...Another Ring; A Meaningful Ring...
Theo comes over early Christmas day and I open the door yawning in my pajamas my hair still a mess from sleep. He stifles a laugh as he steps inside. I close the door and push him gently towards the living room. "You look lovely this morning." Theo smiles. I roll my eyes. "Tea or cocoa?" I ask. "Butterbeer." he smiles running his fingers through my hair. I wave him to the couch and fix us both some warm butterbeer. I run my fingers through my hair so it lies flat.
I hand Theo his mug and he eyes mine too. "This one is mine." I state. He pulls me onto his lap. "This one is mine." he raises his mug and I nod. "So is this one and this one." he smirks kissing my cheek and taking a sip of my drink. I pout and he kisses me. "If I can't drink your butterbeer you can't drink mine." I frown. Theo holds up his mug to my lips and I widen my eyes in shock. I take a sip.
He places both of our mugs on the coffee table. "You agreed to five years. I can share my food and drinks with you without throwing a fit." he smiles. I raise a quizzical eyebrow. "Fine, I can work on it. I want my sip back." he kisses me. I smack his shoulder. "I'm going to go change. Wait right here, ok?" I murmur. He nods and grabs his mug.
I emerge from my room in a turtleneck and fleece pants. Theo smiles and holds his arms out. I sit in his lap and reach for my mug. I find it empty. Not a single drop is left in it or in Theo's mug. "Not another mug of butterbeer will find its way to you today." I huff. Theo smiles and kisses my cheek which helps slightly. We watch Christmas movies, cartoons, and tv specials. Hermione and dad join us when they wake up.
Dad makes peach and chocolate stuffed waffles with spiced hot cocoa for breakfast. Theo's eyes widen as he takes a bite of a peach waffle. He gives dad a thumbs up and eats heartily. The smell of food wakes mum. I get started on scrubbing the potatoes and tear apart stale bread into bite sized pieces. Mum eats nearly as much as Theo. Hermione, dad, and Theo play board games while Christmas music drifts in from the living room.
I help mum with dinner and keep everyone well fed with pigs in a blanket until dinner is ready. The turkey comes out of the oven steaming and the room is filled with the smell of it. I take half the turkey drippings and make gravy. Despite having eaten so much already both mum and Theo get several servings. I smile as they finally lean back full.
I smile and tap Theo's shoulder. "Too full for dessert?" I wonder hopefully. I serve Yorkshire puddings with butter beer ice cream, a chocolate yule log, and sherry trifle. "There's always room for dessert!" Hermione smirks as mum and Theo's faces light up. After they're done eating, we go back to the living room and watch a few more movies. Theo and I are the last awake. He got permission to stay the night so I fix some warm butterbeer for us to sip on.
We stretch out on the couch with me on top of him. He runs his hands up and down my back comfortingly. "I really love my gift darling." I whisper looking at my ring. "Five years and then you'll be mine. I can hardly wait. Tempting." he whispers. "Tempting." I smile and kiss the corner of his mouth. At some point I stop watching the movie as I drift in and out of consciousness. I fall asleep in his warm embrace.
I wake early and find Theo watching me. "Morning love. I missed those pretty eyes of yours." Theo smiles. I roll my eyes and listen to his heartbeat. "When do you have to go back?" I whisper. "After breakfast. I wish I could stay longer but I have to..." he looks away. I lace my fingers with his and wait patiently. "Apparently, I have to visit my father. I don't want to but I'm not of age yet." he groans. I wrap my arms around him and hide my face so he can't see the tears welling up in my eyes.
"Aww, love. Why are you crying?" he asks when I start sniffling. "Because you're mine not his. I don't want you to be forced to see someone you can't stand." I complain. Theo rubs my back that doesn't stop my tears. "It was probably my fault." he mumbles. I want to ask him but I can tell from the look in his eyes he's not ready to tell me yet. He wipes my tears away. I pout at him. "I don't want you to go." I whisper. The look in his eyes softens further. "They're making me go. As soon as I get back, I'll let you know, ok?" Theo murmurs. I nod and he kisses the top of my head and hugs me tightly as if he'll never let go.
He gently encourages me to go shower and change and when I get back down stairs the smell of food is wafting through the house. I walk to the kitchen and find dad teaching Theo how to cook. Theo senses me and his smile widens. "Go watch some tv until breakfast Lia." he chuckles. I stick my tongue out playfully at him and go to the living room. The smell of stuffed waffles wafts into the room and my stomach grumbles in complaint. I think of Theo repeatedly in hopes that his pendant necklace will buzz until he brings me a snack.
