Beginnings

Harry and Ginny knew about me and Hermione right away, of course, since they were there when...when it happened. I didn't tell anyone else about us, though-not even my parents. I would have felt so weird talking about it with them. I didn't even know if they'd approve, to tell the truth. They liked Hermione...I was sure of that...but would they think we were too young to be in such a serious sort of relationship? I should've known I wouldn't have been able to keep it all a secret for long...especially with brothers like Fred and George.

Everybody in my family noticed that there was something different about me when I came home that year...Oh, I almost forgot...I haven't mentioned what became of Voldemort. He was defeated, all right. How? That's a different story, one that I don't care to tell right now, as it's much too long. I'm focusing on me and Hermione here.

As I was saying...Everybody in my family noticed that there was something different about me when I came home that year, though they weren't sure what. I'm sure I had never looked so extremely happy. I remember stepping off the train...

"Hey, Mum, Hey, Dad, How are you, Hey, Fred, Hey, George, How's the joke shop coming, Isn't it a beautiful day today, I had a very nice time at Hogwarts, a wonderful time, How are all of you?" I said all in one breath, smiling broadly. I was in an especially good mood, because Hermione had asked me to stay behind on the train a minute, and we had...said goodbye. A kind of goodbye that I didn't want my parents or Fred and George to see...or Harry, for that matter.

"Er...We're all fine, Ron...Are you okay?" said Fred, looking at me like I was crazy.

"I'm fine, I'm glad you're fine, I'm quite okay, thank you."

My mum and dad also looked at me like they weren't sure of my sanity. "Er...Did you say goodbye to Harry and Hermione, Ron?" said my dad.

"Yeah," I said. I was even gladder than before that Hermione and I had said our goodbyes on the train. I wouldn't have trusted myself to look at Hermione and say a merely casual goodbye. I probably couldn't have looked at her for one second without my eyes softening so that my feelings for her were clearly visible for all to see. Anybody, I'm sure, would know what that look meant, even somebody like Malfoy (whom I've often thought entirely incapable of such feelings as love. I just can not picture Malfoy loving somebody, anybody, especially not the way I love Hermione. 'Course, I never really thought I'd ever love anybody like I do Hermione...Okay, okay, that's enough. I better stop before this tangent goes further). I was very glad Hermione had already left. If she'd been anywhere near, I'm sure my mum would have known my feelings in a second. Less than a second, even. Mothers are like that: awful hard to hide things from, especially when you're as bad at acting as I am.

Okay, I probably went a little too far with that flashback. I'll jump ahead now...

My family kept trying to figure out what was the matter with me. I told them I was so happy because Voldemort had been defeated, which was partly true, but not really, of course. I don't think they believed me.

I think one reason why the idea that maybe I was in love with somebody didn't cross their minds for a while is that it didn't seem too likely; seemed a little absurd, even. I mean, I'd never liked girls that much; had never cared for all that so-and-so likes so-and-so and so-and-so's going out with so-and-so nonsense. All right, all right, I'll admit that I did look at them now and then...like Fleur Delacour...Hermione didn't like me looking at her very much, I remember...probably a little jealous, though not near as jealous as I was of Viktor Krum...I better stop myself before I go off on another tangent here. Anyway, as I was saying, I looked now and then, just like all the other boys did, but that was all. Just looked.

It's kind of funny, looking back on all those years that Hermione and I knew each other at school, arguing all the time and everything...It's pretty special that we've known each other since we were just eleven...Doesn't often happen like that, does it? Aargh, I have got to stop it with these tangents. If somebody had told me just a few years ago that I would be this sentimental and in love with Hermione, I'd have laughed and told them they were crazy. Either that or tell them they were a fraud fortune-teller like Professor Trelawney.

Anyway...back to the story.

Harry made me a bet just before we said goodbye for the last time on the train platform that my family would find out about me and Hermione near the end of the first week home.

He lost the bet.

They found out on the very first full day home.

Graduation pictures were taken at Hogwarts, and my mum had everyone's lined up nicely on the mantelpiece in the living room. Along with one of the whole class, there was one of just Harry, Hermione, and I, which she had put in a place of honor at the very center.

The whole gang was there at the Burrow-the whole Weasley family. We were having a party in honor of my graduation from Hogwarts. Harry and Hermione had been invited too, of course. (Hermione and I tried to avoid each other. Nobody thought much of it. They just assumed we'd had some sort of argument.) Hermione's parents had been, too. (I don't know if this was just to be polite or so Dad could bombard them with questions about Muggles.) I was walking into the living room when George came up to me with a very evil-looking grin on his face. "Photograph people don't normally act out of character, do they?" he said.

