With a loud crack, Harry apparated onto the edge of the field surrounding the Borough. He was pleased to see that all the damage from the attack after Bill & Fleur’s wedding was finally fixed. Absent-mindedly, he patted the pocket of his jeans to make sure the pouch was still there.
His gentle knock on the kitchen door was answered by Mr. Weasley, who welcomed him enthusiastically. “Harry, my boy, come in!” he said pumping Harry’s hand. Mrs. Weasley was behind him, glowing at the sight of him. She pushed past her husband and grabbed him in a fierce hug.
“Harry,” she said, “We’ve been wondering when you'd show up. We thought it would be days ago!”
“I had some business to attend to, and it took a few more days than I expected,” replied Harry. “Is she here?”
Molly shook her head. “Are you…” she started to say.
“Yes,” Harry answered quickly. He looked from one parent to the other. “Do I have your blessing?”
Tears sprung to Molly’s eyes as she grabbed him in another fierce hug. “Of course, you silly fool. We’ve been waiting for this!”
“But she’s not… ooof!” Arthur stammered in reaction to a hard elbow to his side.
“If she’s old enough to fight and risk her life, she’s old enough for love,” said Mrs. Weasley, with a sparkle lighting her grin. Mr. Weasley looked back and forth between Harry and his Wife and slowly nodded his agreement.
“Do you have a ring?” Molly asked.
Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out the pouch from Griphook. “It took longer than I’d like, but yes.” He handed the pouch to Molly, who opened the flap and took out the contents. It was a simple golden ring topped with a single stone gently glowing with an internal purplish fire. “It’s an Eternal Love Stone,” said Harry.
“No, it can’t be!” said Molly, her eyes widening with surprise. “Wherever did you get it?”
“I convinced Griphook that he owed me a favor when I returned the Sword of Gryffindor,” responded Harry.
“It’s a what?” asked Arthur.
Molly turned to him: “It’s an Eternal Love Stone! I’ve only ever read about them, and didn’t think they actually existed.”
“They are very rare,” said Harry. “This is only the third one created in recorded history. And they aren’t exactly transferrable, as they only last the lifetime of the owners.”
“It just looks like just a ring to me,” said Arthur.
“Oh, no,” responded Molly. “Legend has it that the stone is forged in the Goblin mines from two hairs of the loving couple, then mounted on a ring of rare Goblin gold. The fire within is a reflection of their love for each other, and never dies until they do. It’s said that the owners are blessed with a lifetime of good fortune!”
“How romantic,” said Mr. Weasley with little enthusiasm.
“Where is she?” asked Harry with a questioning look.
“She’s staying with Bill & Fleur at the Cottage, studying for her NEWTs,” responded Molly. “But I think she’s expecting you.”
Harry took the ring back, dropped it into its pouch, and returned it to his pocket. “I’ll give your regards to Bill and Fleur,” he said with a smile, walking out the kitchen door. When he reached the edge of the field, he turned on the spot and…
Crack! He appeared on the shore of the sea next to Shell Cottage. Looking around, he remembered why he thought of this as the most beautiful place he’d ever seen. The sun was setting over the water in an explosion of color, and a gentle breeze washed waves onto the rocky shore. Looking toward the grave of Dobby, he walked over and crouched down next to the gentle mound of earth. Laying a hand on Luna’s wildflowers growing over the grave, he whispered to his passed friend: “Your sacrifice helped save the wizarding world Dobby, you will not be forgotten.” A few long moments later, Harry wiped the tears brimming in his eyes, rose and walked toward the cottage.
He knocked gently on the door, and a few moments later Bill answered. “Is she here?” asked Harry with a questioning look.
“Oh yes,” responded Bill, not needing to ask who he was referring to.
“May I…” Harry asked while motioning his chin toward the back of the cottage.
“Of course!” Bill replied.
“I may need awhile,” said Harry sporting a sheepish grin.
“Take all the time you need, we’re all family here!” replied Bill. Harry eased past Bill and walked down the hall glancing in the first two bedrooms, seeing they were empty through the open doors. The third room, the smallest in the back, had a closed door.
Harry knocked gently on the door: “Ginny?” he called softly. A creak of furniture and a few footsteps preceded the opening of the door. Before he could drink in her appearance, she threw herself into his arms causing him to stumble backwards.
“Harry! I knew you’d come, I knew it!” exclaimed Ginny.
“Uh, yeah. Sorry it took so long,” stammered Harry, trying not to fall. She dragged him into the room, and closed the door behind her with a click and a devilish grin. Again she took him in her arms. This time, kissing him on the lips. Time stood still for Harry, and he didn’t know how long they embraced and kissed, but it was the most wonderful feeling he could remember. His hands explored her neck and back, she did likewise, eventually working her way down to his butt and pulling him in to a full-body hug.
“Harry, I can’t wait anymore. There’s something I’ve been dying to do.” She stepped back, flushed and panting slightly. She reached down cross-handed and grabbed the bottom of her jumper, and with the magical, graceful way of all women, pulled it over her head. Harry gazed longingly at her slightly less-clothed body, but was reminded of his mission by a growing warmth is his pocket, not related to his growing lust for the beautiful women in front of him.
“Wait,” he said, “I have a question for you first.” Ginny was taken aback by this, clearly disappointed at the direction things weren’t going. “Wait,” he repeated.
Retrieving the wand from his pocket, he walked the perimeter of the small room flicking the tip and muttering protective spells he had learned from Hermione while hiding in the woods.
Ginny grasped his intent, and grabbing her wand, waved it about the room adding “Muffliato”. “Do my parent know you’re here?” she asked when she was done.
