Truly Madly Deeply

Chapter Twelve - Lord Of The Rings

~ Hogsmeade ~

Harry and Draco were wandering hand in hand around Hogsmeade. They had already been to Zonko's and Honeyduke's and were now making their way towards the Three Broomsticks for a Butterbeer.

Suddenly, Draco dragged Harry into a brightly lit store. Draco dropped Harry's hand and stepped over to a glass counter. Harry looked around. They were in a jewellery store. Why on earth had Draco dragged him in here? Then Harry grinned. He knew exactly why Draco had been in such a hurry to come to Hogsmeade this weekend. They were engaged but neither of them had a ring to prove it.

"Harry, come over here. Look at this," Draco called to him, holding a silvery ring.

Harry walked over and allowed Draco to take his hand and slid it on his finger.

"What do you think?" Draco asked.

"Why silver? Why not gold?" Harry asked, holding his hand out to stare critically at the ring.

"It's not silver, it's platinum. And those stones are not crystals, they're emeralds, in case you were wondering," Draco said in a teasingly condescending tone.

"Okay, why platinum?" Harry tried again.

"Platinum is better than gold. Nothing but the best," Draco said, turning back to the sales assistant. "It's perfect. The line of emeralds across the top matches his eyes perfectly."

"It is perfect. Do you have another one?" Harry asked as he took off the ring and handed it to the assistant. Draco turned towards Harry in surprise.

"Why do you want another one? That one should fit. They are made to magically conform to your finger," Draco said, mystified by Harry's question.

"For you, my dragon. Matching rings, so everyone knows you're mine," Harry grinned at Draco who cupped Harry's face gently with his hands.

"I think everyone already knows I'm yours," he whispered before gently kissing Harry. Draco pulled away reluctantly, his expression one of deep abiding love as his fingers caressing Harry's cheeks.

"We'll take two of that ring, thank you," Draco said, back to business as he turned back to the mildly embarrassed sales assistant.

She hurried off to get the matching ring, leaving the one Harry had tried on lying on the counter. Draco picked it up and twirled it between his fingers. He turned to Harry, looking serious.

"Harry, will you marry me?" Draco asked, his eyes shining brightly as he slid the ring back onto Harry's finger. Harry smiled gently.

"Yes," Harry replied simply as he pulled his blond lover to him in a fierce hug.

"Stay with me tonight," he whispered in Draco's ear. Draco emotionally murmured something unintelligible and kissed Harry's neck. Harry took that as a yes.

~ Gryffindor Common Room ~

Harry and Draco waltzed into the Gryffindor common room that night like they owned the place. The rest of the Gryffindors stared at them as Harry dropped into an armchair and pulled Draco onto his lap.

Finally Hermione found her voice. "Uh, Harry? What do you think you're doing?"

"Sitting with my fiancé, why?" Harry replied, looking unconcerned by the utterly silent common room.

"Harry, he's a Slytherin," Hermione pointed out the glaringly obvious.

"He's also sitting right here," Draco said, proving that he too could point out what was exceedingly obvious to all in the room.

"Which he shouldn't be," Hermione shot back at Draco.

"Dumbledore said there were no rules about students visiting other houses," Harry reminded Hermione and the rest of the Gryffindors who were shamelessly eavesdropping.

"But....but...." Hermione sputtered, apparently having no argument against Dumbledore.

"But but..." Draco prompted Hermione, grinning wickedly. "Sit down, Hermione and look at the rings we bought today," Draco said warmly, indicating the armchair next to his and Harry's. Hermione dropped into the chair, looking a little put out that she hadn't been able to continue the argument. Never mind, she thought, Ron will be here soon.

"Show me your rings then," Hermione demanded. Harry and Draco held their hands out to be inspected by Hermione and the few Gryffindors still listening to their conversation.

"They're beautiful. Why did you get identical rings? I would have thought you'd get different ones, like a dragon on Harry's ring and a lightening bolt on Draco's ring,you know so you could both be reminded of each other," Hermione said curiously.

"Oh please!" Draco scoffed. "How common is that? Like we need to be reminded who we are engaged to! This way, everyone knows that we belong together."

"Okay, okay," Hermione said soothingly.

Where on earth is Ron? she thought a touch desperately, I could do with a trivial formulaic argument right about now. Hermione turned in her chair to face the fire. Draco was currently sticking his tongue in Harry's ear and it was something she felt she could live without witnessing.

Harry giggled as Draco licked and sucked Harry's earlobe, "That tickles, Drac."

"It's supposed to turn you on," Draco whispered in his lover's ear, his fingers tangled in Harry's hair.

"Oh...it is..." Harry said a bit breathlessly. "Let's go up to bed."

"I thought you'd never ask," Draco said sweetly as he jumped up out of the armchair and smiled brightly at all those still studiously studying in the common room. Harry took Draco's hand and they ran up into the boys' dorm.

Chapter Twelve - Lord Of The Rings