"I don't think so," I said slowly.

"Then how do you explain the rather odd behavior of two certain people in that picture over there?" Fred jabbed his thumb toward the mantel. I looked over curiously to the picture that George, along with everyone else, was watching. (Everybody was squeezed into the room, along with Hermione's parents.) It was the picture of Harry, Hermione, and I, though Harry wasn't in it at the moment...

My photographic self was grinning shyly, having just handed a red rose to photographic Hermione, who smiled, blushing slightly, and kissed my photographic self on the cheek.

"I...er...I guess photograph people don't always act like...like the actual people," I mumbled, blushing deeply at the same moment that I did in the photograph. I winced as I saw my photographic self leaning towards photographic Hermione to kiss her. He suddenly stopped, and he and photographic Hermione looked around to see everyone watching them. They both blushed and quickly ran out of the picture.

I looked from the empty picture frame, to Hermione, who was looking at the floor and blushing, to the many faces watching both of us. Wild and half-formed made-up stories chased themselves around in my brain, but I knew it was no use. I had to tell everyone the truth. However, telling my family, along with Hermione's, that I was deeply in love with Hermione Granger, would be much harder than telling Hermione herself, (And I thought that had been hard!) especially with Fred and George both grinning evilly at me and suppressing laughs.

I just stood there in the middle of the room blushing and stuttering, wishing Hermione and I could just run out of the room and disappear like we'd run out of the picture.

It was my mum who finally broke the awkward silence. "How long has it been?" she said simply, looking from me to Hermione.

"Since yesterday," Hermione and I said together, rather nervously.

Before either of us could say anything else, everyone started laughing. Hermione and I looked around, perplexed and confused. Hermione was the color of one of my ugly maroon sweaters (Despite my nervousness, I couldn't help thinking that maroon didn't look too bad when it was on Hermione's face.), and I was almost purple.

"There's no need to apologize, you two," said my mum kindly.

"Nobody has a problem with it at all," said Hermione's mother.

"We were just a bit surprised, that's all," my mum explained.

"Not that we were that surprised," said George, grinning.

"Shut up," I said to George, but I couldn't help grinning myself, relieved, and Hermione grinned, too.

"So...when are you two getting married?" teased Fred.

"Shut up." It was Hermione who said it that time. To my annoyance, as it pleased Fred and George, both of us blushed again.

I don't know if Fred and George or anybody thought we'd ever actually get married...Only having been with Hermione for a single day, I certainly wasn't ready to think about that yet. There was quite enough to be worried about at the moment, anyhow...like the one thing probably both most looked forward to and most dreaded after graduating from school...establishing ourselves in the world of work.

Harry was quite sure about what he wanted to do. Dumbledore himself had approached him and said that Hogwarts could use him as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and, after asking for a day to think about it and discuss it with people, such as me and my family, and Hermione, of course, he had accepted the job. We were all very happy for him, and were quite sure that he would be the best Hogwarts teacher since dear old Professor Lupin. We also hoped that he wouldn't have to leave after just one term, as was known to happen to Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers at Hogwarts.

Hermione wasn't quite sure what she wanted to do, and had decided to "try out" different jobs until she found the one she was meant for.

I was quite sure I wanted some sort of art career. I'd never have guessed it several years ago, but after I took a bit of an art course at Hogwarts, I found that I had a real talent for drawing and painting, so much so that I received a full scholarship to Madam Martzim's Academy of Magical Arts, one of the best-known art academies for wizards. (I'd never heard of it 'til I got the scholarship, but Hermione had and told me how well known it was, and if Hermione is certain of a fact, you can be quite certain it's true.) I hadn't even known "magical arts" existed until I took the class at Hogwarts. What I do is quite like Muggle drawing and painting, except that I can add magical touches such as making the pictures move or flash different colors. In the very first class, the professor told me I was a natural. I was so happy that day, as I'd never really been too good at anything. Just goes to show you that everybody has some sort of special talent, even those who think they don't. Mine simply had to be discovered.

It's quite lucky Hermione took that art class at Hogwarts, because, to tell the truth, though I haven't admitted it to anyone-not even Hermione-I only took that class because she was in it.