“I stopped at the Borough first,” he responded, “they gave me permission to be here.”
“Oh Harry,“ she responded, “you are amazing!” She reached down and peeled off his jacket, then lifted his T-shirt over his head. Caught up in the passion of the moment, he started fumbling with the buttons on her blouse. He finally freed the first and was intent on the second when she grabbed his hands and moved them away.
“Let me do that,” she whispered urgently. They locked eyes, with years of pent-up feeling finally releasing through their gaze. All their shared experiences, pain, love, and heartbreak crossed between them. He thought she never looked more beautiful. She finished unbuttoning her blouse and peeled it back off her shoulders letting it fall to the floor. She was left wearing a light camisole and her loose pants. The swell of her breasts were clearly visible for the first time.
“Up here,” she said, and he returned his eyes to her steady gaze. Both of them were now breathing heavily, anticipation draped heavily around the room. She slipped the thin straps of the camisole off her shoulders, and the loose top dropped to her waist. His gaze again dropped, and his heart rate soared at the sight of her. She took his hands in hers, and gently placed them on her breasts. Now shaking with desire and anticipation, he gently explored her breasts, the sides, the bottom, the hard nipples. She in turn, was touching him the same way, gently exploring his naked chest, sides and back.
“Ginny,“ Harry said hesitantly, “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He once again locked eyes with Ginny, searching her expression for acceptance.
“They are great breasts, aren't they?” said Ginny, a laugh in her eyes.
“No,” he stammered, “I mean, yes, but that’s not why. Ever since we met all those years ago. I’ve thought about you. More recently, all the horrible things we’ve both endured, all I could think of was you. I love you!” Tears filled his eyes at the memories of the recent past, and the fears of losing her washed over him with fresh pain. “I can’t imagine living another moment without you by my side.”
“What, this is how you ask?” she chided with a grin on her face. “Seeing me naked like this the first time with your hands on my boobs?”
He reached for the pouch in his pocket and dropped to one knee. “Ginny Weasley,” he said softly staring into her eyes, “will you marry me?” He pulled the ring with the Eternal Love Stone from the pouch. The gem was blazing with a bright red fire, giving off just enough heat to let you know it was there without looking. Still, their eyes were locked as time stood still, Harry not daring to draw a breath. Ginny’s face slowly passed though a range of emotions, from incredulity, to wonder, and finally to acceptance. Then fanning one hand to her face, she offered up the other to Harry with splayed fingers.
“Oh my God, Oh my God, I can’t believe this!” she said quietly. Harry slipped the ring on her finger, and it resized itself to fit her finger perfectly. Once in place on her hand, the gem flashed a brilliant white, strobing the room and putting all the contents into stark relief. A bubble of warmth, love and affection irised out of the ring and enveloped them both.
“Well?” Harry asked. In response, she grabbed him by the arms, pulled him up off the floor and pushed him onto the bed on his back. She stood at the foot of the bed, and shimmied out of the remainder of her clothes. Harry looked on with amazement as she reached forward and slid his pants off. She rummaged around in his jeans and pulled out his wand, setting it on the stand next to the bed, then tossed his pants on the floor.
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment for years, planning everything. Are you ready Harry Potter?” It was a rhetorical question, as his answer stood up clear and proud. She climbed up his legs from the bottom of the bed, and sat astride his hips. Harry stared in disbelief as this amazing women reached down and slowly manipulated him into position, and gently lowered herself onto him. A moments hesitation, and they were one. The feelings were indescribable as she slowly rocked back and forth, up and down. Her eyes closed as she worked her special magic on his body. Finally, when he thought he could stand no more, she leaned down and whispered in his ear.
He looked up at her: “Really?” She only nodded.
He leaned over and grabbed his wand from the night stand, careful to keep all their parts connected. Again, he looked at her, questioning in his eyes.
“Hurry,” she said breathlessly, and started moving again.
He thought he understood the idea, so he gently dragged the wand down her arm and murmured the spell she suggested first: “Erogenous Excitant.” There was a sharp intake of breath, and he could feel the heat increase in her body. Her heart rate increased and her movements quickened. He switched to her other arm, stroking the inside of her elbow this time, and repeated the incantation. She groaned, and her body gently spasmed on his.
“Now,” she pleaded, “please!”
He moved the wand to her chest and voiced the last spell she requested: “Gaudens Maxima.” Her eyes flew open, and her body spasmed uncontrollably. She groaned once, twice, and spasmed again, her eyes rolling back in her head. Harry wondered if she was ok, not having any experience with these spells. He tentatively asked “Ginny?”
She grunted in response, “Don’t.” “Stop.” He let himself go with her movements and did his best to hang on. Moments later, she spasmed again and he could wait no longer.
Afterward, she lay next to him, her head cradled in the crook of his shoulder. Her hand on his chest, she watched the fire within the gem on her finger, now pulsing with the smoldering red glow of a sunrise over the ocean. “Where did you learn that?” he asked, not bothering to supply the context of the question.
“Hermione showed me years ago,” she replied wistfully, “but it’s loads better when you do it.“
“Wow,“ replied Harry, “Hermione really is the best wizard of our generation!”
A few moments or hours passed.
“You never answered my question,” he quietly stated, knowing she’d again understand. She lifted herself up and gazed into his eyes, then glanced over at his wand now resting again on the side table.
“I was hoping for someone with a bigger wand, but I guess you’ll do,” she replied, returning to her snuggling position. Harry just smiled, thinking of the long, happy life they’d be sharing together.