Ginny was so overwhelmed that she could only nod silently, lovingly smiling at him, and Harry carefully slipped the beautiful ring onto the ring finger of her left hand. Then he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her fondly. They remained in this position for a very long time, until Harry whispered,

“Ginny, let’s go into my room.” She nodded, and together they went into Harry’s room and sat down on his bed to cuddle and talk for a while. After about half an hour, however, Marina disturbed them in order to tell Harry that he still had to open his presents, and that everyone was in the living room now opening presents. Harry let out a sigh and told his sister he would be there in a few minutes. When he turned back to Ginny, he noticed that she was watching him worriedly. Ignoring this for the moment, he asked her if she was all right to come and open Christmas presents, and when she nodded, he pulled her out of his room. As soon as they entered the living room, where nearly all of the castle’s staff and their families were sitting and opening presents together, Lily and Severus started to applaud them having noticed the ring Ginny was wearing. Noticing the confused looks they earned, Lily explained,

“I think my son has an announcement to make. Haven’t you, Harry?” Harry shrugged and took Ginny’s hand, before he cleared his throat and announced,

“Ginny has just agreed to become my wife.” The applause they got from all directions was deafening, and Ginny pulled him over to an empty spot on the sofa, so that they could open the presents Marina brought over to them. Harry couldn’t remember ever having received so many presents before. Even two hours later, when someone said,

“It’s already lunchtime. We have to head down to the Great Hall for lunch,” he had not yet finished unwrapping his many presents. Harry sighed with relief, when he heard his father’s voice,

“All Snapes stay here please; we are having our family lunch here as usual.” He turned to Ginny and with a small smile at her added, “As my son’s fiancée you are a member of our family from now on, so please join us in the kitchen.” Ginny smiled back at her soon to be her father-in-law and said,

“Thank you, Professor.” He raised an eyebrow and introduced himself to her,

“As a member of my family, you may call me by my name. My name is Severus.” She laughed and said,

“Alright. Thank you Severus.” She turned back to Harry and again got the impression that he was not his usual self. Unobtrusively putting a cold hand to his forehead, she decided to check on him whenever she had the opportunity. They went over to the kitchen and sat down to have lunch. Suddenly Harry groaned.

“Oh no!” Noticing that everyone was looking at him, he added, “Sorry; I just remembered that I completely forgot to go to the common room to give them their presents. Ginny and Julia, would you like to accompany me directly after lunch?” Both of them nodded, wondering about what he was going to do next. Harry stood up, fetched a small bag from his desk and left the room, followed by Ginny and Julia, who were curiously glancing at each other. They went through Harry’s office into the Merlin common room, where the remaining eleven students were sitting in front of the Christmas tree, reading or doing their homework.

“Professor!” one of the first years called immediately, when he entered through the portrait hole. “Have you already asked the headmistress about going to Hogsmeade with us? May we go? If yes, can we go tomorrow? Oh please; I got a present from someone I forgot to buy a present for; so I must go shopping.” Harry laughed and asked her,

“As you are a first year, you haven’t been to Hogsmeade before, I suppose. So how did you get your other presents? By owl-order?” The girl nodded and said,

“But to order something now would be much too late. Please, Professor.” Harry nodded thoughtfully but then asked,

“However, are the shops in Hogsmeade open tomorrow?” Everyone shrugged as they didn’t know either, but Julia jumped into the conversation.

“The shops are open tomorrow. I asked the Weasley twins before Christmas, because I know someone who has always trouble buying his Christmas presents. They told me, they have founded some kind of association of the shopkeepers in Hogsmeade, and they decide all together on issues like shop opening times, which they want to adjust between all of them. Therefore, all shops will be open tomorrow.” Everyone looked in awe at Julia, including Harry.

“Very well, Julia”, he commended his little sister, “thanks for figuring this out for us. All right, then we can go tomorrow, provided that Professor McGonagall will agree. We will meet in the Entrance Hall right after breakfast. Are you all coming?” he asked his students and everyone nodded eagerly.

