The Music of Love

A/N: This was a plot idea that popped into my head while I was writing “All I Want for Christmas.” Hopefully this one won't take as long beyond the holiday it's written for to finish. Needless to say, this is a Valentine's fan fic. For the record, this is NOT the sequel to “All I Want for Christmas” (I'm just saying that now to diffuse any questions on that front). I'm grateful to all those who read and reviewed my first attempt as writing fan fiction. This is my second attempt. Hopefully it will turn out as well as the first one did.

Thanks to everybody who's reviewed so far. I'd enjoy hearing from more of you.

Lots of side-ships in this one. Let's see if I can remember all of them that will come up…we've got: Ron/Luna, Neville/Ginny, Lupin/Tonks, Bill/Fleur, and references to Lily/James. This story is slightly AU, but only in the sense that I've added some characteristics to some characters.

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies. All I own is the plotline and a song that will appear later on in the story.

The Music of Love

Chapter 1: No Matter What

A soft pop behind him told Harry that Ron had finally returned, but he didn't look up and kept pacing.

“Mate, you seem determined to dig a pit in our rug,” Ron observed.

“What took you so long?” Harry demanded.

“Sit down and I'll tell you,” Ron insisted.

Harry grumbled, but did as Ron asked. “Why in the world did you want me to sit down?” he inquired.

“So you wouldn't drive me mental with your pacing. Now, do you want to know why it took me so long to get back or not?” Ron demanded.

“I know it wasn't that you went to shag Luna in her office, because she stopped back by here for an article she forgot while you were gone,” Harry informed him.

Ron laughed. “Thanks for the idea, mate. Maybe we'll do that sometime,” he said.

Harry rolled his eyes. “Don't count on me or Hermione to come bail the two of you out for indecent exposure and lewd conduct,” he stated in disgust.

“I was just pulling your leg, mate. Don't get your knickers all twisted up about it,” Ron retorted.

“Umm…Ron? Women wear knickers the last time I checked,” Harry informed him. “Or have you been wearing them and not telling me about it?” Harry added sarcastically.

Ron threw a pillow at Harry. “Don't be such a git,” he muttered. “It took me longer than it would have to get back because I ran into Lupin and told him that Mum wanted me to tell him that him and Tonks were invited to Christmas with us at The Burrow. Then we got to chatting, and Dean and Seamus showed up, as did Parvati and Padma a few minutes later. So, we were catching up with each other on what we've been up to.”

“Did you find out anything interesting?” Harry quizzed.

“Nope. Nothing that we didn't already know. The twins did seem to be a bit flirty with our old dorm mates, though.

“Does that surprise me? Not really,” Harry responded disinterestedly.

“Of course that wouldn't surprise you, all the girls wanted a piece of you while we were in school, mate,” Ron pointed out. “Of course, that's when they didn't think you were totally mental. You probably left more broken hearts in the corridors of the castle than I did, and the ladies loved me.”

Harry pelted Ron with a pillow. “Only in your wildest dreams maybe, mate,” Harry said laughing. “You didn't have nearly the problem I did with girls following you around in the halls all the time.”

“They don't follow you around anymore, do they?” inquired Ron.

“It would be a scary thought if they did,” Harry said flatly. “After all, they're a little young and they know that I'm taken.”

“Ah, yes…” Ron piped up. “Who could forget Headmistress McGonagall having to lecture two of her professors about proper conduct because they were caught snogging in the middle of the hallway? Before breakfast…on Valentine's Day at that!”

Harry's cheeks turned bright red. “How were we supposed to know that a pair of Ravenclaw first-years were in the library before breakfast and decided to take a roundabout route to get to breakfast that morning?” he pleaded in his defense.

“Didn't foresee that one coming, did you mate?” Ron needled him.

“Please, don't talk like that,” Harry pleaded, cringing. “You sound like Professor Trelawney when you talk like that.”

Ron shuddered. “She was mental. It seemed like she predicted your death every other week,” he said.

Harry nodded. “What time did you make the reservation for anyway?” he inquired.

“12:30,” Ron told him.

“You do realize it's 12:15 now, don't you?” Harry asked.

“Yeah, I suppose we should get a move on. We don't want to be late. Besides, that way we may be home when our women get home, right mate,” Ron added, elbowing Harry in the ribs.