I left for Madam Martzim's Academy of Magical Arts in September-my first September out of Hogwarts, and got a part-time job...at the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts office. They accepted me right away, they're so desperate for people, and it was especially easy to get a job there since my dad vouched for me. It's not as boring as it sounds. It's kind of funny hearing what people do to Muggle stuff. I didn't really need any qualifications, either...though I felt sorry now and then that I'd never taken Muggle Studies. Madam Martzim's, though it focused on arts, also had normal classes, and I signed up for Muggle Studies. It's not so bad , especially since I can always ask Hermione or Harry for help. My dad is especially pleased to help me, though of course his information isn't as reliable as Hermione's or Harry's. I learned to always double-check what he told me with Hermione or Harry after I got marks off on a paper for saying that the purpose of a smoke detector was to press the button on it and laugh when it made the beeping noise. I don't see why they laughed at me. My dad showed me a smoke detector. It is kind of funny hearing it beep when you press the button...

My portfolio filled up with all kinds of portraits of Hermione, many of which weren't for class but simply done on my own because I missed her and was thinking about her so much. In class too, though, I drew many portraits of her. Every time I was asked to draw a portrait, even if I tried to draw someone else, it always ended up being a portrait of Hermione.

"Who is that that you're drawing all the time?" asked a girl named Nancy Namian sitting next to me one day during my second year at the school, as I drew yet another portrait of a smiling Hermione.

I hesitated, my ears turning pink. "A friend of mine."

"I see," said Nancy, grinning and going back to her own drawing.

"You and her getting married?" Nancy said some time later.

"N-no," I stuttered. "We're just friends." I didn't feel much like telling her that Hermione and I were certainly much more than "just friends". I'd never liked her much. She was always getting into other people's business like that; gossiped quite a bit, too. I didn't want word of me and Hermione getting all around the academy. It sounds silly. You'd have thought that silly stuff like that would stop when you were at the age to be at an academy, but it didn't. There was still gossip. There were still rumors. There was no escaping it.

"Suit yourself, but I don't believe you," said Nancy, going back to her own drawing again but watching me out of the corner of her eye. I carefully shaded in Hermione's eyes, trying my best to ignore her, as well as to not make a snide remark about her drawing, which in my mind looked like a cross between Mad-Eye Moody and a Blast-Ended Skrewt.

Though I did my best to ignore dumb old Nancy's comments, she had brought the question of marriage back into my mind. Do I really, truly love Hermione? I thought, as I tried to fall asleep that night. That wasn't too hard too figure out. Of course I did. Am I really ready to completely commit myself to her for life, though? That one wasn't hard to figure out either. I'd often thought out my plans for the future in my mind, and there hadn't been one time that Hermione hadn't been in those plans. Not one. I couldn't picture my future without Hermione as a part of it, and a big part of it, at that. I wanted to always be there for her, and for her to always be there for me. I missed her if a single day went by without my hearing from her, and sent her so many letters that I almost had no idea where she had room to keep them all. I loved her so much that I never even thought of being with anybody else. Why not just make it all nice and official? We'd been going together for almost two years, during weekends and holidays when I didn't have work, when I could see her...Why not just marry her? It would certainly save a lot of time, parchment, and ink.

Hermione Weasley...I liked the sound of the name...I repeated it several times in my head. Hermione Weasley... Hermione Weasley ...It had a nice sort of ring to it. I smiled, trying to imagine what Hermione's reaction would be when I proposed to her...

But how exactly was I going to propose to her? The thing was much easier said than done. How did one go about asking such a thing? I didn't have the slightest idea. My stomach churned at the mere thought. What if I got so nervous that I couldn't even speak in complete sentences, as had happened on my last day at Hogwarts? Or what if...What if Hermione wasn't really that serious about our relationship, and had no desire whatsoever to marry me? What if she turned me down? She wouldn't want to hurt me, so she'd say no as carefully and gently as she could, but that wouldn't help at all...

I'd feel like a fool for asking her; for ever thinking that she was that serious about...about us...

And my heart would be broken-broken far beyond repair. I'd be empty inside, and I'd never love anyone else, never, because Hermione was the only one who could fill that space in my heart. I'm a bit softhearted, I'll admit, and the biggest soft spot in my heart of all is the one that belongs to Hermione. No...my whole heart belongs to Hermione...It sounds sappy and stupid, but it's true.

These thoughts horrified me. If I never ask her, though," I thought, "I'll never know what the answer is, will I? And I could talk to Ginny...Ginny would help me...Christmas is soon...a whole two weeks home...

