Chapter Text
Harry was a bundle of nerves as he paced his living room floor moments before he flooed to the Burrow. It was Sunday. Sundays were the day of the Weasley family lunch at the Burrow. The Weasleys gathered at the Burrow for lunch every Sunday at one, a tradition starting the summer after the war at Molly's insistence. At first, it was a way they healed following the horrific year and the loss of Fred.
Now, it was a time to gather as a family, catch up with one another, and share news.
Over the past two years, Harry had only missed a handful of these Sunday dinners due to sickness or work. If he was honest with himself, he looked forward to the Sunday lunches every week. Molly would send everyone home with leftovers and baked goods she made. He would play with Teddy and Victoire, converse with Arthur, discuss the latest Quidditch news with Ron, attempt to help Molly clean up, and catch up with Bill, Charlie, and George.
But this Sunday dinner was going to be different. Today, Harry was going to ask Arthur for permission to marry Ginny.
They had been happily dating for the last two years since the end of the war.
Harry and Ginny had reconnected that afternoon of May 2nd when he stepped back into the Great Hall after returning the Elder Wand to Dumbledore's tomb. After he returned the Elder Wand, he and Kingsley repaired the marble tomb. Before returning the Elder Wand to Dumbledore's tomb, Harry repaired his own wand and then broke the Elder Wand in half. Breaking the Elder Wand and sealing the tomb would ensure no one would get a hold of the Elder Wand again.
His next task after returning the Elder Wand was reconnecting with Ginny.
At first, Harry was going to head up to Gryffindor Tower. Neville had told him the tower was safe and hadn't been destroyed in the battle. Instead, as he passed the Great Hall, he turned and headed inside, walking straight to the tables where the Weasleys were gathered. Ron and Hermione were the first to spot him. Knowing who he was seeking, they didn't bring him to the family's attention. Molly and Arthur were speaking with a Ministry official, most likely discussing where they had moved Fred's body and scheduling a time to make funeral arrangements. Molly wiped her eyes as she saw Harry approach, knowing who he was seeking.
He was halfway to her when his eyes met Ginny's, where she sat beside Fleur. She got up from the table and began to walk towards him. As she got closer, she quickened her pace, ignoring her family, who were now all watching.
When she was close enough, she jumped into his waiting arms. She hugged him, feeling his arms around her as tears of joy and relief flowed.
Harry returned the hug tightly, tangling his hand in her hair, inhaling the flowery scent he loved. When he sat her back down, his arms still around her, he opened his mouth to speak.
"I love you," They said in unison. Laughing, they leaned in for a kiss, pouring everything they could into that kiss. They ignored the cheers, whistles, and calls from her brothers and friends, Neville and Ron the loudest of them all.
When they broke apart, Harry scanned the group of grinning Weasleys until he finally landed on Arthur. Knowing what Harry was silently asking, he nodded, giving his permission to take Ginny with him to the tower. Hand in hand, Harry and Ginny walked up to Gryffindor Tower.
When they reached the stairs leading up to the boys' and girls' dorms, they paused only for a second in front of the divided staircase before Harry pulled Ginny up the stairs to the boys' dorms with him.
Once they were in the seventh-year boys' dorm, Ginny took charge. First, she ordered Harry to go to the bathroom for a shower. After his shower, she tried healing what she could of his injuries by treating the bruises and cuts.
She made sure he ate something before he let the exhaustion set in.
He grabbed her hand before falling asleep. "Stay with me?" He asked.
Ginny complied with his request. She climbed into the bed, lying down beside him. She kissed his cheek before falling asleep herself.
Soon after, they learned that sleeping together in the same bed every night helped with their nightmares. Molly didn't approve of this arrangement at first. Until she witnessed Harry comforting Ginny one night after a nightmare. Considering Ginny's 17th birthday was that summer, and they promised not to do anything besides sleep, Molly agreed.
