time and warned him to stay put until she got back or else she would literally tie him down and tickle the daylights out of him ... and that was just for starters. He had never been able to figure out how she could so easily have found his most ticklish areas, some of which were ... rather private, to put it mildly. He could only attribute it to the mysterious thing called "women's intuition" and decided he'd better be careful, since Ginny was not one to make idle threats.

He had not heard any undue noise from downstairs, but that didn't necessarily mean there wasn't anything going on. Molly and company could just as easily have set up Silencing Charms or something so incriminating sounds didn't drift upstairs to him.

He managed to stay on the bed for a while, but then finally couldn't any longer so he went to the door to see if he could hear anything. He was even tempted to open the door a crack--and just as his hand started for it, the door opened and Ginny came back in.

"I told you to stay on the bed, luv. Now I'll have to punish you."

"Come on, Gin. They've got to be ready by now," Harry groused. "It's my birthday, after all. You've got to forgive me at least a little curiosity."

"Perhaps. Just the same, they're not quite done yet. Mum said probably another hour or so. Now are you going to get back on that bed willingly or do I use a Binding Spell?"

"All right, all right ... bloody little dictator," he muttered under his breath even as he moved back toward the bed and Ginny followed him.

"What was that?" Ginny demanded. "You better tell me, or else I tickle you in your most sensitive spot!" By this time they had both reached the bed and she got an ominous look in her eye as she sat beside him, one hand just itching to do what she was threatening.

"You're being a dictator," he finally reluctantly replied. "Why won't you tell me anything, or even give me a hint?"

"It's a surprise party, Harry. The ones giving it aren't supposed to tell the birthday boy anything about what they're doing. It would spoil the surprise."

"Come on," Harry entreated. "You know you can trust me!"

"Well ..." Ginny seemed to waver for a moment. "I suppose I could tell you one thing. But you've got to promise me not to let on to Mum that I told you or else we'll both be in trouble up to our ears!"

"Anything," he promised. "Now what is it?"

"Your birthday cake. We found a recent picture of you on your broom in your Quidditch robes in the Daily Prophet and Mum found a way to put it on the cake in multi-coloured frosting. It really looks nice. Almost too nice to eat."

"Well, thanks for telling me that much anyway. Just the same, it's not easy having to play a waiting game like this."

"I know," she replied, smiling understandingly. "What do you propose we do to pass the time?"

"Oh, there are a number of things we could do. The problem with a number of them, however, including snogging, is that once we get started, we might not be able to stop immediately."

"You have a point, and there isn't much time left before I'm supposed to bring you down for the party ..." Her voice trailed off. "Wait a minute. I know! ... Close your eyes and hold out your hands."

Harry sighed with affectionate exasperation but did as she asked. With a quick pointing of her wand at the invisible present on her nightstand, she removed the Invisibility Charm from it, then picked it up and transferred it to Harry's waiting hands. Once it was settled there in a manner so that he could see it, she said, "All right, open your eyes."

When he did, he couldn't believe his eyes. He had literally never seen Ginny like she was in this picture ... posed provocatively in a brief, strapless and lacy white teddy with attached garter belt, sheer white hose and slippers with feathery trim. Her lovely red-gold hair was held up by a white ribbon and one hand, her soft brown eyes shadowed in deep blue and accented with some dark mascara; she had a come-hither smile on her luscious red lips.

"Dear gods ..."

"Happy birthday, Harry," Ginny crooned with a wicked smile when he looked up to meet her eyes. "You like it?"

"Like it? It's incredible! But how did you ever manage to do it?"

He especially liked the written caption: Happy birthday, my darling! I hope you like this picture ... but just the same, make sure to keep it hidden. It's for your eyes alone.

I love you,

Ginny

"Ask Hermione the first chance you get," she returned enigmatically. "But make sure to do it without certain other people around, such as Mum or Ron. In fact, Hermione's already thinking of doing something similar for him for Christmas, and doesn't want him to find out!"

Harry could definitely see why, but refrained from voicing that opinion. "So this is what you've been hiding from me."

"Yes. Wasn't it worth waiting for?"

