Opened At The Close...

13: News of Love

   The days that ensued were some of the best days off Harry had ever had. The whole Weasley family had a celebration, where Ginny was able to show her ring to everyone.
"When are you going to be married?" Fleur asked excitedly, gazing at the diamond with appearant impression.
"We don't really know yet," Ginny shrugged, practically glowing.
"Probably in about a year," Harry said thoughtfully.
"Zat is much too long!" Fleur said incredulously. Ginny raised her eyebrows at her.
"You got married a year after you were engaged," she pointed out.
"But zat eez much different," Fleur waved her hand."Zat waz 'ow long eet took to plan, zoh."
"Well..." Harry said, looking happily at Ginny. "I don't care when it happens, as long as it happens."
"How about soon?" Asked Ginny, her cheeks pink.
"How soon?"
"A month?"
"If you want to," Harry said, slinging an arm around her shoulders.
"Keep that attitude, and you'll be the world's greatest husband," Mr. Weasley laughed.
"A month!" Mrs. Weasley cried. "That isn't enough time! Three months should do the trick."
"Three months!?" Goggled George. "They aren't that high maintanence, Mum. Give them two months, tops."
"Oh, I just don't think that will be enough..." Mrs. Weasley said uncertainly." I can help everything be perfect, of course. My daughter's special day..." she sighed.
"I don't think Ginny and Harry really want your help, Mum," Ron said tactlessly.
"Ron!" Gasped Hermione.
"No, he's right Hermione," Ginny said quietly. "But I do need your help for some things, Mum. Espescially the dress fitting."
   Mrs. Weasley seemdd to brighten somewhat, but still looked a little resigned. Ron looked furtively around at the women, and muttered to Harry,
"I think I know where this conversation is going."
"Want to go to the living room?" George suggested, listening in.
"Sure," Harry agreed, so George announced, "We're going to the living room, ladies."
    As the men left, Fleur started to bombard Ginny with questions of what style dress she wanted. Ginny didn't really enjoy it.
"I...don't know," she said uncertainly, picturing the styles in her mind."I don't really like mermaid dresses, but the fluffy ones are nice," she thought aloud.
"Oh yes, I thought maybe..." Fleur continued, and though Hermione reluctantly listened, Ginny had no problem tuning her out.
"Ginny? Can I talk to you for a moment?" Mrs. Weasley asked her. "Alone?"
"Sure, Mum," Ginny answered, bewildered. After Mrs. Weasley had shut the door to Ginny's bedroom, she turned to her daughter, a look of worry etched upon her face.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Harry loves you," she began cautiously."He seemed so earnest when he told us he did...and I'm sure you love him also, but...I just get the feeling that...you're too young for marraige, Ginny. And, are you really sure your  love for Harry is...eternal?"
  Ginny stared at her mother. She had expected her to be nervous about Harry marrying her, but she had not expected her to flat out ask if she actually loved Harry. To Ginny, this seemd the most obvious thing in the world. Her love for him was a major half in her morale during the war against Voldemort; she knew that, as long as Harry was alive, there was hope. Hope for it all to be over, yes, but also the hope that Ginny might one day be able to hold Harry in her arms again and call him hers.
"Of course I love Harry," Ginny said hotly." More than I have loved any man before him. I know what you're thinking, Mum, and you're wrong; I don't love him because he's famous," She continued breathlessly." I love him for being himself, because he's brave, and selfless, and caring, and sweet. And on top of all that, he loves me. He loves me, Mum. I thought you would be happy for me..."
"Ginny!" Mrs. Wealsey said, shocked. "I'm so happy for you! You would never know how happy I am! I just wanted you to be sure-"
Ginny cut her off.
"Well, I am sure. I've been sure," she said boldly, allowing her mother to hug her even though she still felt angry toward her. She couldn't stay angry for long, though. It was Mum, after all; she was bound to worry about her.
Mrs. Weasley wiped fresh tears from her cheeks as she tightened her grip on her daughter."Promise me you won't leave me too fast..." she sobbed into Ginny's shoulder, losing her composure completely. Startled, Ginny patted her mum's back.
"I promise, Mum," she said, thinking. "We can wait for a while to get married, if you want. Harry won't mind, I'm sure, and there is so much to plan..." That had really surprised her. For a moment, Ginny had thought that her mum doubted her love for Harry; now, she just realized that it was a parental thing. Ginny didn't understand - and she wasn't supposed to understand until she had kids of her own - she just had to accept it.
"No, no," Mrs. Wealsey pulled away, shaking her head. "You get married whenever you want to. I don't have a say... It's yours and Harry's time," she said a bit sadly.
"Are you sure, Mum?" Ginny asked doubtfully.
Her mother nodded.
"Yes. As long as we go dress shopping in the next week," Mrs. Weasley added.
"Sure thing," Ginny said, smiling a radiant smile that seemed to cheer Mrs. Weasley a little.