“Alright. Now, I would like to introduce my fiancée, Ginny Weasley. The older students know her of course, as she was a member of Merlin House until the summer, and the younger students might know her, as she is a Healer apprentice now, working together with Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing.” Ginny smiled at the students, and everyone applauded.

“Wait,” one of the students asked. “Weasley as in Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes? They are quite famous.” Ginny laughed and told them that the Weasley twins were her brothers.

“Wow, that’s weird,” another student said, and Harry laughed and asked him,

“Then how weird you think it is that I am their silent partner?” In the upcoming silence, everyone looked at him in awe.

“Anyway, Congratulations Harry to your engagement,” one of the fourth years said. Harry thanked them and opened the small bag he had brought and emptied it under the Christmas tree, before he told the students,

“Please help yourselves. A little Christmas present from WWW.” He turned to his sister and fiancée, who were still standing beside him and said, “there is one for each of you too.”

Before the three left the common room and headed back to the Snape quarters, he told the students,

“You have certainly heard in the meantime that Christmas dinner will take place at my family’s quarters. Please be in front of my office at exactly 5 o’clock this afternoon; then I will let you go through my office; otherwise you will have to walk through the dungeons; it is exactly three doors ahead of the Potions classroom.”

When they returned home, Marina and Violet had finished their nap and were playing contently with their new presents. However, as soon as the three entered the living room, the two girls shouted happily,

“Harry! Julia! Ginny! Play with us!” Harry threw Ginny and Julia an exasperated glance, before he asked, “Where is mom?” Violet smiled at him and answered,

“Aunt Lily and Uncle Severus are in the kitchen with his mother, talking, but we were too loud.” Harry smiled at her, thanked her and pulled her into a hug, when he ran over to him. Then he took Ginny’s hand and pulled her over to the kitchen to greet his grandmother. She embraced Ginny and him happily and said,

“Congratulations, you two. I am very happy for you. Do you already know when the wedding will be?” Harry laughed and told her,

“As I have only proposed to her this morning, we haven’t had time to talk about it yet. But Ginny will be seventeen in August; therefore, I suppose it will be some time after that.” He smiled fondly at his fiancée and suggested, “Maybe we should ask the twins to arrange our wedding; what do you think?” Ginny nearly choked.

“What? You want them to organize our wedding?” She put a hand to his forehead, which was a bit warm and sighed, before she grinned and said, “Alright, he’s got a bit of a fever.”

“Ginny!” Harry protested immediately. “Your brothers are very good. Do you remember the party they threw in the Great Hall after the Quidditch game teachers against students last year? The Hall was beautiful. Of course we don’t want to have a Quidditch landscape, but we could tell them what we want, and they would arrange it for us.” Ginny laughed and said,

“Alright; if you really think so, we can ask them. But we don’t have to decide now. Let’s go back to your room, Harry. I have to go to the wing to ask my boss if she wants me to do something.” Lily, who had heard what Ginny said, contradicted immediately.

“Ginny, I don’t think you have to work on the day of your engagement. There is not much to do anyway, as nobody is in the Hospital Wing, and Poppy told me she was just resting today, too. Enjoy your time together, you two, and try to keep the little ones out of your way today.” Harry and Ginny smiled, thanked her and went to Harry’s room to rest for a while.

When Severus entered Harry’s room a quarter of an hour before dinner, he found Harry fast asleep in his bed with Ginny next to him reading a book. He gave Ginny a smile when she looked up and asked,

“Is everything okay?” Ginny smiled back and said,

“Yes, I think so.” Severus nodded and left the room, while Ginny tried to rouse a very sleepy Harry.

Christmas Dinner was a funny affair. It was incredible how the house elves had managed to place so many people in the Snapes’ living room – and they didn’t even feel squeezed. To Harry’s and Ginny’s surprise, the whole Weasley family was even there to attend Christmas dinner together with their daughter/sister and soon to be son-in-law/brother-in-law. Harry had to sit between Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, while Severus was sitting on Ginny’s other side. As the twins had taken the places directly opposite of them, the evening was predestined to become funny.

