Love Conquers All
Chapter 4:
Merlin
The night Harry returned from Gringotts, there was a huge bash for his birthday. It was held at the burrow, to keep the identity of headquarters a secret from the rest of the teenagers that were close to Harry. Of course, his house mates came to celebrate; along with the rest of the Weasley clan and their girlfriends and wives.
Bill and his expecting wife, Patty, had showed up with some Egyptian artifacts that they thought would go well in Harry's new home. Charlie and his fiancé, Lindsey, gave Harry a framed picture of him dodging past the Horn Tail his 4th year at Hogwarts. "I just found that picture a couple months ago, Harry. I thought you'd enjoy it." Harry laughed and nodded; losing Cedric that day didn't hurt as much as it did in the past. Percy was still absent from the family, as he was angered at his father for beating Crouch in the Minister election. Fred and George had brought their girlfriends Katie and Angelina. They, of course, gave Harry a bucket filled with their new gags to "use on the new teachers." Hermione gave Harry an I-don't-think-so look, but Harry just chuckled and gave Ron a nothing's-going to-stop-us-from-using-these look when Hermione turned around.
Harry got tidbits of Quidditch supplies from his friends from school. Dean had giving him a football book, trying to sway his opinion of the sport. Ron had given Harry a new cloak to wear when they was practicing in the cold and rain, and Ginny had given him a golden plate, for his Quidditch locker, engraved, "Potter, Captain."
"That's nice Ginny, but I don't know if I'll be captain yet." Harry stated.
"You will Harry, everyone knows it." Ron chimed up.
"So what did you get me `Mione?" Harry asked turning expectantly at his girlfriend.
She just smiled sweetly, patted his hand and replied, "You will see later on." Harry smirked and Ron coughed jokingly. Everyone laughed and they returned to the party.
The Weasley men, and the women who played Quidditch, played a lazy game of Quidditch until dark. When Harry had landed his broom, he went into the restroom to freshen up and to say goodbye to his guests. But when he arrived back outside he saw that everyone was down next to the fire pit. The minister had started a fire and they were all telling stories and singing songs. Harry couldn't seem to find Hermione in the mess of people, so he just sat down next to Ron. He smiled at him and listened for a long while, laughing at the funny memories people told of him, or the other people at the party. When Harry had been there for a while, and still hadn't spotted Hermione he started to get worried.
"Ron, have you seen `Mione?" Harry asked frowning, again darting his eyes around the fire. Ron shrugged but just as he did, Hedwig flew down to Harry. She landed on his lap, and Harry could see a paper tied around her leg. Out of the corner of his eye he saw everyone smirking and looking at him. He opened the note and read to himself:
Roses are Red,
Violets are Blue,
My Lips are sweet,
And ready for you.
So follow your heart,
To where I'll be,
Waiting for you,
To come and kiss me.
Harry chuckled to himself and said goodbye and thank you to everyone. As he was giving Ron a hug thank you for such a wonderful day, Ron whispered in his ear, "We won't be back to Grimmald until lunch tomorrow." Harry nodded and went into the house. He stepped into the fireplace through down the powder, while speaking "12 Grimmald Place," and was transported through the floo network to his home.
He was coughing and wheezing when he arrived in the living room of the house. There were rose petals on the floor leading out of the living room and going up the stairs. Harry followed the red petals up the stairs and down the hall to the master bed room. The door was left ajar, but Harry couldn't see anything from the opening. He pushed the door open slowly and spoke, "`Mione?" When he stepped into the bedroom candles floating above him flickered on, and his love was illuminated on the bed.
Silk, off white sheets were on the bed, and Hermione laid on top them facing Harry in a red lace bra and matching thong. Harry stood there with his jaw open. "Hermione, this isn't what I meant for a birthday present." He whispered walking over to her.
She giggled at him and replied, "Silly Harry. This is only part of it." She reached over to the desk next to them, and grabbed a small box wrapped in red wrapping paper. Harry smiled and began to unwrap it.
Inside the box was a silver and blue Muggle/Wizard watch. The watch had a Muggle clock face with a second hand, a minute hand, and an hour hand. But the watch also had three faces on it, which pointed to words on the outside of the numbers. Ron and Ginny's face pointed to the word, Burrow, and Hermione's face pointed to Home. The words were written there digitally, so they would change when the person moved. Harry thought it was the best gift he had ever received, except of course his firebolt.