It was settled in my mind then. I was going to ask Hermione Granger to marry me. Madam Martzim's was a full four-year art college, so I had two more years to go yet, and still needed to find a job after that, and a home.... but I couldn't wait that long...I would most certainly go insane.. Hermione had faith in me, more faith than I myself had in my abilities. Since I'd got the scholarship to college, she'd been telling me not to worry; that I'd find a job, and be famous one day, even. She may have been a bit biased about my talents, considering...the kind of relationship we had...but, biased or not, I was always glad I had her support.

"Ginny? Could I talk to you a moment?" It was the Christmas holiday, and I'd caught Ginny by herself at the first opportunity.

"Okay," said Ginny cooperatively, watching me curiously. "Where?"

"Er...I'm not sure...I don't want anybody to overhear anything..." I looked around, hoping Fred and George were out of earshot. They were there for the Christmas holiday as well.

Ginny thought a moment. "Your room will do."

"What about-"

"Fred and George? Don't worry. I know a handy little charm that'll make it impossible for anybody to hear us."

"Okay. Thanks," I said, relieved.

"What's the trouble?" Ginny asked me when we were in my room and she had done the charm. (I'm not sure what the charm was, and I was too preoccupied to ask her about it.)

"I...I need your help, Ginny."

"What with?"

I put my hands behind my back, looking at my feet. "I...er...I want to ask Hermione to...to...er..." My ears went very red. Though I knew that no one but Ginny could hear me, I still had the horrible thought of how much Fred and George would tease me if they knew.

"You want to ask her to marry you."

I nodded, blushing deeply.

"Well, It's nothing to be embarrassed about, Ron. It's perfectly normal to fall in love with somebody and want to marry her. A great percentage of the human population have. We wouldn't be here otherwise, would we?" I wondered how Ginny could say this so calmly, without grinning evilly like Fred and George would've done. I certainly would never've gone to them for advice. She was smiling, but it was a friendly smile, a smile that told me she knew how I felt and wanted to help me. I felt a surge of affection towards my understanding little sister. Why had it taken me so many years to finally appreciate her?

"It's stupid to make fun of people for something so normal," Ginny continued. "It makes you think that it's bad to be in love with somebody or something; discourages it...It's as stupid as teasing somebody when they pass gas in the middle of a lesson...I mean, it's just a normal bodily function..."

I laughed, my nervousness ebbing away. "Thanks, Ginny."

"No problem. So...where should we start?"

"I don't know. All I really know is that I want to ask her. I have no idea how..."

Ginny looked thoughtful for a moment. "Have you bought a ring?"

"Nope." I hadn't even thought about getting a ring. How could I have forgotten that? " I've been saving up money for a while, though...since I first got my Ministry job. It's supposed to be for a house, but... oh well." I laughed slightly.

"We could start there then, I suppose..."

"Er...Okay..."

"Just curious...when do you plan on asking her?"

"I dunno...Christmas Eve?"

Ginny thought for a moment. "Yes," she said. "Yes, that would be good...perfect, even. We have the whole week until Christmas...You ready to make it one Hermione will never forget?" She smiled again.

"I-I think so."

"Oh, come on. Hermione loves you. You know it and everybody else knows it. I'm sure she'll say yes. Now answer me again, but sound more sure of yourself this time...Are you ready to make this Christmas one Hermione will never forget?"

I couldn't help but smile. "I'm ready, Ginny."

"Much better."

"RON? GINNY? WHERE ARE YOU?"

Ginny and I both jumped. "Sounds like lunch is ready," said Ginny, and we both hurried downstairs.

Ginny and I went to a jewelry shop the next day, under cover of Christmas shopping for the rest of the family. That was the perfect excuse, as both of us still had Christmas shopping to do, anyway. The only person I already had a gift for was Hermione, and all I'd needed to buy were a few supplies from a school shop at Madam Martzim's. I had painted her gift, a sunset at Hogwarts. She'd told me once while we were still there that she liked how the castle and all of the pinks and purples reflected in the lake. I'd tried my best to capture the beauty of it. I'd put some charms on it, so that the water of the lake rippled, the colors in the sky changed from time to time, and the light in the castle's windows flickered. I liked it a lot, and knew Hermione would, too. It was almost like actually being there, though of course no painting could fully do justice to the beauty of a sunset...just like, no matter how many times I painted her, no painting quite did justice to the beauty of Hermione...I'd feel stupid telling anybody that, even Hermione herself, but that was how I felt.

I was very glad I had Ginny with me. I would have felt stupid being in that jewelry shop by myself, and probably would have been too embarrassed to ask anybody for help, but Ginny was again calm and supportive. The lady behind the counter was kind and helpful as well when Ginny told her what we were looking for. "Oh, We have a wide selection of engagement rings," she said. "Look around and feel free to ask me anything."