"Definitely," he assured her. "Come here, you. Let me thank you properly."

He set the picture aside, carefully facing it away from the door, and drew her close for a warm, lingering kiss. Just as it began to deepen dangerously, a sharp knock came on the door, accompanied by Ron's voice.

"Stop that, you two, before I throw a bloody bucket of water on you! Mum said to come down. It's time for the party!"

Both of them had to fight off blushes at having been caught, but broke apart quickly and stood up to head for the door. Ron half-turned away before looking over his shoulder to make sure Harry and Ginny were following. They did just that, though, holding hands all the way. Just the same, it was strangely quiet as they got downstairs. Harry had to ask, "Where is everybody?"

"Through here," Ron returned enigmatically, heading for the kitchen door. He stepped through, followed by the birthday boy and his girl ... then lights flashed on and a chorus of voices called out, "Surprise!"

All were momentarily blinded, then Harry found himself enveloped in Molly's tight embrace and kissed soundly on the cheek. Once he was able to breathe again, she was replaced by an equally enthusiastic Hermione, who did the same. The younger males present, including Ron, surprisingly enough, simply gave him either an affectionate slap on the shoulder or a simple hug accompanied by a "Happy birthday, mate!"

However, it was the oldest male present, Arthur Weasley, that voiced the question they all wanted the answer to: "How does it feel to finally be of age, Harry?"

To that, Harry had but a one-word answer: "Great!"

Then Arthur affectionately hugged the young man he loved like a son. "Happy birthday, Harry."

After that the party began in earnest; from virtually every direction Harry was plied with gifts once he sat down on the sofa next to Ginny; Fred and George's was one they guaranteed he could use to please Ginny, although they made him promise not to open it in public or tell her what it was until he planned to use it. Knowing their quirky and sometimes bawdy senses of humour, Harry didn't think he wanted to even imagine what it might be. Just the same, he was sure it wasn't anything unpleasant, since they liked him at least as much as Ron did--more, sometimes.

During the Triwizard Tournament, for instance. They had hoisted him onto their shoulders after he had managed to slay the Hungarian Horntail and retrieve the golden egg during the first task, declaring that they had always known he could do it, that he would survive, that he would neither die nor even be badly hurt. Even at that, Harry knew he could not have made it without help--neither there nor during the search for the remaining Horcruxes, much less the final battle with Voldemort.

The other gifts were as follows: a jumper the colour of his eyes from Molly, not to mention a week's worth of his favorite homemade cakes and pies; from Ron, an updated book on famous British Quidditch teams, including the ones from Hogwarts in their time; Hermione a knitted scarf and cap set two shades darker to go with the jumper from Molly; and lastly, a bottle of English Leather, Arthur's favourite Muggle men's aftershave.

Harry had recently begun needing to shave, and upon learning the fact from Ron, Arthur had decided to get this for him. It smelled nice, too, so Harry was sure Ginny would like it. All in all, one of the nicest birthdays he had ever had. But if he'd had to pick his favourite gift, it would be the cheesecake picture of Ginny in the brief, lacy teddy ... gods, it was making him hot just thinking about her looking like that!

Fortunately at this point they were called to eat, and Harry was able to bury his burning face in several cold mugs of butterbeer to wash down the sumptuous birthday meal (Molly had truly outdone herself; Harry had never seen so much great-looking--and surely -tasting--food in his life). Not to mention several large slices of cake, although he made sure that a picture of the intact cake was taken before it was cut--and even one firewhiskey to top off the evening and officially mark his coming of age. All the other young people, except for Ginny, who wasn't yet old enough for firewhiskey, also had a glass, making sure to toast Harry and wish him the best of luck and every happiness in his next seventeen years.

By the time dinner was over, everyone was tight as the proverbial tick, but had loved every minute of the meal, not to mention the party. It was fairly late (at least for Fred and George) when they finally left, making sure to ask Harry as a parting shot to let them know what Ginny thought of their gift to him once he had used it. One had given her a sly smile, the other a sly wink, which provoked her into blushing; the nineteen-year-old twins then hugged their brother-in-law-to-be and Disapparated out after doing the same to their parents, thanking them for a fun party and a great meal.

