Harry Apparated outside the Burrow with unaccustomed trepidation. Stumbling a little from the landing, he patted his pocket to reassure himself, then headed through the gate, trying to look casual.

The door was flung open before he had a chance to knock, and Molly Weasley pulled him into one of her tightest hugs. “Harry dear, it’s good to see you! You really should come over more often, you know.”

“Sorry, Mrs – Molly,” Harry corrected himself. “Works been busy, you know how it is.”

“Oh, I know dear, but you can’t be catching dark wizards on an empty stomach.” She stepped back and looked him over with a critical eye. “I really don’t think that elf looks after you properly…”

“Kreacher’s a great cook, Molly,” Harry assured her. “Even Ron likes his cooking.”

She didn’t look convinced, but stepped back to let him in. “That’s all very well, dear, but if you’re not at home for him to cook for you – Ginny says you’ve barely left the office in the last few weeks!”

“It’s been a bit hectic,” he agreed, taking his cloak off and hanging it up. “Should be done and dusted now though.”

She tutted, but waved him through to the garden, telling him she would bring him a drink. Harry made his way through the house, stopping to smile at the old clock, which had acquired a few new hands over the years; his own was vibrating, apparently a little confused between whether being at the Burrow constituted home for him. He took a moment to breathe in the summer air, tinged with the smell of good cooking, before heading out to join his family.

It wasn’t a special occasion. Just a hot afternoon when everybody happened to be free, which was perhaps special enough in its own way. Arthur was entertaining Teddy, whose hair was cycling through different colours as he giggled at the old man’s antics; Andromeda was sitting nearby, watching quietly. Ron and Hermione were cuddling under a canopy on the other side of the garden, while Ginny was sprawled out on the lawn, eyes closed and her hair wafting around in a localised breeze – it took him a moment to realise that she had stuck the hilt of her wand into the ground to allow the spell to wash over her. He grinned, and headed over, waving at the others. Ginny cracked one eye open to peer up at him.

“Fancy seeing you here, Potter.”

“Heard there was a famous Quidditch player signing autographs – heard anything about it?”

She smiled lazily at him, and stretched up a hand. He took it, pulling her up, and she pulled him into a kiss. “I think I actually need to play a few games before I’m famous.”

“Ah. I was talking about Viktor. Isn’t he here yet?”

She slapped his chest playfully. “Keep talking like that, Potter, see where it gets you. Or doesn’t get you, should I say?”

Harry’s gaze flicked towards Arthur, but he was still engrossed with Teddy. Ginny sniggered, and kissed his cheek. “You’re adorable when you’re embarrassed.”

“Hopefully not only then,” he said, looking back at her. She affected a look of consideration, then shrugged.

“I suppose not.” The playfulness faded away, replaced by something softer. “Missed you.”

“Missed you too,” he murmured. “I’ll try not to let it happen again.”

“You know I don’t mind you being busy, Harry – so long as you keep coming back.”

“Promise.”

“That’s OK then!” She craned to look over his shoulder, back towards the Burrow. “Is mum still in the kitchen?”

“She said she was getting me a drink, but I think she might be adding some food to that,” he said drily. Ginny rolled her eyes.

“Typical. I’ll give her a hand.” While she headed one way, Harry went the other, sitting down in one of the spare chairs near Ron and Hermione, who greeted him warmly. Hermione seemed like she was half asleep, her head tucked into Ron’s shoulder. Harry stretched out his legs, and looked towards the kitchen window, where Ginny could be seen helping Molly.

“Today the day then?” Ron asked quietly, whether out of general discretion or a desire not to disturb Hermione more than necessary, Harry couldn’t say. When he looked back at the redhead, Ron was looking knowingly at Harry’s hand – which, he realised with a touch of embarrassment, he was tapping nervously against his pocket. He folded his arms quickly, and Ron snorted.

“Shut up,” Harry said, with no real heat behind the words. “It’s a big step, alright?”

“It is,” Ron agreed. “Or, well, it would be if she weren’t barmy about you. It’s been three years, mate, it’s more of a surprise you’ve not asked her already to be honest.”

“A busy three years,” Harry muttered, and Ron nodded, acknowledging the point.

“Still though. She’s not going to say no. And you’ve literally walked to your death, you can ask my sister a simple question.”

“The worst Voldemort could do was kill me though.”

“Fair. Just don’t chicken out, it’ll be fine.”

“You shouldn’t let him talk to you like that, Harry,” Hermione piped up, sleepily. “He’s not exactly the most confident in romance himself.”

“Hey!” Ron protested.

“He is right though, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t worry. I’m going to do it.” Harry’s gaze wandered back towards the Burrow; Ginny and Molly were coming out, both carrying trays which were, to be fair to Molly, mostly laden with drinks. As they approached, Ginny levitated a glass of lemonade over to him with a wink, before helping her mother distribute the rest of them around the group. Once done, she curled up in his lap, legs dangling over the side of the chair. Time passed; Teddy fell asleep, as did Arthur, and the sun dipped lower as the afternoon wore on. The rest of the extended Weasley clan arrived, some only for a short time, others settling in for a long weekend, much to Molly’s delight. And later, as they all made their way back indoors for a proper meal, Harry pulled Ginny aside. She looked at him curiously, but followed without question.

“Hey.” He paused, running a hand through his hair as he tried to gather his thoughts.

“Hey yourself,” she said fondly. “Everything OK?”

“Absolutely – that’s, well, that’s why I wanted to talk to you, really. Because everything’s great, and I wanted to ask…I mean, we’ve been together three, four years now, and it feels like we should talk about the next step, you know?”

Ginny’s eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands to her mouth in shock, which was perhaps more of a reaction than Harry had been expecting, although not one he would complain about.

“So I was wondering if – ” he started, reaching into his pocket.

“Of course I’ll marry you!”

“ – you’d move in with me?” he finished, pulling out a key to Grimmauld Place.

There was a moment of heavy silence. Ginny’s gaze flicked downwards to look at the key, and her eyes widened.

“Ginny - ”

“Of course I will! Can I pack tonight, or…? Her cheeks were nearly as red as her hair, and he grabbed at her hand with his empty one.

“Ginny. You really want to marry me?”

She sighed, then met his eyes again, smiling ruefully. “Yeah, I really do. Sorry, guess I jumped the broom a little there, didn’t I?”

“No. No, I think I’m just a little slow,” Harry said, a smile of his own spreading across his face. “Let’s get married.”

“Wait, what?”

“Let’s do it,” he reiterated. “It’s the best idea I’ve heard in years.”

Ginny laughed, a little breathlessly. “We’re getting married, just like that?”

“Why not? It’s not like being impetuous is new territory for us,” he pointed out. “Unless you don’t want to?”

“I just said I did, didn’t I? And you – “

“Yeah. I mean it.” Further discussion was prevented when she threw her arms around him, her lips pressed to his. It was, Harry decided, the best kiss he had ever had.

“You know mum’s going to be furious you didn’t give her time to plan a proper celebration, right?” Ginny said a while later, when they had separated. Harry laughed.

“She’s never been angry with me in my life.”

“Hey, it’s a day of surprises – you never know.”

“I’m marrying her daughter, she’ll let me off.”

Ginny chuckled, and leaned up to kiss him again. “Yeah, she probably will. But not if we stay out here all night.”

So they made their way in, hand in hand and matching smiles, for a far more special occasion than Harry had anticipated.

 

1463 words

 

Spoiler

This felt in character and like it could have happened exactly this way in canon. But I admit I was (personally) a bit bored by it. But it is still a complete story and gives us a nice snapshot of a moment, so I'm not sure what else to say.