I wasn't sure about how much I should spend on the ring, and asked Ginny what she thought about that. I felt comfortable asking her anything I wanted to know by then.

"It's not the cost that's important...It's whether Hermione'll like it or not. I mean, if she's going to be wearing this ring for the rest of her life, it would be good if she liked it, don't you think?"

"Absolutely right," said the lady behind the counter, whose nametag said "Karen."

"I suppose...What's all this about carats? What's a vegetable have to do with anything?"

"It's not talking about the vegetable sort of carrot," said Ginny, evidently suppressing a giggle. "It tells how much gold or silver's in the band...I'm not exactly sure how much a carat is..."

"Carrots can stay vegetables as far as I'm concerned."

Ginny failed to suppress another giggle. "Well, they're not that important, Ron...As I said, What's important is that Hermione likes it."

After much discussion with Ginny, and many answers from Karen from confusion about cuts and carats and so forth, I decided on a round cut and a silver band (I honestly don't even remember how many carats). It was simple; "simple yet elegant", as Ginny put it. I put a bit of a deposit on it and agreed to come back later in the day and pick it up, when I would pay the cost in full.

"Good luck," said Karen with a smile as I took the small box from her and put it carefully into my pocket.

"Thank you," I mumbled. A horrible thought suddenly occurred to me. "Anybody ever have to bring one back?"

"It's happened before," Karen replied conversationally. ", With a full refund, of course... but you won't need that, I'm sure. Right?" She smiled again, winking at me.

"I hope not," I mumbled, my ears turning pink.

"Good day to you, and a happy Christmas."

"You too."

I sure hoped it would be a happy Christmas.

Now that getting the ring was out of the way, Ginny and I moved on to the problem of exactly where, when, and how I was going to ask Hermione the most important and life-altering thing I would ever ask anybody.

"You could go out to eat..." Ginny supplied. "Anywhere around here that Hermione'd like?"

I thought a moment. Then it came to me. "There's that little place Hermione and I went on our first date together...I don't care too much for Italian food, but Hermione thought it was pretty good..."

"That's perfect, Ron! Your first ever date together, that'll make it even more special...and I heard they're having a special Christmas Eve thing there...with music and candles and everything!"

"All right, then. We'll go there."

"It'll probably be crowded there on Christmas Eve...You should make reservations."

"Right."

Ginny looked thoughtful again. "Hmm...I've got it! You can just go on a bit of a walk...The countryside and the town are so beautiful at night...You can walk to that hill we went to for the Portkey before...and you'll be able to see so many stars up there!"

"I have the impression that you're quite enjoying this, Ginny," I said, grinning.

"Maybe because I am." Ginny grinned, too. "So what do you think of my idea?"

"It's perfect. Thank you so much for your help..."

"No problem, Ron. No problem."

I asked my and Hermione's parents if they minded Hermione and I going out to eat on Christmas Eve long beforehand. My parents exchanged a look before saying anything, but gave me permission. Hermione's parents did more than exchange a look...though they also did that, and a rather meaningful look at that...

"You seem a bit nervous," said Hermione's mum (I had sounded rather nervous, and my ears had gone red, too.), raising her eyebrows slightly. "This is just a hunch...but...is there... something you're not telling us? Why exactly did you have to ask us in person, anyway?" She looked at me searchingly. "Not that I want to embarrass you," she added quickly.

"W-well I...I-I...er..." I stuttered, unsure how to respond. "Yes." I avoided Mr. and Mrs. Grangers' eyes. "I wasn't sure how to bring it up...but...I plan to...that is...unless you have any objection?" I didn't bother to completely explain myself, as I was sure they already knew. I looked at my feet, blushing deeply. Hermione had told me that her parents liked me, but I had always felt rather uncomfortable around them, especially in a situation such as this.

"It's all right, Ronald," said Mr. Granger, and though I couldn't see his face, I knew he was smiling. "I doubt we could stop you if we tried, could we?"

I smiled shyly. "Call me Ron."

"Yes, Sorry."

"Why would we want to stop you, anyway? You have my approval, Ron...Weasley, is it? I'm certain you'd make Hermione happy. I've seen the way she looks at you...how her eyes always light up when you walk into a room..."

I blushed again.

"Cut it out. You're embarrassing him," said Mr. Granger.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to embarrass you, Ronald."

"Ron."

"Yes, Sorry."

