A/N – I am so sorry about the long wait! I've had total writers block! I really wanted to make it 2000 words so I kept going until I reached that. The next chapter could be a long wait as well because I have nothing to go on. Any ideas are welcome! And wanted! Here it is...Enjoy!

Happier Days 8

Harry was screaming inside. He had been trying to get Teddy's overalls on for about a half-hour now and he was no closer to completion. The nappy had been doable, the shirt had been a ten-minute job, but the overalls were impossible. He looked at his watch and realised he had been dressing the baby for close to an hour, and also that Tonks should be picking him up in about twenty minutes. He picked up the baby and held him up do he was level with his own face. Harry looked him sternly in the eye and addressed him in a firm voice.

"Theodore Lupin. You behave this very instant or I'll tell your mother you've been a very badly behaved boy."

Teddy giggled and stuck his tongue out, as if to challenge him. Harry sighed, recognising this as a losing battle.

"Tell you what, you let me put your overalls on and I'll buy you a broomstick for your first birthday ok?"

Teddy gurgled and allowed Harry to dress him. Harry smiled and carried the little boy downstairs. When he reached the kitchen he quickly cleaned the highchair and set Teddy down in it. Before anything else could go wrong the doorbell went. Harry, assuming it was Tonks to get Teddy rushed to answer it. He opened the door to see Ron standing there, looking very confused.

"Ron!"

"Hey mate."

"Um, come in..."

Ron stepped through the door and walked towards the kitchen. Harry closed the door behind him and followed. When they were both in the kitchen Ron sat down at the table and looked at Harry, who sat down opposite him.

"What's up Ron?"

"Well...you know Hermione?"

Harry raised his eyebrows and Ron chuckled. "Yea, I believe we've met once or twice."

"Well, I'm going to... ask her...to...marry me..."

Harry's eyes widened and he gaped across at his best friend. "Really?"

Ron gulped and nodded, looking lost and more than a little confused.

"Well congratulations mate!"

Ron looked pleased that Harry was excited, but not entirely comforted. "So...you think she'll say yes?"

"Course! Why wouldn't she?"

"Well, I don't know, maybe she thinks this is just a fling?"

"You're kidding right? Hermione's crazy about you!"

Ron blushed and mumbled something about not being good enough. Harry rolled his eyes and changed the subject. "So, have you got the ring?"

"Well, that's what I was coming here about...what would you say about coming to help me pick it out?"

"Sure, when?"

"Urr, how about tonight?"

"Ok, when do you think you're going to propose?"

"No idea, haven't got that far yet."

Harry laughed, Ron was still the same old Ron and he loved it.

&

The sun shone down onto Ginny's face, warming her up. She opened her eyes slowly and realised she had fallen asleep on Hermione's sofa. She looked across to the armchair and saw Hermione had done much the same thing. Their empty hot chocolate mugs were on the table in between them and cushions were slotted into any other gaps available. Ginny sat up, pushing the thick blanket off of her and headed for the kitchen; first shaking Hermione a little. She grabbed two glasses and filled them with water, then went back to the comfort of the sofa, pausing to hand one to Hermione. She sat down and took a sip, relishing the cool taste.

"Ergh that was not a great sleep!" Hermione spoke, startling Ginny slightly.

"Tell me about it, I think I slept in a ball, not a great idea!"

Both girls sipped their water, while adjusting their eyes to the sunlight streaming through the windows. Ginny looked out of the window, staring at the rising sun that cast long shadows over everything in sight. The lake shimmered and looked so peaceful it was hard to believe that six months ago this had been a battlefield, full of pain, grief and murder. Still, Hogwarts had more good memories than bad ones, and Ginny was keen to make more happy ones rather than dwell on the bad ones. She knew her family worried she didn't have many friends in her own year, and while that was partially true she wasn't lonely. She was on good terms with all the girls she shared a dorm with, and was well liked by almost all her classmates, excluding a few Slytherins. The reason she spent more time with Hermione wasn't that she didn't have a choice; she just preferred her company to the others. She felt a little distanced from the people in her year, she had seen much more than they had during the war. As all of her year had been under age, most of them had not been at Hogwarts for the battle, having already been evacuated. A few, like Colin Creevy had stayed but like him most of them had died fighting. She felt tears come to her eye as she thought of Colin; they had gone out for about a week in second year, before deciding to remain friends. Throughout the years that followed they had stayed friends and up until that night she had known he was a true Gryffindor. She missed him as well. To be totally honest, she was a little lonely without Colin or Luna, never on her own, but a little lonely. She saw Hermione get up from the chair, out of the corner of her eye, and followed her to the kitchen.

"Breakfast?"

"Sure, what do you have?"

Hermione opened cupboards and scanned through them, looking for supplies. She went to the fridge and took out a carton of eggs and a packet of bacon. "Eggs and bacon ok?"

"Fine."

The two set about creating their meal, Ginny fried the eggs while Hermione used her wand to quickly cook the bacon. Ginny grabbed two glasses out of an overhead cupboard and Hermione filled them with orange juice. They carried their plates back to the living room and resumed their positions on the sofa and armchair.

"So, I guess we just fell asleep last night..."

"Yeah, we must have talked for ages, you didn't come until 10."