He looked at his beautiful girlfriend and kissed her gentle as he put his watch on. After he was finishing clasping it, he put his hands on either side of Hermione's face. She had one hand on his arm and the other in his black messy hair. They had the whole night to themselves, and Harry was going to take advantage of it.
* * *
Harry couldn't take his eyes off of her. She was beautiful. She slept quietly next to him. Her hair sprawled out across the pillow, and her cheeks were rosy from the heat of the bed. There was one group of hair that fell into her face when she shifted, and he moved it cautiously, not to wake her. Harry wanted to spend the rest of his life with this girl, he knew it. He had loved her since 5th year, and he would love her forever. He glanced at his new watch and saw that it was almost 11 30. The Weasley's would be back after lunch, and Harry wanted to have a nice lunch with Hermione and talk to her about what went on at Gringotts.
He silently crawled out of his bed, found his boxers and robe, and padded downstairs to the kitchen. He took out the skillet and a regular pan, and searched the ice box. He took out 4 eggs and a bunch of bacon and set to work. He popped a couple pieces of toast in for each of them, and when they were finished he put just enough butter on it. He placed it all on a large tray, and levitated it up the stairs and into the bedroom.
When he got there Hermione was still sleeping soundly. He placed the tray down on the ground and crawled into the bed next to her. He kissed her forehead and whispered, "`Mione. Wake up beautiful."
Hermione slowly opened her eyes and smiled sleepily, rubbing her eyes as she said, "Good Morning handsome. What time is it?"
"Well, it's about lunch time. The Weasley's are due back around 1, so I put together a breakfast for you sleepyhead." Harry replied.
"Aw Harry, it's your birthday." Hermione frowned.
Harry chuckled, "But I could disturb such an angel this morning." Hermione smiled as Harry levitated the tray of food over to them and sat it down in between them.
They ate quietly for a while, just enjoying the mood. The Hermione seemed to realize she forgot about the Gringotts meeting yesterday and her eyes widened and she said, "What happened at the Bank yesterday?"
Harry nodded, swallowed his food, and then replied, "Well it seems that I am a very rich man." Hermione just looked at him confused. "You see my parents put an account aside for me when they went into hiding. All the insurance money went in there, and I also have the money from Sirius and the gold left over in the original vault I got." Hermione's eyes got bigger. But Harry continued. "And I own this house, and another in Scotland. That's what happened."
"Merlin. So how much do you have exactly?" Hermione whispered.
"Umm…about 6 million galleons." Harry grabbed another piece of toast and started munching on it. Hermione just looked at him surprised. "Well are you going to stop loving me now?"
"Goodness no Harry. It's just a lot to comprehend."
"Yea I know."
The couple ate the rest of their breakfast in silence. When they were both finished Harry scurgified to the dishes and banished them to the kitchen. They lay in the bed cuddling and kissing for another 15 minutes, and then around 12 30 got ready for the Weasley's. While Harry was changing, Hermione went around and cleaned up the rose petals from the floor. Then when they both finished they switched and Hermione got changed and Harry cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. By 1 o clock, when the Weasley's bounded through the fire place, Harry and Hermione where enjoying tea in the backyard.
Ron saw them through the kitchen window and smiled. He was so happy for his friends, he didn't know if he would ever have the love they had for each other, but he hoped he did. He walked out side and sat down on the grass besides them. He laid his head back on the ground and sighed, "Weird how it's just us three again."
Harry chuckled, "Where's Luna?"
"Ah. She had to go home and be with her father a little before school starts, she'll be back in about a week. I'm going over there this afternoon for tea and to meet him." He replied with a nervous grin. Harry smiled reassuringly at him.
"Oh yes. Speaking of seeing people." Hermione turned to Harry and continued, "I need to visit my aunt and uncle this afternoon." Harry gave her a Do-I-have-to-go-look. "Oh Harry, honestly. No, you don't have to come with me."
"So it's just me and Ginny then. We'll I'll go see what she wants to do when you two get ready to go."
So they trio went their separate ways in the house. Ron went to go clean up to meet Luna's father, Hermione went to go change into some "sophisticated" close to see her aunt and uncle, and Harry when to go track down Ginny.