Harry cuffed Ron upside the back of the head. “You might get some action if that's the case, but you know perfectly well that Hermione wants a ring on her finger before she goes there.”

“I don't know how you can stand it, mate,” Ron told him. “Don't you want to know what it's like?”

“I don't need to do it to know what it's like,” Harry retorted. “All I have to do is listen to you and Luna going at it from across the hall.”

Ron rolled his eyes at Harry and cuffed him upside the back of the head. “We aren't that loud!” Ron pleaded in his defense.

Harry raised an eyebrow at Ron, but chose not to reply to Ron's defense. “Seriously, of course I would like to, but I love Hermione too much to try to force her into doing something she doesn't want to do.”

“How do you cope, mate?” Ron inquired.

“I've got a method for relief whenever things get too frustrating,” Harry said with a smirk.

Ron covered his eyes. “Please mate, I didn't need to know that,” he pleaded.

Harry laughed. “You asked, mate,” he pointed out. “Besides, I'm not the one that seems to be trying to beat Bill and Fleur before getting married.”

Ron smiled embarrassed. “Come on, mate. Be fair. We don't do it that often.”

Harry rolled his eyes. “Only every other night,” he said sarcastically.

“What time is it now?”

“12:25.”

“Blimey, we better get going then,” Ron said in surprise. “I'll see you in a moment.”

“Yep,” Harry said before disapparating.

Moments later, he was in the entryway of The Three Broomsticks. Ron appeared a moment later.

“The usual, boys?” Madam Rosmerta's voice rang out as the boys made their way to their typical booth in a quiet corner.

“Of course,” Ron called out in response as they sat down.

A few minutes later, Madam Rosmerta brought out two plates of steak and mashed potatoes with a pair of butterbeers. “Enjoy,” she told them as she placed the food in front of them before returning to the kitchen.

Harry and Ron made short work of their meals. “Now, down to business,” Ron said, “What has had you so riled up recently?”

Harry stared at the table, struggling to try to find an answer that wouldn't reveal too much about his troubles. “Nothing,” he finally said, trying to keep a straight face.

“That's hogwash, and you know it,” Ron said pointedly. “Are you going to tell me or do I have to ask Luna what it is? Because I'm sure she's figured it out.”

Harry glared at Ron for a moment. “You don't fight fair,” he muttered. “You know perfectly well that I know that Luna can put her finger on what's bothering a person before they've admitted it to anybody.”

Ron smirked. “Why else do you think I said it?” he replied cheekily. “Now are you going to tell me or do I have to go ask Luna?”

Harry sighed in defeat. “I've been trying to figure this out on my own because I don't want anybody to know what I'm thinking about.”

“Why don't you ask Hermione for help?” Ron demanded. “I'm sure she'd love to help.”

Harry glared at him. “She's the one person I absolutely can't go to for help this time,” he retorted. “With all due respect, none of your family would be able to keep my thoughts a secret. Lupin and Tonks are too busy with their baby. Hagrid wouldn't have any idea of how to help me.”

“What about Luna?” Ron interrupted.

“Trust me,” Harry replied, slightly annoyed at the interruption. “Luna's not the person to help me out with this problem either. She pretty much admitted that to me herself this morning.”

“Wait a minute, mate. Why the need for secrecy?” Ron replied with a blank look on his face.

Harry stared at him for a minute, letting Ron think. “Why do you think I'd want secrecy?” he asked softly.

Ron's blank expression didn't change. “I still have no bloody idea what you're getting at mate,” Ron said after a couple of minutes.

Harry rolled his eyes. “Are you seriously that daft?” he asked in bewilderment. “I know that you can be a bit dense at times, but this is ridiculous!”

“Okay, so I'm a little slow today,” Ron acknowledged. “Are you going to tell me straight out or do I have to go to Luna?”

“Maybe it'll be easier if I show you this,” Harry said, pulling a small black box out of his pocket and setting it on the table where only the two of them could see it.

Ron stared uncomprehendingly at the box for a few seconds, before his eyes started to widen. “Is…Is…Is…that what I think it is?” Ron stammered in disbelief.

“According to every wizarding tabloid in the world, you've got one of these hidden around somewhere too,” Harry said bluntly.

“You're going to pro…pro…propose to Hermione?!” Ron stuttered in shock.