They supported each other through the next month, starting with funerals and memorials. Together with Ron, Hermione, and Charlie, they helped George reopen the joke shop. It was a welcomed distraction from the loss of Fred, and reopening the joke shop would have been what he would have wanted, no matter how hard it was for George.
As they were named godparents of Teddy, he took up a lot of their time that first month following the war, bonding with their godson. Ginny helped Harry by patiently showing him how to change nappies, feed, burp, and care for the baby. Watching Harry play with Teddy and interact with him made Ginny wonder what a wonderful father he would make one day.
Ginny was Harry's saving grace through those three months after the war.
When Harry decided to skip his seventh year and go straight into the Aurors, she was his biggest supporter. Ginny was returning to Hogwarts for her seventh year with Hermione. Harry knew Quidditch was the reason why Ginny was returning. She got the Captain's badge, which was no surprise to Harry, who knew she planned to play Quidditch professionally after she finished Hogwarts.
Before she left, she stole a few of Harry's t-shirts and slept in them as they smelled like him. It helped soothe her to sleep, inhaling the scent of the sandalwood soup and Harry before she went to sleep.
To help ease the strain of long-distance, Harry had a set of mirrors made like the ones Sirius had. He gave her one of them, keeping the other for himself. Using their communication mirrors, they would talk to each other daily and could 'see' each other. Despite Harry's hectic work schedule, he made time for Hogsmeade weekends and Quidditch matches, even taking time off during Christmas and Easter break, during which he would spend all of his time with Ginny.
After Ginny graduated from Hogwarts, she tried out for the Holyhead Harpies, an invitation she got from Gwenog Jones herself. Harry went with her to Wales for the trials to support her, as she was allowed to bring one guest. Harry continued to support her when she began her career with the Harpies.
Even with Ginny's schedule with the Harpies, they were able to spend quite a bit of time together.
A few times, Harry accompanied Ginny due to Gwenog Jones's request for security on away matches and any traveling the team needed to do.
Harry was permanently on the security list until Ginny's days with the Harpies were over.
Now, two years later, Harry felt it was time to propose. He knew he wanted to marry her.
Harry couldn't imagine a day of his life with her in it. Ginny cared for him when he was sick and was there when he needed a hug. She supported and loved him when they lost an Auror in the line of duty. In turn, he was there for every win and loss she had with the Harpies. He wanted nothing more than for her to be happy.
He looked at the clock on the mantle and saw it was after eleven. He wanted time before lunch to speak with Arthur privately, without her brothers knowing what he was up to. Ron was the only one who knew Harry's plans.
"Now or never," he told himself. He walked over to the floo and picked up a handful of floo powder.
"The Burrow!" he called, throwing down the powder. He disappeared in a puff of green smoke.
Harry tumbled out of the floo in the Burrow's sitting room and nearly collided with his best friend.
"Harry's here!" Ron called, laughing as he helped Harry steady himself.
"Hey, Ron." They greeted each other with one of their one-arm hugs and pounded each other on the back.
"What brings you here this early?"
Harry pulled Ron by the arm to a quiet corner of the empty sitting room. He didn't need Molly or Hermione overhearing this conversation.
"Remember what I told you last week?" Harry reminded him.
"Are you meaning when you said you were going to ask Ginny to marry you?" Ron whispered, glancing at the sitting room door, seeing that Hermione had come down from the bathroom.
"Yeah."
Harry and Ron had gone out for lunch in Diagon Alley the previous week instead of getting lunch from the Ministry canteen. It was a rare chance for them to speak freely without having to code everything like they did in the Auror office. Neville occasionally joined them, but he was meeting Hannah for lunch that day. Work was the one off-limits topic. They both looked at their lunch break as a break from work and refused to talk about work during lunch. Instead, they discussed Quidditch matches and scores, Teddy and Victoire, what was happening in the family, and generally catching up.
As best friends, they knew they would discuss life-changing decisions, like the one Harry told Ron during that lunch last week.
"I'm thinking about asking Ginny to marry me," Harry admitted.