When everyone had finished the main course, suddenly the lights went off. Ignoring the huge gasp he heard, Harry glared straight at the Weasley twins, who were holding some kind of a dark blue bowl between them on their laps. Harry frowned. What was this about? Suddenly the ceiling went dark blue like the sky with many small, twinkling stars on it. Another huge gasp could be heard. Then suddenly a very tiny white bird emerged from one corner and trilled a nice melody, which was, however, not understandable to Harry. ‘A phoenix,’ someone shouted. A moment later, another white bird with a different shape flew out in the sky from the other side and sang a melody in its own voice. ‘Ginny’s animagus form,’ Harry realized immediately.

The two white, little birdies grew bigger and bigger, and soon it was clear for everyone that they were playing Harry’s and Ginny’s life in the new time line. As tiny birdies they had already played together from time to time, when they grew older, they suddenly kept on flying together a lot, so that the observers noticed the point at which Ginny had come to Hogwarts. They continuously held a short distance and trilled a lot to each other, until suddenly the phoenix went away, and far away, a fight could be heard. Finally, the phoenix returned, flew directly next to his white friend and embraced it with his many pretty feathers - obviously the point where they finally got together. The lights went on again, and the applause was deafening. Harry looked at the twins in awe, before he glanced at Ginny and asked,

“And you think we cannot leave the planning of our wedding to them? Now I am more than sure that I want to ask them!” Ginny nodded and said,

“Alright, Harry; you were right of course. I agree fully; please ask them!” Harry laughed and turned to the twins,

“Gred and Forge,” he cleared his throat, “may I have a word please. First of all, thank you very much for this display; my fiancée and I enjoyed it very much!” He cleared his throat again, but couldn’t help his voice going away. He continued, “Anyway, we would like to ask the two of you a favour.” Fred and George grinned mischievously and said,

“We thought our little sis was learning to be an Healer’s apprentice,…”

“…But she cannot help her fiancée get his voice back? Ohoh…”

“…Maybe we should better give her a job in our joke shop…” Harry threw them a dirty glare and croaked,

“Oh, shut up you two,” but they only laughed, until Ginny gave them a fierce glare and said,

“Now leave it. Anyway,” she continued, “what we wanted to ask you was…” she threw a questioning glance at Harry, and when he nodded smilingly, continued, “if you would be willing to plan and organize our wedding for us?” For a few seconds everything around them stayed silent, until a double gasp could be heard,

“What?!” Harry and Ginny laughed at the stunned twins, and Ginny returned,

“Yes!” The twins looked at each other pensively, before they finally agreed. From one moment to the other, the two of them became very stern and gave Ginny and Harry a piercing glance.

“Ginny, Harry, are you sure you want us to organize something as important as your wedding?” When they nodded, Fred continued, “Alright, we will meet sometime during the next weeks, so that we can fix where it will take place, how many people we have to expect and many things more. But we will do it, and we can promise you now, YOU WILL HAVE FUN!” In the meantime, all participants of the Christmas Dinner had turned their attention to the twins and the couple, and everyone laughed at their conversation. Fortunately, the house elves chose this moment to serve the deserts, and Ginny felt Harry relax, when the attention turned away from them.

Christmas Dinner was officially finished at 10:30. As it was already after curfew, the students were sent back to their house and the three five-year-olds were put to bed. Harry immediately got up to help his mother bathing the three little troublemakers, but Lily insisted Harry should go to bed and rest; it was so late that she would not bathe the three, but just change them into pyjamas and put them into bed anyway. Harry said Ginny and her parents as well as Severus ‘good night’ and did as he was told; he was asleep as soon as his head hit his pillow.

