the_debt_of_time

"Harry, what did you get Ginny?" Mia asked.
He frowned. Clearly, it was not a sapphire bracelet. "Umm... broom polish?"
No one said a word in reply, but Mia smiled and reached up to affectionately run
her fingers through his messy hair.
When the silence became awkward, Harry pushed Mia's hands off of his head, and
he cleared his throat loudly. He stood and reached into the pocket of his robes,
withdrawing a cream-coloured envelope with crimson and gold lettering, handing it over
to Arthur, who looked at it with curiosity, as though he had never seen an envelope before
in his life.
"But umm, speaking of... of Ginny. Mr Weasley, Mrs Weasley... I have, umm,
for... for you."
"What is it, son?" Arthur asked as he broke the seal on the back and removed the
parchment from within.
Fleur was sitting up straight, leaning over Bill to get a good look at the envelope
and parchment. "Is that... ?"
Bill laughed and shook his head, reaching for his drink. "Oh, this should be good."
Arthur frowned as his eyes looked over the parchment. "Son, is this what I think it
is?"
"A Letter of.. ." Molly was whispering to herself as she read over the words. When
the realisation hit her, she squealed in delight. "Oh! Oh!" She jumped to her feet and
wrapped Harry in a tight embrace, kissing the side of his head repeatedly. "Oh, you dear
sweet, sweet boy!"
Arthur was smiling at the sight, but the letter in his hand was certainly an unexpected
gesture from a half-blood wizard who had been raised by Muggles. "Sirius, did you put him
up to this? It's very old-fashioned."
Mia smiled joyfully. "Sirius gave one to Harry when he asked me to marry him."
Arthur inclined his head. "Well, it's very honourable of you to ask our permission,
Harry―"
"And we say yes!" Molly cried, only stepping back when Arthur tugged at her dress.
"You may absolutely court and marry Ginny! Not that you haven't been already, or that you'd
even need to ask for such a thing, though permission to marry her... oh." She wiped at
the tears that were building up in the corners of her eyes. "Such a polite young man."