The Perfect Ring
The Houses Competition round 9:
House: Slytherin
Position: herbology
Category: Drabble
Prompt: Green and silver (Slytherin only prompt)
Word Count: 949
Betas: Aya Diefair, Hope, CupCakeyyy, VanillaAshes and Emma
Note, this is an AU where Harry gets together with Luna because I like the pairing and I can.
"What about this one, mate?" Ron asked, pointing to a ring in one of the cases. Harry stepped over and turned his attention to where Ron had indicated. His friend was pointing to a simple silver ring with white crystals and sapphires, arranged in two straight rows.
"No, not that one," he said, shaking his head. Ron sighed dramatically.
The two former Gryffindors were in a ring shop, Magic Rings For Everything, located in Diagon Alley, searching for the perfect engagement ring for Harry.
Harry was planning to propose to his girlfriend of three years, Luna, and he wanted to do it soon. Ron was here to help, and to lend moral support. Try as he might, though, none of Ron's suggestions came close to what he wanted, not when Harry had something very particular in mind.
He hadn't mentioned it to Ron, but he wanted a ring containing green and silver. Silver looked better on Luna in Harry's opinion, and she had mentioned she loved emeralds, which were obviously green. Harry really should have mentioned this to Ron, but he was afraid of the other man's reaction: they were Slytherin's colours, after all, even if the ring was made of metal and gemstones.
His ginger-haired friend still didn't like anything associated with that house. The last thing Harry wanted was Ron getting upset and the two having an argument right here in the tiny shop.
"So, what are you looking for, then?" Ron finally snapped, having enough. It wasn't too unreasonable, Harry supposed. They had been here for over an hour, after all. "I, at least, would like to get home before dinner time."
"Something elegant..." Harry started, stopping as he went to say the next word, fiddling with his silver wristwatch to try and release some tension. He almost mentioned wanting silver and emeralds, but he decided against it, still concerned he'd start an argument. 'So much for Gryffindor courage,' he thought, the irony almost making him laugh.
"Yeah, I have pointed out at least five of those," Ron retorted, crossing his arms. "Surely you must have colours in mind?"
"Yes, Mr Potter," the nervous green-clad shop assistant, Bridget, finally spoke up. She stuttered out, "It would help if you told us colours and stones, it would limit the search."
Harry swallowed, taking several tries before finally speaking. 'Oh, get over it, Harry,' he told himself, shaking his head.
"Green and silver," he managed to get out. He then elaborated on what he meant. "I want the ring to be silver and to contain some emeralds. I am not so particular about anything else, if anything," Harry finally said.
"That's all?" Ron asked, raised eyebrows. "Why didn't you say so in the first place?"
"I have some ideas," Bridget said, her eyes lighting up as she disappeared.
"It's Slytherin colours!" Harry exclaimed while she was gone. "I know you're not a fan of them!"
"Yeah, I'm not. But this is your girlfriend's engagement ring, not mine," Ron pointed out. "I personally wouldn't choose them for Hermione. Besides, I look at it as for silver and emeralds, not silver and green; no relation to Slytherin."
"True," Harry agreed, relieved it wasn't an issue. In reality, he wondered why he had even been worried. Ron had matured a lot since their school days and had grown to be quite level-headed and reasonable. Besides, he realised, it was none of Ron's business what stone combination he wanted for Luna. Maybe that's what Ron thought.
While they waited for the shop girl to come back, Ron pointed out a few more rings on display, but none were quite right. By the time the girl came back, Harry could tell Ron was about ready to murder him.
"What about these, Mr Potter?" she asked, showing him a tray with a large selection, including a couple of tasteful rose gold rings, despite not being what Harry asked for.
Harry and Ron came over from the window display to look. Harry looked at them all, pausing to imagine the ring on Luna before continuing, deciding the look wasn't right. Until his eyes fell on a silver ring with blue and green crystals arranged in the shape of a crude tree.
"That's the one," Harry said, pointing at it.
"You're sure?" Ron asked, raised eyebrows, looking surprised. "If that's what you want... it doesn't do it for me personally... as long as you like it and think she will."
"Yes, it's the one." The raven-haired boy nodded firmly.
"Shall I package it then?" Bridget asked. Harry nodded yet again. "Wait here, please."
She picked it up and took it out the back, leaving the other rings for now. Bridget came back a few minutes later with a navy ring box tied with silver ribbon, presumably containing Harry's ring. "Here we go, Mr Potter," she said gleefully, placing it on the counter. "Thirty-five galleons, please."
"Here you go," Harry said, pulling out the required amount of coins.
"Thank you!" The shop attendant smiled, albeit rather nervously. "Hope she likes it!"
"Me too." Harry sighed, shoulders relaxing.
As they left the shop, Ron said, "Now you've got to work out the proposal, getting the scene right. Trust me, the ring was the easy part."
Harry faulted, his face slowly turning to horror. "What! This was hard enough! And you say it was the easy part?" he squeaked, looking at Ron with wide eyes. "Please tell me you're joking!"
Ron laughed, not answering either way. Harry would have to find out for himself. He had planned to simply ask her over dinner this Friday, but now he was doubting whether or not that would be the best idea.