Ron just stared at Harry. Realizing what Harry had just said, he laughed, pulling Harry into a brotherly embrace.
"Seriously?!" Ron exclaimed.
He had hoped that one day, Harry and Ginny would get married. The happiest he had ever seen Harry was when he was with Ginny. At the same time, Ginny was the happiest when she was with Harry.
Harry nodded. Ron laughed, embraced Harry in another brotherly hug, and mumbled congratulations.
"Have you got a ring yet?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded. "Yeah. I'll show it to you later."
They met at Harry's flat that evening to discuss Harry's plans to ask Ginny to marry him. The first thing Harry did when they got to the flat was show Ron the ring. He handed the box to Ron.
Ron took the box from Harry. He carefully opened the small velvet box and took a sharp inhale of breath at the sight of the ring.
"It's beautiful, mate," he said softly.
Harry found the ring when he explored the vault. He went to Gringotts after the war to settle any issues with the Goblins and to look in the vault.
When he saw it, he could imagine it on Ginny's finger.
"It's my Mum's engagement ring," Harry explained. "In the letter that came with it, Mum told me to give the ring to the girl I plan to spend the rest of my life with. And with Ginny, I can."
"She'll love it," Ron assured him. "When are you going to ask her?"
"This weekend when we go on our date," Harry decided. "I would have done it last weekend, but Ginny had that game. I want this to be romantic, like what she reads about in those romance books."
Ron shook his head. "Hermione's the same way. I want it to be something she'll always remember."
Now Harry was going to ask Arthur's permission to ask Ginny to marry him. Even though Harry knew his answer, he still wanted to be proper and ask Arthur anyway.
"Are you asking Dad for his permission today?" Ron asked softly
Harry nodded.
"He'll say yes, Harry. I know he will."
Molly entered the sitting room, hearing the floo and the whispered conversation. She thought it was George planning a prank during dinner, but she smiled when she saw her son and the boy she thought of as a son.
"Hello, Harry, dear. How are you?" Molly greeted the boys as they approached her.
Harry smiled, hugging the woman he thought of as a mother. "I'm good. I was wondering if I could have a word with Arthur?"
Molly smiled knowingly. "Of course, he's in the shed, dear."
Ron patted Harry on the back, heading towards the kitchen to help Molly with lunch. He stopped before his foot crossed the threshold from the sitting room to the kitchen.
"Just so you know, mate," Ron began as he turned around to face Harry. "You have my blessing. I haven't seen Ginny this happy in a very long time. I don't think I can thank you enough for that."
Harry crossed the room to where Ron stood and embraced his best friend tightly. The last time they had hugged this tightly was after their near-death experience with some Death Eaters a year ago.
"You're welcome."
Ron patted him on the back as they broke apart.
"Take care of her, mate. And let her take care of you."
"I will," Harry said in almost a whisper.
As Harry crossed the kitchen to the back door, he couldn't help but notice Molly looking at him, smiling as if she knew what Harry was planning.
The butterflies in Harry's stomach increased as he approached the shed. There were a handful of times that he was in the shed, but that didn't make this time any less nerve-wracking.
"Arthur?" Harry called when he approached the propped-open doors.
The Weasley patriarch turned from the television he was playing with and saw Harry standing at the shed's door. The television was one that Harry and Ginny had given him for Christmas. They gave them two, one for Arthur to play with and another to watch. Harry had charmed it to work in the house just like he did with the Muggle appliances in the kitchen.
"Harry, how are you?" Arthur asked.
"I'm fine," Harry swallowed thickly. "You can do this, Harry," he thought to himself. He approached Arthur and sat down on one of the stools.
"Um, Arthur…." Harry began but trailed off.
"Everything okay, Harry?" Arthur inquired.
"I love your daughter," Harry blurted, deciding to get it over with before he lost his nerve.
"I know that, Harry." Arthur turned to face the blubbering man in front of him with a smile.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is," Harry paused, taking a deep breath. "I…. I want to marry your daughter. I was wondering if I could have your permission to ask Ginny to marry me?"