They ate in companionable silence for a moment or two before a knock was heard at the door. Hermione looked confused but nevertheless, set her plate down on the table and went to answer it. She returned momentarily, followed by Professor McGonagall.

&

Tonks and Katie bought the dress, as well as some hair ribbons Katie had fallen in love with. Tonks joked Katie would easily pick them over George. They went to the Leaky Caldron for a quick drink, and then Tonks walked Katie back to the shop. They walked in to see George selling a bag of Canary Creams to a teenage boy.

"There you go then, make sure to use them carefully!"

He handed over the bag and the teenager ran out of the shop, nodding to Katie and Tonks. George saw them and came over. He kissed Katie and hugged Tonks.

"How was shopping ladies?"

"It was good; Tonks got the most amazing dress!"

"No, Katie made me get the most ridiculous dress."

Katie laughed and put her arm round George's waist.

"Whatever. Still, I never thought I'd see the day when you told someone to "use them carefully!"

George smiled and put his arm round her shoulders. "Well, you know me, always the model citizen..."

Tonks and Katie both burst into laughter. George looked mock offended, which just made them laugh harder.

"Cup of tea Tonks?"

"No thanks, I have to pick Teddy up in...Now! Got to go!"

They exchanged hugs and goodbyes then Tonks walked outside and apparated to Grimauld Place, then knocked on the door.

&

Harry poured two glasses of Butterbeer, and sat down opposite Ron. He pushed one over and Ron gratefully accepted it.

"Thanks, I don't know why, but I feel so jittery today!"

"Maybe because you're preparing to ask the most important question of your life?"

"That makes me feel so much calmer."

"Good."

They sat in companionable silence for a moment, sipping their drinks and each contemplating their own future. Ron was thinking about his upcoming proposal, wondering if he should go to a restaurant, how big the diamond should be and hoping she would say yes. Harry was considering his own relationship with Ginny. He knew they were made for each other but Ginny was still in school, surely Mrs Weasley would disapprove of them being serious together. But at the same time the idea of not being with Ginny forever was inconceivable. He wanted to marry Ginny, but he didn't want to rush her into anything. Since the war they had got back together, but they had kept things cool and slow. Ron and Hermione had quickly made up for wasted time. It was easier for them though, they were the same age, and despite Auror training and Hogwarts teaching they still could see each other regularly. Harry and Ginny kept in touch via letters that they wrote at least once a day, but they could only see each other on Hogsmeade visits and occasional family visits. At least she'd be home for a few weeks at Christmas, only a little over a month left. In the corner of his eye he saw Ron stand up and tuck his chair in. In the back of his mind he heard him say that he'd be round to pick Harry up about 8, and thanks for the drink and advice. Harry felt his arm wave goodbye and his mouth tell Ron it was nothing and that he would be ready at 8 and maybe they could go for a drink as well? The entire time his mind was focused on Ginny, on her warm hand in his, her soft voice telling him she loved him, her eyes sparkling with fire; he missed her so much. He suddenly remembered Teddy, had he been sitting quietly in his highchair all this time? He dashed back into the kitchen and scanned the room until he saw the highchair…The empty highchair.

&

Mrs Weasley was enjoying her afternoon cup of tea. She had finished the laundry, dinner was in the oven and Arthur was out in the shed tinkering with some Muggle appliance. He said it was a "mic-row-av", whatever that was. She was enjoying a peaceful moment, something that up until recently was very rare indeed. It seemed that there was always a room to clean, a child to hug or a letter to respond to before. But the house was spotless, the letters were written and sent off and the children weren't around. Bill was with Fleur, Charlie was in Romania with the dragons, and George was either shopping for suits with Ron or back at the shop with Katie. Percy was at the Ministry, he seemed very keen on his new job, but then he had always been "work-orientated" she thought fondly. Ron was either getting a suit or possibly visiting with Harry, who she knew was babysitting Teddy for Tonks. Hermione and Ginny were both at Hogwarts.

She felt a twinge of pain as she counted off her six children as well as the two she considered her own. Fred, Fred should be here as well. He should be off making a joke out of things, or working at the shop. Fred should be here. Not dead.

Parents should die before their children. This was unnatural. She tried to comfort herself with the fact that she had had 23 long years with him, and that he had died the way he wanted to. Fighting for a worthy cause and laughing. She was constantly reassuring her children she was fine, that she was coping well, because they had enough to deal with. They had their own grief and their own lives. And if she was honest with herself, she was doing ok. She doubted she would ever be completely whole again; her children were such a huge part of her. But every time the sun rose, or someone laughed or she looked at her family she knew she'd be ok. She knew that they were strong enough and that they would stick together. She loved that Harry and Ginny were together and had no doubt they would wind up married. She was pleased Hermione and Ron were finally together and wouldn't be surprised if she heard an announcement soon. They were more public about their relationship than Harry and Ginny, who hadn't properly said they were a couple. It was obvious in Mrs Weasley's eyes but maybe not to those who didn't want to see it.

A/N – I know the last section is a little off topic but I kind of like it. Let me know if you like short kind of monologues in between the storyline! If you read my "10 things" story you may get an idea of where the engagement is going but it's up to you! Again, ideas are most welcome, no matter how short they are! Next chapter should have...Teddy being lost, what McGonagall wants, some Percy or Charlie because I feel I have kind of neglected them and...Any of your ideas!!

Review please!