When Harry found her, she was bent over a parchment at her desk, writing slowly. Harry knocked on the open door and leaned against the frame. "So are you going to tell us who you've been writing to?" He asked with a smirk.
Ginny jumped and shoved the letter under a stack of books. Ginny glared for a moment and then relaxed, "If I told you, you'd kill me. And I value my life, so you'll just have to wait."
"Well he must be someone special, because you write to him everyday, and he writes back to you. So it can't be Dean, he's too much of a git."
Ginny giggled got off of her desk chair and hopped onto her bed. Harry sat down beside her and said, "Ron and Hermione are both doing something today. Do you want to help me with something?"
Ginny gave Harry a quizzical look. "Help with what?"
Harry smiled and whispered, "I'm going to ask Hermione to marry me." Ginny gasped and squealed. When she stopped he continued, "And I would like your help to find a ring."
"Of course!!"
"SHHH!!!!" Harry smiled but hushed her urgently.
"Oh, sorry, Harry." Ginny whispered again, "When are you going to ask her?"
"I haven't figured that part out yet. I want it to be special, but I'm not sure. I'm going to wait to see if I can talk to your mum about doing something special."
Ginny nodded. "Well let me just get ready, and I'll be down stairs in 10 minutes. I'll floo Lindsey and see if she can come."
"Brilliant." And Harry left the room and walked two doors over to the room he shared with Ron. He saw that Ron had left, but he left a note on Harry's bed.
Mate,
I'm off to Luna's. Mum doesn't know I've left, so if she asks that's where I am. I will be home late, don't wait up. Have fun with Ginny today.
Ron
Harry shook his head and smiled. Then he got on some light Muggle clothes and put on his everyday robes. While he was dressing he was humming to himself, and he didn't even realize that his girlfriend had come into the room until she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his neck. Harry grinned and turned around to cradle her in his arms.
"Are you leaving, love?" Harry asked looking into her chocolate brown eyes.
"Yes, I'm just about to head out." Hermione stood on her tip-toes and kissed his nose.
"Well do you have someone from the order going with you?" He asked sternly.
Hermione nodded, "I'm bringing Remus. And where are you going today?"
"Ginny and I are going to shop at Diagon Alley, we're leaving soon too."
"Who's going with you?" Hermione asked.
"Ginny said she was going to floo Lindsey."
Hermione nodded and pulled him into a stunning kiss. When she finally let go of his lips Harry asked, "What was that for?"
"Just be safe." Harry wrapped his arms around Hermione and pulled her close to him.
"You too, love." Hermione kissed his neck in response and then the couple walked downstairs holding hands.
Harry kissed Hermione goodbye, and she walked out the front door with Remus. They were taking a car to her Aunt and Uncles, because they were Muggles. Then Harry walked into the living room to find Ginny and Lindsey waiting by the fire place. Lindsey smiled at Harry, "So you're going to ask her." Harry nodded and blushed a little. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, Harry. I think it's bloody romantic. I mean you've loved her for two years, and you just want to make her yours permanently. You know she's going to say yes. Well let's go. I've got some things I need for the house, so you two can go to find the ring, and I'll do my shopping."
The three of them flooed to Diagon Alley. Lindsey went off to do her house shopping, and Ginny and Harry went to Gringotts to get some gold. "How much do you think a ring will cost, Ginny?" Harry asked.
"Well, depends on the ring. But if I know you, and I believe I do, you'll pick out the most expensive accidentally. So I would take 3,000 galleons." Harry nodded and placed the money into a pouch. He took out several extra for a snack and anything else he saw he might need. So they rode the goblin trolley back out to the lobby of the bank, and exited out to the summer day.
As they were walking, looking for a jewelry store, the two talked and joked. "Remember when mum had her heart set on you marrying me, Harry?" Ginny almost couldn't walk she was laughing so hard. She stopped and wiped her tears and then continued.
Harry chuckled at her and replied, "Yea, wouldn't that had been wonderful." Ginny smacked him playfully on the arm. "Ow! I was just joking! It doesn't matter anyway; you have your own romance." Ginny's face turned a deep shade of red. "Don't be ashamed. No matter who it is, for someone to take the time to write to you everyday, he has to feel something toward you."
"Well, Harry, it's someone you wouldn't expect." Ginny looked up at him. They had just reached a quaint little jewelry store, and Harry was looking in the window.