"And I'm sorry about frightening you when I Apparated in your living room."

Mr. and Mrs. Granger laughed. "That's all right," said Mrs. Granger. "I don't know why we're not both used to strange occurrences by now."

At that precise moment, Hermione Apparated in the kitchen. "Hey Mum and Dad!" she called cheerfully, then stopped dead when she saw me. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just...er..." I took my wand out of my pocket and pointed it at Hermione. "Obliviate!"

There was a flash of light, and Hermione fell to the ground.

"What-" began Mrs. Granger, staring down at Hermione.

"Memory charm," I muttered. "Don't tell her I was here."

"Ah," said Mr. and Mrs. Granger together, looking rather amused.

"One thing...Have you asked Hermione herself about Christmas Eve?"

"Er...no...Good point...I'll send an owl when I get back home." I spoke quickly, watching Hermione cautiously. She began to stir. "See you," I muttered, Disapparating.

Everything was in order: the ring bought, the reservations made, Hermione's parents consulted...and Ginny constantly told me I had nothing to worry about, but I was still half dreading Christmas Eve: Half looking forward to it and half dreading it. Before I knew it, the day had arrived, and the evening arrived even more quickly. It'll all be over in a few hours, I told myself. Whether it goes well or not, it'll all be over in a few hours.

"Good luck," Ginny whispered as I went out the door. I nodded at her, unable to speak.

"Hey, Ron," Hermione greeted me, smiling.

"Hey, Hermione." I tried my best to smile back.

"You all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine. It's just...It's just pretty cold out here."

Hermione nodded. "Yeah, it is. I'd want to just Apparate to the restaurant if it weren't for the Muggles..." She shivered.

Taking advantage of the situation, I put an arm around Hermione. "Feel any warmer now?" I said, grinning.

Hermione smiled. "A bit."

"I don't know if we'll be able to get seats, Ron..." said Hermione when we got there, eyeing the long line.

"Oh, I think we will," I replied, grinning. I removed my arm from around Hermione's waist, and, taking her hand in mine, walked straight past the long line.

"Ron, what are you-"

"Name?" asked the man facing the line.

"Ron Weasley."

The man looked down a list in his hand. "Ah, here you are. 'Ron Weasley, Table Number Twenty-four'..." The man's voice was indifferent, almost bored, as though he had been doing this sort of thing for a long time. He turned to another, younger-looking man nearby. "Show him to his seat, Bill..."

The man called Bill nodded. "Follow me, sir."

"You didn't tell me you had a reservation, Ron! And table twenty-four...Isn't that the exact table we were at the first time we came here?"

"Figured I'd surprise you." I grinned still more broadly...so far so good. I was glad to find that I had remembered the table number correctly, as I had been almost certain that I had made a mistake, and that it had been twenty-six or twenty-three or twenty-seven...or thirty-seven, even, or thirty-four...

"You little sneak," said Hermione, but she was smiling.

"Candles, even!" said Hermione when she saw the flickering lights upon every table. "They weren't here last time, were they?"

"I don't think so." I was still grinning.

"What do you keep smiling about?" asked Hermione.

"Nothing," I replied quickly.

The waiter asked us if we would like any wine, gesturing towards a menu of the many different kinds. I exchanged a look with Hermione. I didn't know the first thing about wine, or how there were so many different colors and kinds of it.

"No, thank you," said Hermione firmly. "I'll just have water..."

"I'll have water as well," I said quickly.

"We're not even old enough to be drinking wine, Ron!" said Hermione when the waiter had left, rolling her eyes.

"Oh yeah," I said, my face flushing. I guess it had been nerves, which had already started acting up, that had driven this out of my mind.

Hermione's expression softened. "You sure you're okay, Ron?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just wasn't thinking, that's all."

"Not the first time, either."

"Very funny, Hermione," I replied sarcastically.

"I was only kidding," said Hermione quickly. "Now let's see what we want before the waiter comes back with the water..."

"I think I'll have the spaghetti and meatballs," I said after looking at the menu briefly.

Hermione laughed slightly. "That's what you got last time, Ron!"

"Well, it was good!"

"I'm not making fun of you...It's just that...Never mind." Hermione probably just didn't want to start an argument.

"What're you getting?" I asked, putting my menu down.

"I'm thinking."

After a while, Hermione replied with some fancy-sounding words that I can't seem to remember. She'll remember, of course...I guess I could ask her. All I know is that it was some sort of pasta with chicken and broccoli and some sort of sauce, which I refused to try when it came...or should I say finally came?