Arthur laid down the screwdriver on the workbench, fully turning to the boy, now a man he thought of as a son.
Harry waited for what felt like an eternity before Arthur smiled.
"Harry," he continued. "I've seen the way you and Ginny look at each other. I knew this day was coming for a while, and I knew my answer even then. You don't need my permission to marry my daughter, but you have my blessing."
"Thank you," Harry breathed, releasing the breath he didn't know he was holding. He felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Arthur approached his soon-to-be son-in-law and placed his hands on Harry's shoulders.
"You know, Ginny is my little girl. All I ask is that you take care of her."
Harry nodded, feeling very relieved that this part was over. "I promise. I love her. I promise I will take care of her. I'll love her until I take my last breath."
"I know you will, Harry," Arthur began. "I'm not going to look at this as I'm not losing a daughter. Instead, I'm looking at this as we are getting another son."
Harry smiled at the thought of being officially considered a son by Molly and Arthur. By marrying Ginny, he wouldn't only get a wife but a family.
"Thank you, Arthur," Harry said sincerely.
"Do you have a ring?" Arthur asked curiously.
Harry nodded, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out the box, opened it, and handed it to Arthur. He had brought it with him to show Arthur if he asked to see it.
Arthur gently opened the box to look at the beautiful ring Harry had picked out.
"It was my mother's. I found it in the vault after the war and got it out a week ago," Harry explained.
"It's beautiful, Harry." Arthur studied the white gold band, the tiny diamonds along the sides, and the small diamond on the top. It wasn't too large to dominate Ginny's hand, but a perfect size for petite fingers like Ginny's.
"I'm thinking about asking Ginny to marry me this weekend. We have a date planned for Friday. I'm on day shift this week, and Ginny will be off on Friday."
Arthur was about to ask Harry how he would ask Ginny when Molly called them from the kitchen.
"Lunch is ready!"
That was Harry and Arthur's cue to come to the house or face the wrath of Molly. Harry sometimes sees an older Ginny when he sees Molly. He would never voice this to her for fear of getting hexed.
"Do you know what you're going to do for sure?" Arthur asked as they walked back to the house.
"Not yet. I'm helping Ron plan his proposal to Hermione, and he's agreed to help me with mine."
Arthur smiled at the mention of Ron and Hermione getting engaged. Ron had talked to him about it last week and had approached Hermione's father during the week. Harry knew that Hugh Granger had given Ron his blessing because he was smiling so big that Harry was positive his cheeks were hurting after returning to his flat from Hermione's parents.
Upon entering the kitchen, Harry headed straight upstairs to wash up. Ginny was coming out of the bathroom as he approached the first floor. She smiled before she flung herself into his arms.
"Hiya, babe," Ginny greeted.
Harry kissed her forehead.
"Hi, Cupcake."
Once Ginny let go of Harry, he told her he would pop into the bathroom for a second and would be right back. A few seconds later, they were heading down to the kitchen.
"Did you just get here?" he asked as they descended the stairs.
"Yes. Gwenog told me as I was leaving that I wouldn't have to stay tonight since they've fixed the floo problem."
They approached the table set with a chicken roast, carrots, and potatoes. Harry pulled out Ginny's chair and sat beside her. Ginny sat in her chair. Harry scooted her chair in for her.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Ginny smiled as she began to fill her plate. Conversations started around the table, from Ministry politics to George's new product he planned to introduce that week, and life in general.
The conversation shifted to the match when Charlie commented on how well Ginny had played. Ginny recapped the game when Angelina mentioned that all she had heard was the final score. Harry listened to Ginny as she talked about the match with her usual passion, grinning like an idiot in love, fully knowing he would get the Mickey taken out by George and Ron when they met for lunch at the joke shop later in the week.
Harry hadn't been able to come to the game due to work but had listened to it on the wireless. Ron told the brothers that Harry had even put a handmade 'Do Not Disturb' sign on his office door. After hearing the shouting from Harry's office, he added a silencing charm when he joined Harry.
