Hello hello!
This is another one of pure, unadulterated fluff. So sweet it just might rot your teeth :)
Onyx
Draco was bent over his desk writing an order for more ingredients when Harry entered their shared flat after work. He unceremoniously dumped his cloak and parchments on the armchair beside the door and greeted his flatmate.
"Hey," Draco called back, setting down his quill. "How was work?"
"Hectic," Harry answered wearily, running his hand through his eternally-disheveled hair.
Draco smiled in sympathy, crossing the room to join Harry on the couch. "We'll have a relaxing evening in, then."
"Thanks," the brunette replied, draping an arm over Draco's shoulders. They sat in companionable silence for a while before Harry said, "I ran into Padma Patil today."
"Oh. How is she?" Draco asked, a little guarded. Harry had tried for nonchalance, but he was always rubbish at acting, and Draco could tell something really important was coming.
"She's good. Just got a new job at the Ministry."
"Wonderful. Law, I presume?"
"No, Games and Sports. I know; I was just as surprised," Harry said, smiling slightly at Draco's incredulous expression. "She asked after you," he added.
"Did she? Well, you can tell her I'm quite well."
Harry nodded. "Will do. Anyway, it turns out she went abroad with her family after the war. Clear her mind, you know."
"Intimately, considering all of my friends did much the same thing."
"Yeah, they did. But, Draco, you're so much stronger than they are. You recognize that you can't run away from the past."
After a short, heavy silence, Draco commented, "You're being rather deep today. Is something on your mind?"
"I guess so, yeah," said Harry hesitantly. "Padma was telling me about the mystical properties of gemstones. I thought it was pretty interesting." Draco shifted slightly so he could pay closer attention to his lover's words and facial expressions. "Some are supposed to have healing properties, make it easier to deflect the negativity of others. Or help you to let go of destructive beliefs and practices from the past. And to allow you to avoid negative influences and become master of your own fate."
"Forgive me if I'm a bit skeptical that a mere rock could do all of that."
"Actually, I'm not so sure, either." Harry looked oddly shy now, and when he next spoke, his voice was soft. "But I do know that people can do that for themselves. Not all of them try, though. That takes a special kind of person, a courageous, intelligent, driven, wonderful person."
"Harry-" He stopped abruptly as Harry slid off of the couch and onto one knee.
"You don't need onyx to do all of those things, because you're that amazing kind of person all on your own. But I hope you'll wear it anyway, as a symbol of my love and commitment to you. Draco Lucius Malfoy, will you marry me?"
Draco threw himself forward and flung his arms around the brunette. Tearfully, he practically yelled, "Oh, god, Harry, yes! Yes, yes, yes, a thousand times yes!"
Beaming through joyful tears, Harry slipped a silver band set with tiny onyx stones onto Draco's ring finger. When he intertwined their fingers, it perfectly matched the one glinting on his own hand.
All those things I listed are actual properties of onyx, if you believe in that kind of thing. :)