In the next morning, Harry was up and about very early. He then dressed the three kids and after a short talk to Dobby concerning breakfast, he took the kids down to the Great Hall. Fortunately, Dobby had managed to ask the elves on duty to place a huge bowl of fruit yoghurt in front of Harry’s plate – about the only thing he could always manage to eat. He was just about to finish his yoghurt, when Ginny arrived, gave him a kiss on the cheek and asked,

“How do you feel, Harry?” Harry sighed and said,

“Alright, I guess. Would you like to come to Hogsmeade with us?”

She nodded and replied, “Yes, why not; however I have to ask Poppy.” She went over to the other side of the table and asked Pomfrey, who let her go immediately. The older students had preferred to stay in the castle in order to get on with their homework, so that Harry and Ginny only had to take the seven first years to Hogsmeade. Outside it was very cold and had even started to snow. Harry shortly thought about getting two carriages, but dismissed the thought again, when he had the idea of showing the students the shrieking shack on their way back. So they walked down into the small town, and not only the students enjoyed the walk very much. However, it was so cold that he was freezing in spite of the many layers he wore under his coat. Therefore, he decided to take the students to The Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer first in order to warm up a little.

Afterwards they visited the bookshop, the apothecary, Honeydukes and a few smaller shops the first years wanted to see. Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes was their final stop in town, because Harry had imagined that this visit would probably become the highlight of the day. Fred and George took them in an extra chamber and let the students test out many different items, which could become very convenient to have at Hogwarts. Harry tried to keep both eyes closed; Ginny did the same; however, Harry had made clear at the beginning that the twins had to guarantee that he would be able to take all students home with him unharmed. Of course, the twins had promised that and had carefully selected the items for the students to try out. When the students decided, which items to buy, and Harry saw how many items they were choosing, he cleared his throat again and said,

“I don’t know if all of you know this, but all products of this shop are forbidden at Hogwarts. So if you buy things here, please don’t tell me or anybody else about it, and please hide them somewhere in your dormitory. Alright?” The students laughed and answered in a chorus,

“Yes, Professor.” Just before they left the shop, Harry thought of something and spoke to the twins.

“As my students have bought so many items here, I want to ask you something. I will forget what they bought, so they won’t get into trouble with me; however I want at least one, better two of each of the antidotes, and I can imagine that Ginny will want the same things for the Hospital Wing.” Ginny nodded affirmatively. Fred and George laughed and handed Harry and Ginny each one package of sweets, which caused certain illnesses together with the antidotes. Harry and Ginny thanked them and guided the students out of Hogsmeade. On their way back, they showed them the Shrieking Shack. The students looked stunned at the old building and one of them asked,

“Is it true, that it is the most haunted building in the wizarding world?” Harry laughed and told them the story of the old building, when and why it was build – without telling names of course – and why it suddenly became unnecessary a few years later.

“Can we get in it?” another student asked. Harry sighed and glanced at Ginny. She only shrugged. Harry sighed and croaked,

“Alright, follow me; the entrance is just under the Whomping Willow.” He led them up the road to the tree, put up a branch, which was lying around, and pushed the button to freeze the tree’s movements. Then he motioned the astonished students to enter the passage under the tree. He just thought about entering first, when two eager first years already disappeared into the passage. Therefore, he let all the other students go first and went behind them, together with Ginny.

The Shrieking Shack was entirely as he remembered it. Maybe there was even more dirt and dust there now than in his old time line, as the building had not been used for more than twenty years.

Suddenly he had an idea. Why hadn’t he thought about this earlier? He had to talk to his great grandfather as soon as possible.

When they arrived back at Hogwarts, it was in the middle of the afternoon, but as the students hadn’t had anything to eat for lunch, he had to provide something to eat for them. After conferring with Ginny shortly, they guided the first years down to the kitchens, where many house elves surrounded them happily. As they didn’t have much to do during the holidays, they were always grateful to have something to do. Harry asked them for lunch for the seven students, made sure that they would find their way back to Merlin House and excused himself for the rest of the afternoon. Ginny left the kitchen with him and Harry told her,

“I have to go to Granddad and talk to him about something. It is very important. Will you accompany me?” She smiled at him and nodded with a curious expression on her face.