Falling Into Ecstasy
The Proposal
Granger's Apartment:
"You could always say no," he smiled unsettling her just the tiniest bit. She looked at the object in question wondering what fool would turn down such a lovely thing. He placed it in her hand and she felt the weight of it.
"I've been having second thoughts about this ever since you suggested it," she shrugged her shoulders still mesmerized by the object. Light sparkled in and around it blinding the daylights out of her. It was so pretty. So pretty…
"I never suggested it, your friend did."
"Whatever. How much did this thing cost, exactly?"
"A lot, but since your not interested…." He went to take it back but she turned her back to him.
She sighed in awe. "I never said, I wasn't interested. I said I was having second thoughts." She turned back to him. "What if I say, 'yes.' What exactly do I get out of this again. I mean I would be giving up so much."
His eyes wandered around her shabby apartment that was over do for a health inspection. "You would be financially secure, Granger. Everything you could ever want would be yours."
"What's the catch. You never explained that one and with you there always is one."
"Why do you have to be so curious?"
"Why are you avoiding the question?" She quirked an eyebrow focusing on his eyes.
"Common, don't you like the mystery. The adventure. I can give you that, along with riches. Anything you want, I can give you." He smiled his sly smile. Hoping that it was charming her enough for her to say the answer he wanted to hear.
He was clever that way.
She gave the ring box with the largest diamond she'd ever seen in her life one last longing glance and shook her head. "No thank, you. You can have this back." With regret she handed it back to him.
"We could be so good together, you and I." He paused looking down at the ring that was now back in his hands. "Is it the ring, because I can get you a bigger diamond."
Her eyes widened in shock. "Wha- never mind. I don't want to know. Take your rings and get out. I don't want any part of this scheme."
She pointed to the door which he hadn't come through.
He shook his head. "Won't you please reconsider?"
She looked at him with eyebrows arched in slight amusement. She wasn't sure she'd heard correctly but she could have sworn that she'd heard begging in his voice. She could have sworn but she decided not to push her luck on how nice he was being to her.
"I'm sorry, even though you could offer me everything. A way to get out of debt, a better life. There is one thing you could never give me and it means more to me than being socially privileged."
He smirked. "And what's that. What could I, Draco Malfoy not offer you?"
"Love."
"Love?" He scoffed. "What do you need with love?"
She was thoughtful for a moment. She wanted to answer this to the best of her ability. "I want to feel it, experience it."
"Even if you get hurt?"
"Even." She smiled. "That the thing about love, Malfoy. Its this big chance, it's the biggest adventure."
"Granger, Granger, Granger," he shook his head, probable pitying her. "Love is an emotion better wasted on puppies and small children. You have the opportunity to get out of debt and have more money than Merlin and you'd rather sit here and wait on love."
"Yeah, I know." She watched as he bent to pick up something.
His pale hand reached out and grabbed a discarded eviction notice.
"Apparently, Granger, love will not pay the bills. It says you have to be out of here in two days." He handed her the yellow slip of paper. "My offer still stands."
She yanked that paper from his finger. "I had planned to have found an apartment by then, ya' know? I kind of just forgot."
"Judging by what I know of you, Granger, this in not the type of thing you just forget. Well, I should probable get going. Have more women to find. Need someone to say, 'yes,' to me." He gave her a toothy grin and stepped over to the fireplace.
"Wait!" He heard her squeak out. He smiled slowly to himself before turning around to reveal a smirk to her face.
"Yes, Granger. Make this quick, more interviewing and all that." The smirk twitched on his lips.
"I'll marry you."
There was silence that followed after that. I mean lets face it, he'd never dreamed that she'd actually cave and say, "yes."
"But," she glared up at him hard as he came to stand back in front of her, only closer this time.
"Yes…." He drawled smirking down on her.
"You have to do it the right way."
"Huh?" He asked dumbfounded.
She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "You have to propose to me in the right way. Get down on bended knee and all that."
"Oh," he said. Finally he got down on one knee and brought the huge diamond ring forth again. "Hermione Granger, will you marry me?
I never thought I'd see the day when Malfoy would be down on one knee. Am I dreaming? I must have hit my head on something hard. She smiled. "Of course."
He slipped the ring on her finger still smirking as he stood. "Enjoy the ring, Hermione."
"Thank you," she marveled at the beauteous rock that sat on her finger and smiled. "It really is beautiful."
"We'll work out the details tomorrow for everything else. Good night." He walked over to the fireplace, pulled out some Floo Powder and disappeared back into his own bedroom at Malfoy Manor.
"What have I gotten myself into," she wondered out loud once he was gone.