| THE PROPOSAL |
[26 Oct 2008|01:12pm] |
Note: This takes place at the scholarship ball, but I figured it was too important to not have its own thread. I'll link to this in the actual ball thread so that reactions and whatnot can be posted there.
Harry asked if he could be the guest of honour at the scholarship ball - though he did care about helping raise money for scholarships for Hogwarts, in truth, he wanted to propose to Ginny.
Hermione had helped him find the histories of the various pieces of jewelry at his vault at Gringotts. They'd decided that his paternal grandmother's engagement ring was classic and classy. Ginny would love it, if she accepted. He had spoken with Molly and Arthur earlier in the week, who definitely approved of Harry asking for Ginny's hand in marriage - in fact, Molly asked him what had taken them so long.
He stood at the podium, holding the ring box (which obviously held the ring) in his pocket, still making sure it was there. In his other hand, he held his cue cards, where he had written his speech. Harry had practiced the speech for Hermione this afternoon, but he was still nervous.
After his name was called, this was it, it was do or die. Harry had been through some pretty scary moments in his life, and sadly, this ranked up among them. He took a big gulp of water, and began his speech.
"Good evening everyone, and happy halloween. Or, if you're Nearly headle... Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, happy death day. If you don't know me, I'm Harry... oh, forget that, you all know who I am.
(pause for laughter)
I'm here as tonight's honoured guest to try and convince you to donate money for Hogwarts' Scholarship fund, since Hogwarts is a place I hold near and dear to my heart.
When I was eleven, I discovered that I was a part of the wizarding world, this magical place that up until that point, had been completely hidden from me. From the day that I stepped foot at the school, it was very clear that Hogwarts was my home, the only place I felt I truly belonged.
Sure, I had my ups and my downs here, but so did the rest of you. I'm sure we all remember the pitiful Defense Against the Dark Arts classes we had with Gilderoy Lockhart, or the wonderfully useful and informative lessons we had with Remus Lupin. Who can forget the troll in the bathroom, the thrills of the tri-wizard tournament, or when Fred and George Weasley made their infamous departure?
To be honest, I was lucky that my father grew up in a rich wizarding family. If he hadn't, I surely wouldn't have been able to attend an institution as fine as Hogwarts - my aunt and uncle tried to shield me from the wizarding world, and they certainly would not have paid my tuition. That is why we need you to donate to this scholarship fund - to help children who were not as lucky as yourselves attend this school that you all considered your home at one point or another. Even while I live in Diagon Alley, Hogwarts will always have a piece of my heart, and will always be the place I considered to be my first home, the first place that let me be who I truly was.
However, some people say that your home is people, not a place. Hogwarts gave me the opportunity to forge lifelong friendships, bonds that will last a lifetime. Over the course of my time at Hogwarts, I met my closest friends - Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood. I can't tell you how many times they've helped me. I even found myself a family.
When I was looking for platform nine and three quarters on my very first trip on the Hogwarts Express, I was fortunate enough to meet my best friend, and my first friend, Ron Weasley, whose mother, Molly, graciously showed me how to get onto the platform. The Weasley family quickly accepted me into theirs, no questions asked. They always protected me, helped me up when I was down, and in the case of Fred Weasley, gave his life protecting me and our cause of defending Hogwarts.
Ron's sister, Ginevra, or as you all know her, Ginny, was my first true love. Though I ended our relationship in order to protect her during that last fateful year of the war, she had never left my heart. We even tried dating other people, but Ginny was always on my mind. As you may have noticed, we've recently been able to get over the past, and we're here together as a couple. Ginny, can you please join me on the stage? I'd like us to officially make our public debut.
(Harry waited for Ginny to apprehensively come up on the stage. This will be edited once I talk to Leanne about whether or not Ginny gets up, as I'm not going to godmod Ginny. If she steps up to the stage, the following continues. He stepped away from the podium and in front of it, getting down on one knee).
Ginny, you are the love of my life. I can't imagine myself with anyone but you - you're my soul mate. Will you marry me?
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