Harry had been too occupied with the party to have remembered the information on Draco he needed and had been expecting in order to formally charge him with Ginny's rape; it was only at this point that it came back to mind. There had been no owl post as far as he knew, so he could only assume it would likely come sometime the following day at the earliest.

What mattered most at the moment, though, was telling those closest to him of his plans for himself and Ginny to officially mark his coming of age in another way. The couple gave each other lingering looks as they once again seated themselves on the sofa and Harry called the others over. "Ginny and I have something to tell you."

At least some had some idea of what was coming, but others didn't. Either way, it was hoped the news would prove pleasant to learn (or confirm) for all concerned. Ron, Hermione, Molly and Arthur grabbed chairs from the table to face the aforementioned couple.

"All right, we're waiting. What's your news, mate?" Ron prompted.

"Well, this may or may not come as a surprise, but either way, I wanted to make it official now that I'm of age--I have asked Ginny to marry me." There was dead silence for a while, especially from the senior Weasleys, and Harry could guess what it signified. "Don't worry, Arthur, Molly. Not right away. However, we were thinking of doing it shortly after she graduates from Hogwarts next year, possibly announce our official engagement either then or for her seventeenth birthday. I also intend to give her an engagement ring for her graduation present. Until then, however, you may be assured that this little bauble"--he lifted her hand to show the emerald ring--"is about as tangible an indication of my sincerity regarding her as I can give."

This was surely the last thing some of them were expecting, especially after the painful yet heroic breakup the couple had experienced shortly after Dumbledore's death. However, anyone who truly knew them knew that it wouldn't--couldn't--last, because they still loved each other. Would always love each other. And this moment had proved it once and for all.

Once again Ron looked thoroughly gobsmacked, reminiscent of when Harry had pulled Ginny into his arms and kissed her passionately in front of everyone in Gryffindor House. That in itself had been a milestone, marking the beginning of what would prove to be a lifelong romance--that is, if they had anything to say about it!

If this didn't provoke his friend into action regarding Hermione, Harry would be left with nothing else to do but spike his drink with Felix Felicis. He had even caught her looking hopefully in Ron's direction, half-expecting a proposal right then and there ... but unfortunately, it wouldn't be that easy or that rapidly forthcoming. It might even take all of them working together to accomplish it, but what mattered was that it would eventually be accomplished.

For the moment, however, it was sufficient that Harry had managed to tell his potential in-laws of his own serious intentions regarding their only daughter and assure them of his deep and lasting love for her in the only way he knew how. Once it sunk in, however, Molly was the first to go and congratulate them upon the couple's standing up.

"That's wonderful, Harry. I always knew you could never stay away from Ginny for long, despite your breakup with her ... and this proves it."

"I never stopped loving her, Molly, Arthur--not for a moment, you may be assured of that. The supposed 'breakup' was meant to protect her, although I am very sorry for the pain it caused her. However it seemed, I never meant it to be permanent, just until I could take care of Voldemort. And now that he's out of the way, I can allow myself to share my life with her.

"And once we are married, you may also be assured that we will remain so. Both of us have waited far too long to be happy ... and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to her for the pain I have caused her, albeit with the best of intentions ... loving and cherishing her with every beat of my heart, every fiber of my being, until I take my last breath."

Harry was glad to see that Ron was the next to step up and offer his blessing and congratulations after giving each of the couple warm hugs. "Welcome to the family, mate. You just make sure to follow through on your promises, though, or else you'll have six ticked-off elder brothers on your arse in two shakes of a lamb's tail."

Before Harry could answer that, Hermione stepped up and did the same. "I always knew you two were meant to be, Harry, just as Ginny did. It just took some time for you to realise it--and now that you have, I couldn't be happier. The best of everything to you both, now and always."

By this time, Harry was unable to help noting that Ginny was yawning deeply (or at least pretending to) in order that they would be excused from the gathering and left alone to pursue their own agenda for the remainder of the evening. There were still officially two hours left of his birthday, and once they were alone, Harry was sure that Ginny had yet another present to give him ... but not of the material variety.