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“Master Malfoy, how may we be of assistance to you today?”
Placing the key in his hand on the desk, Draco said, “I need to access both the Malfoy and Black family vaults.”
The goblin looked over the wizard’s shoulder to the man standing behind him. Another key was held up, and he gave the goblin a short nod.
Holding his hand out, the goblin accepted the second key. After picking up the one Draco presented, he scrutinised both. Upon deeming them acceptable, the goblin slid from his chair and made his way towards the carts. “Follow me.”
“You were right,” Draco muttered to his companion.
“No, my wife was right,” Harry chuckled. “Then again, she does work here.”
Settling into a cart with the goblin and his friend, Draco snickered. “You have a point.”
The trio rode in silence for a few minutes before Harry asked, “Do you think you’ll find what you’re looking for in the vaults?”
Draco shrugged. “Honestly? No, but I don’t want to rule out anything until I’ve at least looked at all my options.”
“That’s a good idea,” Harry agreed. “Plus, we both know that while she loves her family, she’s not super traditional. Then there’s the fact that she’s a professional Quidditch player.”
“So, definitely nothing ostentatious.”
“Nope.”
Draco scrubbed a hand across his face. “That’s going to eliminate nearly everything in the vaults.”
“Not necessarily,” Harry offered. “You never know; there might be a modest set somewhere in your family history.”
Laughter echoed through the cavernous space below Diagon Alley. “You’re kidding, right? You have met multiple members of both families. Why in Salazar’s name would you think that any of them would go for something modest?”
“You got me there,” Harry relented.
The cart slowed to a stop in front of the Malfoy family vault.
“Let’s get started,” Harry said.
Hours later, the two men found themselves sitting across from each other in a booth in The Leaky Cauldron.
“Well, that could have gone worse,” Harry tried to offer helpfully.
“I’m not sure how,” Draco muttered before taking a sip of his firewhisky. He stared at his fingers on the tumbler, the golden tones playing on his green-tinged fingertips. “There’s nothing in either family vault that I can wear.”
“What is that about?”
“I’m allergic.”
Harry stared at him for a moment. “Wait. Really?”
Draco frowned. “Yes.”
“Is that why I’ve never seen you wear the Malfoy signet ring during the Wizengamot sessions?”
“It is,” Draco replied. He levelled Harry with a dark look and pointed his glass of firewhisky at his friend. “And, Potter, if you tell anyone…”
Harry waved him off. “Nah. Farthest thing from my mind right now. I thought we might need a curse breaker, but allergies are easier. Actually, I might know of someplace we can go to find what you’re looking for.”
“Oh?” Draco raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. Let me talk to Hermione, and I’ll get back to you tomorrow, okay?”
“Okay…”
“Great.” Harry drained his glass and stood up from the table. “I’ll owl you in the morning.”
Before Draco could say anything else, the other man was gone. He looked around the pub and shook his head before muttering, “You’re paying the tab tomorrow, Potter.”
“Hey, Potter?”
“Yeah, Draco?”
“I talked Ginny into playing Seeker today while I sit out since Charlie is here. Let her catch the Snitch, will you?”
Harry stared at the blond wizard curiously for a few moments before he smirked. “Will do.”
Draco breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“Just don’t bollocks it up, mate,” Harry told him as he slapped him on the shoulder.
“Come on, Draco! Release the balls. Let’s get this game going!” Ginny called from where she was flying high in the air.
He chuckled. Seconds later, the Bludgers and Snitch were off, and Draco had the Quaffle in his hand. Tossing the large, red ball into the air, Draco ducked out of the way just in time for Charlie to make a beeline for the Quaffle.
“I can see why Charlie isn’t a Chaser very often,” Draco teased as he sat next to Hermione.
“Yeah, he prefers Seeker, but Ginny asked, and he wasn’t about to tell her no. Although why Ginny wants to play Seeker herself, I’m not sure.”
“I may or may not have asked her to,” Draco replied.
Hermione turned to look at him. She narrowed her eyes. “You’re up to something, aren’t you?”
“Nothing bad, I assure you.” Draco held up his hands.
“Hm,” Hermione hummed as she turned back to her book.
Harry’s team had just scored their third goal when Hermione gasped and turned back to Draco. “You didn’t!”
Draco raised an eyebrow as he continued to watch the game. “Didn’t what?”
“I knew about Harry’s question from a couple of weeks ago, but I didn’t think anything about it at the time,” Hermione muttered. “But you’re really going to do it, aren’t you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Draco told her, but the smirk on his face told her all she needed to know. “You are! Draco! Why didn’t you tell me?”
He laughed, “Because I knew you would be like this. Now, keep quiet, will you?”
“But how can I when I know?”
“Because you don’t want to ruin the surprise for your best friend?”
She huffed and crossed her arms. “This game better hurry up.”
Draco chuckled, “I feel the same way.”
It was nearly an hour before Ginny finally caught the Snitch, giving her team the win.
Ginny had just landed on the ground when the Snitch in her hand gave a shudder and popped open. She frowned as she dropped her broom. Then, opening the Snitch the rest of the way, Ginny’s eyes widened.
Instead of being empty inside, the Snitch had a small black velvet cushion with an iridescent green ring sitting on top.
“What in the world?”
“Ginny?”
She looked around before spotting Draco kneeling behind her. Ginny gripped the Snitch tight in her hand as she bit her bottom lip.
“Our families have had their fair share of arguments over the years, and we have too, but we found each other on the pitch that first year after the war. You could have easily walked away from me that night, but you didn’t, and I’m so thankful for that. Since then, you’ve become my best friend and the woman I love.
“I know you’re not a traditional witch, and why I’m down on one knee, I have no idea,” he chuckled at himself before taking the Snitch from her shaking hands, “but I knew I wanted a ring for you that you could wear at any time. The ring is part of a set; this is made from Fire Opal and Turquoise, both of which made me think of you and the rest of the ring is made of Tungsten…” he glanced at Harry as he pulled the ring from the Snitch.
Harry nodded.
Ginny laughed. “I don’t care what it’s made of, you silly wizard. Just ask me already.”
“Will you marry me?”
“Of course I will!”
Draco quickly slipped the ring onto her finger before standing up and scooping her into his arms.
Shouts of congratulations rang out as Draco pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. Then, stepping back, he addressed those around them, “If any of you breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll kill you.”
Hermione patted him on the back. “Sure, Draco. Congratulations, by the way.”
Ginny’s brothers snickered at his words before hugging their sister and making their way towards The Burrow.
“We need to tell our parents!”
Draco pointed towards the back door. “I think your mum already knows.”
Ginny laughed, “Of course she does.”