"Are we still on for our date this weekend?" Ginny asked.
"I should be asking you that question." Harry laid his arm around the back of Ginny's chair.
"Gwenog said we could have a few weeks off since we won the last match. The one scheduled for next week has been canceled because the pitch was flooded. Gwendolyn said it would take three weeks to complete the repairs. Gwenog decided we could use a break."
"So, does that mean I get you to myself this week?" Harry asked.
"Maybe," Ginny teased. "I thought I would clean my flat since I would have some free time while you're gone to work. I'll have something ready to eat when you get home."
Harry paused, a bite of treacle tart on his fork. He turned to Ginny, waiting until she was looking at him again.
"Um, the last time I checked, you didn't have any food in your fridge," he reminded her.
"That's why I'll come over to your place. I'll cook and clean up, and we'll cuddle on the couch in the evening."
Since Ginny lived in the flat across from Harry, she spent much of her time at Harry's, even when he wasn't home. She had been known to go to Harry's flat to clean and cook for him. She washed his clothes, made his bed, and cooked a hot meal that was ready when he walked through the door. Harry may have flooed to the office, but he sometimes walked home. He would floo to the Leaky Cauldron and walk home since it was close. Sometimes, he would pick up a takeaway on the nights when he was too tired to cook, and Ginny would have a late practice.
"I can't wait for Friday," Ginny whispered.
Harry smiled at her, thinking about his plans for Friday night. "Neither can I."
Ginny was in for the surprise of her life on Friday night. Harry knew it would be hard to keep this from her. He just hoped she did say yes. Ron and Neville both told him he was crazy for thinking she wouldn't say yes.
Since he collected the ring from the vault, Harry found himself daydreaming. First, he imagined Ginny saying yes to his proposal and agreeing to marry him. Then, he imagined their wedding day. He could imagine Ginny in her dress, an image in white.
Harry knew from conversations about their future that Ginny wanted a simple wedding. Most likely, what Ginny wanted for her wedding and what Molly wanted would be two different things.
All Harry wanted was for Ginny to be happy. He wanted Ginny to have the day she had been dreaming of. That was all that mattered to Harry.
He also found himself daydreaming further into the future, especially about where their careers would lead. Ginnt had a goal of playing in one World Cup for England. She had already completed her first goal, making it to the final match in the Quidditch League finals. Not only did Ginny make it to the Quidditch League finals, but the Harpies had won the match.
Ginny won Rookie of the Year at her first awards banquet, but that wasn't the only award she received. She also won Chaser of the Year, the highest award in the league. Harry was her date for the banquet, where she was awarded both the Rookie of the Year and Chaser of the Year awards.
During her speech for both awards, she ended them by thanking Harry for his endless support and encouragement.
On Harry's career front, she attended the Auror's Ball, where she, Hermione, and Hannah cheered the loudest when Harry, Ron, and Neville were recognized for the number of Death Eaters they had captured, which had broken records years old.
Ginny attended the Ministry Gala and the Memorial Ball as a way of remembrance for May 2nd. Unfortunately, Ginny attended a handful of Auror funerals since Harry had joined the Aurors. The first one is ingrained in Ginny's mind. She will never forget how she felt. She feared the day she would be attending Harry's.
Seeing Teddy with Ginny made Harry think about having children with her. If how Ginny was with Teddy and Victoire, she would be a wonderful mother one day. They both had talked about having children. He knew Ginny wanted three of their own at most, knowing they would likely need to take in Teddy one day. When he imagined their children, he could clearly picture a little girl with red hair, a mini Ginny.
Sometimes, when he thought of the future, his mind wandered further into the future, imagining them sitting on a porch in rocking chairs, old and grey, watching grandchildren run around the garden.
But that was getting ahead of himself.
He hadn't asked Ginny to marry him yet. She hadn't said yes yet.
How little did Ginny know what was about to come?
After this weekend, Ginny would be a future Mrs. Potter. Only she didn't know it.