Harry quickly slipped the box back into his pocket. “Now you understand why I can't turn to her for advice in this situation?” he asked.

Ron smiled sheepishly and nodded. “I can be so bloody dense at times, it's amazing that I didn't fail a year in school,” he admitted.

Harry smirked, “You have Hermione to thank for that.”

“Yeah, I'll have to remember to do that sometime,” Ron said quickly before turning serious. “Mate, seriously. She's been our best friend for the last nine years. How can it be difficult to figure out how to propose to her?”

Harry rolled his eyes at Ron. “You know, we said you had the emotional range of a teaspoon for a reason. It's for things like what you just said. Proposing is something you want to make memorable. Something you want to make as romantic as possible. You don't want to do something like propose just after you've shagged her or something like that.”

Ron turned a brilliant shade of red. “Well, there goes that idea,” he said disappointedly.

Harry glared at him. “Mate, please tell me you weren't seriously going to do that,” he pleaded.

Ron suddenly became very interested in his now empty plate. “I can't believe you, mate,” Harry said in disbelief. “You want to do something romantic for her. Take her out for a moonlight broom ride or something. I'd consider doing that myself, but we both know how much Hermione hates flying.”

Ron smiled gratefully. “Thanks, mate. I'll have to think about something a bit more creative than a post-shag proposal.”

“Do you even have a ring yet?” Harry demanded.

“Well…umm…to be perfectly honest…nope.” Ron stammered. He quickly recovered and countered, “we aren't here to talk about me and Luna. We're here to talk about you and Hermione. Any ideas, mate?”

Harry sighed dejectedly. “Nope, not a one,” he said deflatedly.

Ron rolled his eyes. “It can't possibly be as bloody tough as you're making it, Harry,” he insisted. “You must be thinking about it too much. Just do it.”

“There's that little thing about making it as romantic as possible, Ron,” Harry reminded him.

“Seriously, mate. You don't need to worry about that,” Ron retorted. “Hermione loves you so much that she'd say `yes' to you no matter what you do. She'd probably even say it even if you did something like ask her after the two of you shagged.”

“There's one problem with that theory,” Harry pointed out. “She doesn't want to shag until we're married. I'm going to honor that because I love her.”

Ron sat there shaking his head as Harry continued. “Besides, she's so special that I want to make it something that neither of us will ever forget…”

“One problem with that idea, Harry,” Ron interrupted. “How in the world are you going to come up with some really special proposal and not have Hermione figure out what you're up to. She's not the brightest witch of our age for nothing.”

Harry sighed in frustration. “I know. That's part of the reason I'm having so much trouble thinking of a way to propose. I want it to be something that she doesn't expect.”

Ron raised his eyebrow. “If it wasn't for the fact that you defeated Voldemort already, I'd say that this is the toughest thing you've ever tried to do. You know how Hermione sees everything,” Ron pointed out.

“I know,” Harry told him. “I want to try, anyway. I realize that I might not be successful, but I'm going to make the effort to do the improbable.”

“She knows you're going to propose sooner or later, so why don't you just do something predictable? She'll expect you to do something unique, being predictable may take her by surprise,” Ron suggested.

Harry glared at him. “You're not being much of a help here, Ron,” he said bitterly. “Hermione's too special to do something predictable for. Besides, since when have I taken the easy way out of something?”

Ron looked down at the table and thought for a moment, then looked up at Harry. “You're right. You always insist on living an eventful life,” he admitted. “I don't mean to sound so critical of you, Harry. I'm behind you all the way. Hermione loves you for who you are. As long as you stay true to yourself, I'm sure she'll love however you choose to propose.”

Harry smiled gratefully at Ron. “Thanks, mate. I appreciate your support,” Harry said relieved.

Ron smiled back. “No problem, mate. I'll try to think of something that may help you.”

“Just do one thing for me, Ron.”

“What's that?” Ron asked.

“Promise me that you won't tell anybody about what I'm planning,” Harry requested.

“Sure thing,” Ron said, looking Harry in the eye.

Ron put some galleons on the table to pay for their lunch, and they both stood up. “Let's go see if our girls are back at the flat now,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.

“Don't call them girls to their face, or you may end up on the business end of their wands,” Harry said with a wink.

They walked to the entrance and disapparated.

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