Lyra || Charlie Weasley ||

What, no 'hello darling, so wonderful to see you'?

Charlie's POV

"Thanks for coming with me, Charlie," Harry says as we enter the jewelry store in Diagon Alley.

"Anytime man," I reply "But fair warning - I know about as much about rings as you do about not flying headfirst into danger."

Harry just rolls his eyes. "I just need moral support. Picking the ring is on me...I think." I chuckle as we start scanning the glittery glass cases full of diamond rings. My knowledge of fine jewelry is pretty much as good as his knowledge of dragons - which is to say, negligible zilch, the only rings I'm familiar with are the ones I've seen in Quidditch supply catalogs. Luckily Harry seems confident he can find the perfect engagement ring for Ginny, despite my utter lack of expertise. Famous last words.

"What do you think of this one?" Harry asks, pointing to a generic emerald-cut solitaire.

I shake my head. "Eh, too plain for our Ginny. She needs something with a bit more fireworks, you know?"

Harry sighs. "And this is why I dragged you along, oh wise one."

As Harry puzzles over the rings, I let my eyes wander aimlessly over the displays. None of these seem quite bold enough for soon-to-be Potter. My eyes then fall upon a ring that makes me freeze in my tracks. It has a pink diamond nestled in the center of a delicate cherry blossom flower, accented with tiny buds and branches in rose and yellow gold. It's exquisite.  It's Beautiful. And its very Lyra.

Without conscious thought, I get the shopkeeper's attention. "I'd like to purchase that cherry blossom ring, please," I say, pointing it out. As the old jeweler packages it up, I hand over a small pouch of galleons from my vault. I know it's impulsive, but the urge to buy Lyra this ring is too strong to resist.

I pocket the ring box just as Harry turns around. "Find anything good yet?" I ask nonchalantly. He shakes his head in frustration. "No, these all seem wrong. Let's try a few more shops."

We leave the jewelry store and visit two more before Harry finally settles on an art deco style ring with a large central diamond and fiery red rubies surrounding it. It suits Ginny perfectly. As we walk back toward the Leaky Cauldron, Harry turns to me. "Really appreciate you doing this. But you've been quiet - everything okay?"

I force a smile. "Yeah, everything's fine mate." I feel a twinge of guilt for not telling him about the ring, but Harry is rubbish at keeping secrets. If he knew, all of Wizarding world would know by morning.  And I'm not even sure when or if I'll work up the courage to actually give it to Lyra. It was a completely impulsive purchase. 

It's not that I think she is going to say no. Lyra and I have been dating for almost two years now, ever since that fateful day we met at the last Quidditch World Cup final. We even moved in together about 6 months ago into a cozy little flat in Diagon Alley, which has been brilliant. But proposing marriage - that's a huge, life-altering step. I want it to be utterly perfect and meaningful, something truly worthy of an extraordinary woman like Lyra.

My hand drifts to my pocket, fiddling with the small ring box containing the cherry blossom ring I impulsively bought as Harry rambles on about his own proposal plans for Ginny. I sip my tea and nod along, half-listening to Harry's words, lost in my own swirling thoughts.

"...so I figured I'd do it in the back garden at the Burrow, under that big oak tree. It's where we shared our first kiss, so it just feels right. What do you think?" Harry asks, finally taking a breath.

"Huh? Oh yeah, that sounds brilliant, mate," I reply automatically, even though I hadn't really been listening. Harry eyes me curiously over his butterbeer.  It's 4 in the afternoon and this idiot is drinking already, though it's probably nerves.