Chapter 1
A New Beginning
The morning sun streamed through the curtains of the small flat Harry and Ron shared in London, casting a warm glow over the room. Harry stretched and turned to see Ron still sleeping soundly beside him. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Life after the war had been a whirlwind of change and adjustment, but this, waking up next to Ron, felt like the one constant that grounded him.
Harry slipped out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Ron, and made his way to the kitchen. As he prepared breakfast, his mind wandered to the plans he had been secretly making. Today was the day he would ask Ron to marry him. The thought filled him with both excitement and nervous anticipation. He had chosen a special spot in the park where they often went for walks—a place that held many memories of quiet moments shared.
Ron stirred awake, rubbing his eyes and stretching. The aroma of bacon and eggs drew him out of bed and into the kitchen. "Morning, Harry," he mumbled, a sleepy smile on his face.
"Morning, Ron," Harry replied, setting a plate of breakfast in front of him. "Sleep well?"
"Yeah, I did. Thanks for making breakfast." Ron took a bite, savoring the taste. "Got any plans for today?"
Harry's heart raced, but he kept his voice steady. "I was thinking we could take a walk in the park after breakfast. It's been a while since we had some time to ourselves."
Ron looked up, his blue eyes meeting Harry's green ones. "That sounds perfect. Just the two of us?"
"Just the two of us," Harry confirmed with a smile.
After breakfast, they dressed casually and headed out. The park was quiet, the morning dew still clinging to the grass. They strolled hand in hand, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment. As they reached their favorite spot by the pond, Harry's heart pounded in his chest. This was it.
He turned to Ron, taking both his hands in his. "Ron, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."
Ron looked at him curiously, a hint of concern in his eyes. "What is it, Harry?"
Taking a deep breath, Harry dropped to one knee and pulled out a small, velvet box from his pocket. He opened it to reveal a simple yet elegant ring. "Ron, you mean everything to me. You've been my best friend, my confidant, and my partner through all the ups and downs. I can't imagine my life without you. Will you marry me?"
Tears welled up in Ron's eyes as he looked down at Harry, overwhelmed with emotion. "Yes, Harry," he whispered, his voice choked with happiness. "Yes, I will."
Harry slipped the ring onto Ron's finger and stood up, pulling him into a tight embrace. They kissed, sealing their promise to each other. As they held each other, the world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them and the love they shared.