It took ages for our food to get there. To pass the time, I tried talking about various things...just small talk. I don't remember much about what we said. Hermione might remember...She has a weird sort of memory, after all.

After almost half an hour had passed, and the waiter had showed up to apologize for the wait, that they were very busy, I began to grow desperate. "We could always go somewhere else..." I told Hermione.

"No, I don't mind the wait," Hermione replied. "It doesn't matter, really."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

The food was good when it finally came. I guess it was worth the long wait.

"Where do you work right now, Hermione?" I asked.

"The Daily Prophet. You've seen some of my columns, remember?"

"Right...Sorry."

"I've been thinking about something, though..."

"What?"

"I think I'd like to write books...like textbooks, maybe...You know Hogwarts has had those Standard Book of Spells books as requirements for years?"

"Yeah, I guess they have." I waited for Hermione to continue, too preoccupied to talk much.

"Well, They're a bit old-fashioned, don't you think? And I know plenty of spells...It would be easy for me to write about them...I would be fun, even! And to think how many people would read them if they were accepted as Hogwarts textbooks..."

Hermione went on for quite some time about the books she'd like to write. She had that light in her eyes that was always there when she was particularly enthusiastic about something: an endearing quality, in my opinion. I smiled despite my growing nervousness, watching her, though after a while I wasn't hearing much of what she was saying. In less than an hour I'll be asking her, I thought. In less than an hour my life will change forever...for better...or for worse...

"Ron? Ron?"

"Huh? Oh, sorry...What were you saying?" My ears went red.

"Have I been talking to the wall all this time?"

My face flushed, and I cursed myself for letting my mind wander. "I'm really sorry, Hermione...I-I just..."

"Ron, What is the matter with you? You're not yourself...You sure you're feeling all right?" Hermione's expression was genuinely worried.

"I'm fine."

"Okay." Hermione didn't sound convinced, and watched me closely after that, which just made me more nervous.

"Would you like to go for a bit of a walk?" I asked Hermione when we left the restaurant.

"Isn't it a bit too cold tonight?" Hermione studied my face, and she didn't say anything, but I knew I was starting to turn pale, and my ears were permanently red.

"Not really." I wasn't going to let the weather spoil my plan.

"I don't want you catching a cold, Ron..."

"I'll be fine."

"I don't mind if we don't take a walk today...How about tomorrow?"

"NO!"

"Well, If it's that important..." Hermione raised her eyebrows.

I didn't say anything more, my face flushing again.

"So where do you want to go, exactly?"

"I was thinking of going to the top of Stoatshead hill...can see a lot of stars up there..."

"I'd like that, except..." Hermione looked up at the sky. "It's too cloudy to see many stars tonight..."

My heart sank as I looked up at the sky as well. "I guess you're right...Where would you like to go instead?"

Hermione must have heard the disappointment in my voice. "We can still go there if you want..."

"All right..." Things were definitely not turning out the way I had planned. Everything was supposed to be perfect...

This is it, I thought when we got to the top of the hill. One part of me was saying Pull yourself together, Ron. It won't be that hard, but another part was saying, I can't do this. I can't do this...

I put my hand in my pocket and felt the box containing the ring, running my fingers along it. I tried my best to listen to the positive side of my thoughts, but the negative thoughts began growing in volume. I can't do this. I'm going to make a complete fool of myself...I must be crazy to think Hermione would even think about saying yes...I can't do this...I could just not say anything...wait for a better time...I pushed the thoughts away. No. I can do this. It'll all be over soon...I've been planning this for ages. I can't chicken out now...I'm not going to be a coward...I'm a Gryffindor, after all...a Gryffindor..."

"Want to head back to your house now?" said Hermione, taking my hand in hers and interrupting my train of thought.

"No!"

Hermione looked at me, puzzled. "What is it?"

"I, er...have to talk to you..." My heart started pounding, and my hand that held Hermione's began to sweat. I quickly dropped her hand and put both of mine behind my back, looking at my feet.

"About what?"

I took a deep breath. "I-I...er...I don't really know how to begin..."

"Take your time." Hermione began to watch me intently.

Though I was looking at my feet, I could feel Hermione's eyes on me. She was just patiently watching me...completely unaware of what I was about to say...

I lost my nerve completely. I didn't remember one word of the rather lengthy speech I had prepared.

"I-I...You...I...er...Hermione...I..." I stammered, furious with myself at how stupid I sounded, my stomach churning so much I felt like I was going to be sick.

"You know you can tell me anything, Ron."