He turned to Ginny put an arm around her and said, "No matter who it is, we'll be happy for you, `lil sis." Ginny grinned broadly, and Harry kissed her hairline.
Then together they walked into the jewelry store. They didn't find anything that they believed would fit Hermione's taste, so they kept looking. It wasn't until the 4th jewelry store that Harry found the perfect ring. It was sitting in the glass case, next to the other engagement rings, but this one was different. It was brighter, and it stood out among all the rest. It had a square diamond in the center with two tiny rubies on either side of it. It was a 1 karot diamond, and it sat daintily on a gold band.
"Ginny, look at this one." Ginny walked over to were Harry was standing. His eyes were fixated on the ring.
Ginny smiled and said, "It's beautiful. It will look perfect on her." She called over the sales clerk. Ginny pulled out a ring from her pocket and gave it to her after pointing to the ring Harry picked out.
"What was that other ring?" Harry asked.
Ginny giggled, "I slipped into Hermione's jewelry box and took a ring so we could have the right size." Harry grinned at her.
"That was a bloody brilliant."
"Oh honestly Harry. Every girl knows you need to have the right size for the engagement ring."
So they bought the ring, and the two went to meet up with Lindsey. They met her by the fountain at the entrance. "How about we get some ice cream before heading back? My treat." Harry suggested.
"Sure!" the two girls answered. And the three of them made their way to the ice cream parlor.
They sat down on the patio and the waitress took their order. When the ice cream arrived Lindsey couldn't take it any more, "So, Harry lets see the ring!" Harry laughed at took it out of his pocket. He handed it to Lindsey and she opened the box. She looked like Harry was asking her to marry him. Her eyes lit up and she smiled from ear to ear. "That is the most gorgeous ring I have ever seen!"
As they ate they talked so more about how he was going to propose and when he was going to do so. Harry didn't know any more than the two girls across the table from him.
* * *
When they arrived back at Grimmald Place, Hermione was sitting in front of the fire place waiting for them to get back. When Harry tumbled through the fire place she lurched up and pulled him down to sit on the couch. He was coughing from the soot and Hermione had already begun to wipe it off his nose and cheeks.
"Well it's that a warm welcome." Harry replied sarcastically.
"Oh shut it Harry! I just got back from my aunts and uncles, and I talked to my parents!"
"Oh brilliant, how are they doing?"
"They are great! They invited us to go to New York for a few days before school!" Hermione squealed and clapped her hands.
Harry laughed and replied, "Bloody brilliant, sounds fantastic. When are we leaving?"
"Well we can leave tomorrow morning."
"Sounds great!"
The rest of the night Hermione and Harry packed and talked with the others about their trip. Ron hadn't arrived home, and probably wouldn't before midnight, so Harry decided to wait up for him tonight. There was so much he needed to tell him.
* * *
At quarter till 1, Ron clambered up the steps and into their bedroom. Harry was sitting up reading Quidditch Through the Ages, and laughed as he entered. Ron's hair was tussled about, and his clothes were wrinkly. He looked happy though.
"I thought I told you not to wait up?" Ron asked changing into his pajamas.
"Yes well, a lot happened today and I wanted to fill you in." Harry replied closing his book.
"Ahh. Well, do tell." Ron had gone into the bathroom to brush his teeth and Harry began.
"Well Ginny and I picked out an engagement ring for Hermione today." Ron stopped brushing his teeth and peaked out the door with his eyebrows raised. Harry nodded.
Ron finished and said, "I thought you were going to wait until the war was over?"
"Yea so did I. But I figure she isn't going to love me any less if we aren't married." Ron nodded.
"So what else?"
"Well then Hermione got an invite for her and me to go to New York for a few days. We are going to visit her folks. We leave tomorrow morning. I figure I'll ask her father if I can marry her then."
"Wow! New York! Brilliant! Sounds good, mate." Ron had pulled the covers up and was lying down in bed, so Harry did the same.
"How did you day go? It looks like it ended well." Harry chuckled.
Ron grinned and said, "He absolutely loved me! He's a weird guy, but I kept my cool. Then he went out on some expedition, and Luna and I snogged before I came back."
"Just snogged?" Harry asked.
"Yea, we've only been together for a couple weeks. No need to rush things, mate." Ron yawned and rolled over. "Night, Harry. Have fun in New York."
"Thanks Ron. Night."
-->