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Lucky Twenty-One

"What game is everyone up for tonight?" George asked. "Five Card Draw? Blackjack? Or do we want to stick with Exploding Snap?"

After the fall of Voldemort, the Weasley children made a habit of meeting once a month for a family game night. This was a time for them to have some serious fun with each other. The hosting house was rotated--each sibling who owned or rented a place of their own took a turn, and spouses or significant others were always invited. The games weren't limited to wizarding--they included the Muggle ones they knew, too. Three years after the final battle, and the party still went on. It had become tradition, and one that everyone actually looked forward to.

Even though he wasn't family, Harry had an invitation from the start of the tradition. He came back after Voldemort was destroyed a bit tattered and torn, but resolute in his decision to claim Miss Ginny Weasley for his own, if she'd have him. Of course, there was no question in her mind --Harry was the one for her, and the two immediately began dating. Even if he had not been Ginny's "significant other", Harry would have been included. He was as close to family as anyone, and no one would have thought to not include him in this time of letting off steam and having some fun.

"I vote for Blackjack," answered Bill.

"Blackjack it is," said Fred. "And I'm the dealer tonight."

*~*~*

"Care to make a side wager, Ginny?" Harry whispered in his girlfriend's ear.

Ginny raised an eyebrow as she looked at Harry. "That depends," she answered slowly. "What's the side bet?"

"Oh, nothing horrible," he answered. "Just that I get to ask you something in front of your family, if I win..."

"And what do I get if I win?" she interrupted.

"What do you want?"

She raised her eyebrow again and slowly began to grin at the boy wickedly. "I get to ask you something totally embarrassing in front of the gits."

"Deal," Harry said, sticking out his hand.

She shook it and grinned madly. This would be the game of the night.

*~*~*

"I'm out," said Charlie, throwing his cards in. "I went over."

"Me, too," chorused Bill, George and Percy.

"Hit me," said Ginny, her eyes wide. Harry had held after the cards were initially dealt.

"Me, too," said Ron as he accepted another card. He looked at the card and grumbled. "I'm out. I went over, too."

"Looks like it's just you two left," said Fred. Any more cards, Gin-Gin?

"Don't call me that, you git," the girl said through gritted teeth. She looked at her cards again. She had a Four of Hearts, a Four of Spades and a Two of Diamonds all face up. Face down was a Ten of Hearts. She had twenty, and she had to call. But was it good enough to beat Harry's hand?

"I call," she said and flipped over her ten of hearts. "I have twenty."

"Harry, what do you have?" Fred asked.

Harry grinned. He had a Jack of Diamonds facing up, and flipped the Ace of Hearts on top. "Twenty-one," he said proudly. He pulled the chips toward him as he caught Ginny's eye. "Ready to pay up, Ginny?"

"Yes," she sighed. "Let's get this over with." She wondered exactly what to expect.

Harry looked at her family and said, "Ginny and I had a side bet. If I won, I got to ask her something in front of all of you." The spouses and friends made their way into the room. Moving over next to Ginny, he dropped to one knee and said, "Ginny, will you marry me?"

Silence filled the room as Ginny stared at Harry in disbelief. Finally Ron broke the silence and said, "Well? Are you going to answer the man or not?"

"Shut up, you git," Ginny whispered. "Really?" she asked, looking down at Harry.

He nodded.

"Yes," she whispered as Harry stood and picked her up, hugging her tightly.

The room erupted in chatter and laughter. The game was forgotten--there was a wedding to plan.

*~*~*

A/N: This was written for the hpgw_otp LJ Community's Number Challenge. It was to be between 200 and 700 words and center around the number chosen. And as you can tell, I chose twenty-one and this is actually one of two stories written using the number. Thanks always to Julie, who is my wonderful beta, but more importantly, a wonderful friend. *smooches*