"I...Hermione..."

"It can't be that bad, whatever it is," Hermione said, growing impatient.

My face began to flush yet again. "I-I-I...er..."

"Honestly, Ron...Just spit it out! It's cold out here..."

"I...er...I love you, Hermione..."

"That's it? I don't see what you were so nervous about...I know, Ron, and I love you too, now can we please go? I'm freezing..."

"NO!"

"What, Ron?" Hermione snapped.

I took another deep breath. "Hermione..."

"What?"

"Will you please stop interrupting me?" I snapped, furious with both her and myself, and, in my anger, I somehow forgot my nervousness. "I'm trying to-"

"Just hurry up before we both freeze to death!"

"Shut up, Hermione! I'm trying to ask you to marry me!"

"Well I...You what?" Hermione gaped at me.

"I said I'm trying to..." The absurdity of what I had just said suddenly hit me, and I blushed more deeply than I ever had in my life. "I...er...Perhaps I should rephrase that...W-will you marry me, Hermione?" I said sheepishly.

Hermione continued to gape at me. "Oh, Ron..." she said. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea..." .

"Do you...need some time to think about it?" I asked, looking at my feet. "Or..." My heart sank. "Is the answer already no?"

"Ron, I-"

"I understand if it is...I mean..." I sighed. "Oh, Just forget I ever said anything. I'm sorry I wasted your time...I guess I'll just-"

"I don't know if you noticed, Ron, but I haven't given you an answer yet!"

"Oh." I fell silent and looked up at Hermione, watching her anxiously. "So, er...what is it?" I had never felt more vulnerable.

Hermione blushed slightly under my gaze. "Ron, You know I love you..." she said quietly, her eyes softening as they looked into mine. I trembled slightly, feeling like those eyes could see into my soul; into my thoughts. "even though you're a git sometimes..." I smiled weakly. "I will always love you, Ron. Do you know why?"

I shook my head slowly, still looking into Hermione's eyes. I doubt I could have looked away if I tried.

"I don't love you for what you are, or what you have, or anything like that. I love you for who you are, Ronald Weasley...It's hard for me to explain, but...there's just something special about you...maybe how you're such a loyal friend...or how you can make me laugh when I'm feeling depressed or scared...or the way you just have to smile at me and I feel better...how I know that, no matter how bad things are, you'll be there with your friendly smile and a kind word..." Hermione started to cry, her voice breaking slightly, but she continued on. "the way that you taught me to lighten up a little...that there's way more to life than getting top grades in every class...the way that you argue with me all the time but I can never stay angry with you for long...Those may seem like little things, insignificant things, but put them all together..." Hermione smiled. "...and you get Ron Weasley, my favorite person in the world. There is no one else in the world I'd rather spend my life with."

"Do you mean-"

"Yes, Ron. My answer is yes." Hermione gave me a kiss on the cheek and gently wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me into an embrace.

I grinned broadly, feeling like I'd float off into the sky if Hermione let go of me. Fortunately, I stayed on the ground when she did. She grinned up at me, and I grinned back.

" I was going to say something like that about you, Hermione...I planned it, but...I forgot it all," I said sheepishly.

Hermione laughed slightly. "That's okay, Ron."

"Oh! I almost forgot!" I said suddenly. I fumbled in my pocket and brought out the box containing the ring, carefully removing the small jewelry article. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful, Ron..."

I smiled. "Thank Ginny. She helped me pick it out."

"Well, She has good taste," Hermione replied, smiling, as I gently lifted her left hand and slid the ring onto her finger. She turned it, watching the diamond sparkle in the moonlight, her eyes sparkling in almost the same way.

"You could keep your own last name if you want," I said suddenly.

"Nah...too confusing...Hermione Weasley...I like it...It has a nice sort of ring to it, don't you think? Hermione Weasley..."

I smiled. "Yeah, It does.

"I'm sorry things didn't go as I planned tonight..." I said after a while.

"You think I care, Ron? Hey, It may be cold, but at least it isn't raining or anything..."

Just then, there was a clap of thunder overhead, and freezing rain began coming down in sheets.

"You had to say it, Hermione..."

We both laughed. "Want to just Apparate back to the Burrow?" I asked.

"Nah. I have a much more fun idea..."

"What's that?"

"Last one back has to tell everyone the news...starting with Fred and George!" Hermione was halfway down the hill before she'd finished her sentence.

"Hey! Hermione! Do you really think...You're not making me tell them!" I hurried after her, slipping and sliding on the now damp and icy grass.