Level II Task III
It was the summer after we'd left Hogwarts. Eighteen with the world at our feet: naive and cocky, but happy.
She looked cute and dangerous that day, carefree and innocent, daring and wild. My Lauren.
After dinner, we walked along the wet sand back to our cottage, our shoes in my right hand and her hand in my left. The new moon shed little light, but the sparkle in my eyes gave me direction.
She asked me what I wanted for my birthday.
"I don't want anything but you. If I could live everyday like we lived today I would be the happiest man," I told her.
"Everyday?" she asked.
"Every last one."
"That's a lot of days," she said.
"Won't you love me when I'm old and grey?" I asked her.
"Of course I will," she smiled.
We reached the gate that opened onto the garden path that lead to our home. I reached out to open it. "Then it's settled, isn't it?" I smiled.
"What's settled?" She still smiled but her brow furrowed in confusion.
I let my smile fade as I turned to her. "Marry me."
"What?" Her eyes widened in shock.
"Marry me."
"You're crazy." A smile began to tug at the corners of her lips.
I said it four more times as our smiles grew.
"Okay."
I pulled her into a kiss like we'd never kissed before. She kissed me back, pressing her body into mine and wrapping her arms around my shoulders. I placed my arms around her waist. We made it home as one, limbs intertwined, smiling through our kisses. For one day, our friends didn't matter; the war didn't matter. The whole world could go to hell. She was mine.
