I do not own Harry Potter, but I do love it!

The ring felt heavy in Ron's pocket. He'd kept it on his person since purchasing it a few days ago, and now it was in his jacket pocket as he counted the cash from the register at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. George could tell something was on Ron's mind. He'd been acting oddly for almost a week.

"What's wrong, Ron?" George asked. "You look a bit peaky." Ron avoided his brother's eyes.

"Nothing," he said softly, concentrating on the money in his hand.

"Ah yes, nothing...a very popular problem."

"Quiet, I'm counting," said Ron, edgily. George sighed and went back to stocking the shelves with nosebleed nougats, watching Ron suspiciously. He'd been acting strange for days now, his hand constantly going into the pocket of his robes, his jeans, his jacket. It was like a new nervous tick. Ron tucked the cash away in an envelope and headed for the safe that lived in the basement. George threw himself in front of the stairwell, limbs outstretched to bar Ron from going down.

"You're done counting now. Care to have a chat?"

"No, I told you, it's nothing!" Ron said irritably, pushing past. He reemerged a minute or so later to find George still standing there with his arms folded over his chest.

"You, know, I may have some Veritaserum around here..." George said slyly, pretending to look around for the truth-telling potion.

"Alright, alright... you really want to know?" Ron asked.

"Obviously..."

"Okay. You can't tell Mum, though. She doesn't know. Ginny's the only one in the family who does."

"I swear I won't," said George holding his hands up.

"I'm going to ask Hermione to marry me." Ron spoke quickly and stared at his brother dead in the eye, when all he really wanted to do was look at the ground. He was embarrassed for some reason. It felt strange saying it out loud- he'd been holding in this plan for so long. He looked at his brother for approval, suddenly feeling as though maybe he was presuming too much in thinking Hermione would want to marry him. Words from long ago echoed in his mind, "We laughed at your cowardice, your presumption..." These had been the words of Voldemort, spoken through his Horcrux, Slytherin's locket, spoken as Harry and Hermione. He knew that the presumption the Horcrux had taunted him with was the presumption that he and Hermione were more than friends. Though they'd been together now for nearly five years, this particular memory still sometimes stung. He quickly shook the negativity from his mind. George beamed at him warmly with brotherly affection.

"Well...that's brilliant!" exclaimed George, relieved that this was the extent of his younger brother's problems. Of course she'd say 'yes,' they'd been together for years and in love for much longer. What was he worried about?

"You think?" Ron asked sheepishly.

"Of course! She's bound to say 'yes.'"

"I hope so."

"Don't be daft, Ron! That girl loves you, madly."

"I've got a ring," Ron said, fishing a small velvety box from his jacket pocket. He opened the lid to reveal a golden ring with a diamond in the center, flanked by a sapphire and an aquamarine. "Ginny helped me pick it. These are our birth stones, see...I thought she'd like that."

"She will. Nice touch." George nodded, holding out a hand to examine the ring more closely. Ron was reluctant to let it go, but he relented. "So this is why you've been fingering your pockets so often."

"This ring has been burning a hole in my pocket since last Thursday," said Ron.

"You could have put it in the safe," offered George, looking at the ring appraisingly.

"Nah, I don't really trust that. I wanted to keep it on my person, where I knew it was safe."

"So you'd trust the safe to keep all our daily earnings, just not Hermione's ring?" George joked.

"You don't know what it's like buying one of these until you do it! It's nerve-wracking."

"Have you told Harry, yet?"

"No. That's why we're going out for a pint."

"Ah," said George. George knew that Harry wanted to propose to Ginny and that he had a ring as well, but now that Ron had revealed his plans...well, knowing his brother, he didn't think it was the best idea for Harry to continue with his plan. He'd have to speak to Harry as soon as possible to make sure he agreed. "Mind if I come with you? Mad day at the shop today, eh? I could use a pint, myself."

" 'Course not. It was a bit hectic today, wasn't it? Good for business, though. It's those Traveling Tarts. Everyone wants a bit of a holiday, but when they don't have the time- just try a Traveling Tart! One of your best inventions, I'd say."

"It was actually one of Fred's...from back in our school days. Never perfected it really...until now."

"Well, you sure have." George handed the ring back to Ron, who promptly put it back in his pocket.

"When are you planning to do it?" asked George, returning to his stocking, now that Ron seemed in a better mood. He imagined unburdening such a secret must take off a huge weight. George felt rather honored to know the secret before Harry. Ron and George had grown much closer after Fred's death, but Harry was still Ron's best mate. George supposed he'd sort of forced it out of him, but still...he'd shared. He didn't mind that Ginny knew. As a woman and Hermione's closest female friend, it was only natural that Ron had wanted her help. George just hoped she could keep the secret. Come to think of it, a couple nights ago at dinner, Ginny'd been a bit teary-eyed around Hermione and she'd hugged her quite often. Girls could surely be a bit mad, sometimes.

"On Hermione's birthday," answered Ron, with gathering confidence. "I think that will really throw her off. To tell you the truth, I'm afraid she was disappointed that I didn't do it at the beginning of the summer, on our anniversary. I know she's sort of been expecting it...but that's why I wanted to throw her off course a bit. She and Ginny have been talking about weddings a lot, though. Hermione said Ginny's certain Harry will propose any day. He hasn't mentioned it to me."

"Hmm. Well, you haven't told him your plans..."

"True," said Ron looking slightly downtrodden. This confirmed George's notion that Ron wouldn't fancy sharing an engagement with his best mate.

"Probably won't though..." George added quickly. "You know Ginny... she's just talking..." George knew better, but there was no reason for Ron to be the wiser

"Yeah. I hope not. This is kind of something I wanted...you know...to do on my own."

Harry had come to the Burrow for his birthday and had pulled Mr. Weasley aside, asking permission to propose to Ginny. George had accidentally overheard...and to think, he only had one good ear! Of course his father had been overjoyed, but George wisely told his father to keep it to himself and not tell their mother. Then she'd be crying all the time and waiting for it to happen and that would just be too much pressure for poor Harry. Arthur Weasley had been in complete agreement. Having proposed to a Molly as a young, insecure man, he full-well understood how difficult it could be without having a future-mother-in-law waiting anxiously. George had taken it upon himself to annoy Harry about it, however, making fun of his propriety.

"Truth be told...I love Harry like a brother, but I'm not sure I'm ready for Ginny to get married just yet," George said truthfully. Ron nodded. George suspected that he might not feel this way if Fred were still alive. The door above the shop chimed and Ron and George turned to see Harry Potter, looking rather worn himself.

"Seems you've had a long day too, Harry!" said George.

"Well then what are we waiting for? Let's go grab that pint."