Chapter one

The first year after the battle of Hogwarts and the death of Voldemort, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and all their friends finally had some time to themselves and enjoyed the freedom they now had in their world, so they made the most of it.

The following year, Hermione got a job with the department and control of magical creatures, Ginny had been picked up by the Holyhead Harpies as a reserve, Harry and Ron joined the aurors and started their training. Their lives and all their friends lives were finally looking up and everyone couldn't be happier or content.

Harry had got himself a flat right after he started at the auror office, one thing Harry realised he wanted for his home, was to have muggle things, not everywhere, just the spare room set up to take power so he could have a tv, dvd player and computer. So he had worked with Hermione to try and figure out how to get the power to work with magic being so close.

Every day at lunch, Hermione and Harry would sit and eat lunch while they worked on the problem. After two months, they had finally worked out a blocking charm that could be placed around the one room, but they needed to limit how much electricity was to be used though and never use magic in the same room where the electrical items were. The blocking charm meant they could use magic in their homes, just not in that room.

Hermione and Ron ended up living together in a flat not far from Harry and Hermione had also done the same charm on their spare room so Hermione could have a few things she grew up with like a computer. Ginny and Harry were in a serious relationship and Ginny did want to live with Harry but he wanted some time to himself which caused a few arguments between them, but Harry wouldn't back down and Ginny noticed, so she accepted that Harry wanted some time alone.

After work most nights, Harry did spend his time with Ginny in his flat, but he always wanted Ginny to go home. They had a great sexual relationship, but Harry just couldn't bring himself to have Ginny live with him just yet.

After the first few months of this arrangement, Harry and Ginny had a few more fights because Harry did not want Ginny to live with him and a lot of Harry's friends all kept asking him the same thing, why, when they were together and they knew Harry loved Ginny. Harry could never answer them because he couldn't work it out himself, but he could see how hurt Ginny was. Harry just knew this was the right thing for him and he was sticking to his decision.

Harry was expecting Ginny over to take her out for dinner, so he'd just finished getting dressed when he saw her standing at his bedroom door watching him.

'Hey, have you been there long?' Harry finished tucking himself in then walked over to her.

'No, not long, but I liked watching you,' Ginny gently kissed Harry, 'So you said you wanted to talk to me about something serious,' Ginny chewed on her bottom lip.

'Yes, I do and I think part of it you will hate and part of it you will love, so let's go talk before we eat,' Harry took Ginny's hand and led her into the living room and they sat down, 'I can see you're nervous Ginny, we're not breaking up if that's what you think this is about.'

'Well, it was, I've been so worried thinking that's what you wanted, so you're really not going to break up with me?'

'No, I told you I love you and I do. I know you can't really understand why I don't want you to live with me, I don't think I understand it myself. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, about us and I've come to a decision. First when I tell you, I don't want it to be straight away, a year minimum, more like two years, that's the part I don't think you'll like. But I needed these few months alone and I still need more time and I realised that it's the first time I've had that, had time to myself. Even though we both love each other, we got together in a really bad and intense time. So I want to make sure if we do go further, then it will work, or we can make sure it works because we're finally acting like any normal couple. Not running for our lives, not saving anyone, not scared that one of us could be killed at any time, I've lost too many people and I need to make sure nothing like that is ever going to happen again. Do you get what I'm trying to say here Ginny?'

'Yes, because mum and dad have said the same thing. Couples that get together during times of war don't usually last. They believe it's all to do with thinking they might die so why not live their lives to the fullest while they can. So the start thinking there in love when their really not. I've told you I fell in love with you when I was only eleven; that has only strengthened over the years. You said you realised you loved me after you came back with Hermione and Ron, so I do think it's good that we're taking our time, even if I would still like to live with you.'

'I know you do, but once that happens, it's going to be us, full on together all the time, when I still think we should just take our time. So remember I said I want us to do something, but not for two years and I'm serious about that. I want to take that time to make sure we're going to make it Ginny. Now, what I'm talking about is something I want to ask you, but I still want to live alone during that time,' Harry put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small box, 'Ginny, I want to marry you, so will you marry me?' Harry opened the box to show Ginny the ring.

Ginny stared down at the beautiful moonstone ring sitting in the box, then she looked up at Harry. 'Of course I'll marry you, I've always wanted to marry you. But you want to wait a year and you still don't want to live together, you want to wait until we get married?'

'Yes, I do and I know this is all about what I want and I'm sorry about that. But it's the first time in my life that I am doing what I want and not what is expected, made to do or asked of me. We will get married if you want and we will be together, but I need to make sure Ginny. I feel it deep inside, I have to make sure we're doing the right thing and that we're not going to fail in our marriage, because if we get married, we will have kids, something I've always wanted. So this marriage, our married has to be started at the right time and for the right reasons no matter how much we love each other.'

Ginny sighed, 'Okay, I get why you've wanted to hold off. You never had a real family, when we do have kids, it will be the first time since you were a year old that you will have that and you want to make sure we're always together and our family is always together so you don't lose your family like you did before.'

'Yes, that's it exactly. I don't think I could take it if we got married, had kids and we fell apart. Having to only see my children on weekends or when I can fit them in with work, not seeing them after work every day. I want to be a full part of their life, a proper parent, so I need to do this my way to be sure. I couldn't handle that Ginny, so now you finally understand, will you marry me, but have a long engagement?'

Ginny smiled, 'Yes, I will marry you in a year minimum because I finally understand why you want to wait.'

Harry smiled, took the ring and placed it on Ginny's finger before they kissed each other passionately. They could feel what the other wanted, to make love, but they also knew they needed to eat. So they left Harry's flat and walked hand in hand down to the small restaurant that Harry had become a regular customer at. They sat eating their dinner, talking the whole time, mainly about their future wedding and what everyone will say when they hear about the long engagement. When Harry and Ginny finished dinner, they headed back to Harry's flat and both instantly went into the bedroom where they spent the next couple of hours enjoying each other's bodies.

Over the next few weeks since Ginny had finally started to understand why Harry wanted to wait and take his time, Harry started to feel his life is finally starting to become normal. People had started to realise Harry was engaged to Ginny who had finally been picked up by the main team of the Holyhead Harpies and was making a name for herself. They both kept getting asked when the wedding was and both said they wanted to take their time and haven't worked on a date yet, they were happy and content with their life which if people that knew Harry would look at him, they realised he was finally putting his past behind him.