"I'm working on your breakfast Lia. Stop calling me." Theo laughs. I whine in complaint and stomp my feet. I hear Theo and dad chuckling in the kitchen. I snatch mum's notepad and scribble a quick note. I slap it onto a pillow and chuck it into the kitchen. Theo comes out with the pillow and a disapproving frown. I lie down on the couch not making eye contact. He walks over and leans over the couch. I receive a silent scolding and then he kisses me softly. I taste peaches and butterbeer. I gasp and he winks playfully.
He brings me my plate of peach pie stuffed waffles and a mug of warm butterbeer. "Thank you!" I smile innocently. "You know you hit your dad in the face with that pillow earlier. I gasp and feign innocence. He kisses the top of my head as I eat. After breakfast he pulls me into a hug. "I don't want you to go." I pout. "Wow, are you telling me you want to marry me right now?" he teases. I start pushing him towards the door.
"And here I thought you'd make me wait five years." he grins. I roll my eyes and he kisses my cheek. I wave until he disappears around the corner then shut the door. "Aww, did my precious son-in-law leave already?!" mum whines. "He's not your son-in-law." I huff. "Honey! Amelia's still in denial!" mum yells as she walks into the kitchen. I laugh at her as she pouts.
I find Hermione just waking up and jump on her bed. "Your hair is an absolute bird's nest Mione." I giggle cuddling her. She groans and pushes me off her bed. I frown, hop to my feet, throw open her window, and yank her sheets off her bed. She whimpers as the cold air attacks her body. "More effective than a bucket of ice water." I giggle. She jumps up and starts chasing me around. I duck and dodge thankful that I'm slightly more athletic than she is.
She drops to the floor out of breath and I skip from the room. We spend the day playing games and eating snacks. "By the way, where did Theo go?" Hermione wonders. "The Ministry said since Theo isn't an adult yet he has to go visit his father in Azkaban even though both Theo and Mrs. Zabini were opposed to it." I pout. Hermione drops her salted caramel turtle fudge.
"You're joking right?" she gasps. I shake my head. "I wish I was. I really wish I was." I sigh putting my head on her shoulder. She pats my head. "Have you and Ron made up yet? Harry's starting to look a child caught between two bickering parents again." I look up at her. "No, of course not. Every time I go to talk to him Lav-Lav is sucking face with him. Count yourself lucky you're in a different house. You don't have to see it every single day." she groans. "You could've been in Ravenclaw too. You chose Gryffindor." I remind her. She flicks my forehead. "Hey! That's no way to treat your big sister!" I whine.
I hug my parents goodbye and hop onto the train. I'm immediately snatched up by Daphne and Padma. "Hermione told us you agreed to five years." Padma giggles. "It was hardly fair! He waited until I was asleep to pester me again." I scoff. They giggle and I fold my arms. "Just ask already and stop giggling!" I huff. "Can we be your bridesmaids?!" they ask at the same time. I nod and they shriek loudly. I plug my ears until they've tired themselves out.
Blaise and Justin come to collect them as the train pulls into the station and I gladly hand them over. Theo is leaning against the door when I look up again. "I could hear their shrieking all the way down the train. Did you tell them the good news?" he teases. "What good news? Oh, yeah. I told them that my parents approved my tattoos." I smile and walk past him. "Lia, darling, that's not what I meant!" he pouts.
He hugs me and kisses my cheek. "Five years. Didn't you tell them they were going to be bridesmaids? That you were changing your name? You already promised to move in with me after graduation. Are you messing with me Amelia?" he whispers. "Of course. I was a bit bored since you didn't come and say hi." I turn to him. "My apologies Lia. I didn't want to interrupt your free time with your friends. Besides, Blaise and I normally spend most of our time with our girlfriends so it was nice to catch up." he pinches my cheek.
I go to walk to the carriages and he grabs my hand. "Five years." he whispers holding the ring up to the light. I wrap my arms around him. "Have you already started planning with my parents?" I wonder. He looks away a guilty expression on his face. "You have! What did you plan mister?" I demand. Theo guides me to carriage with our friends and we climb in.
"What'd he do?" Hermione wonders as I walk with her up to the school. "I just found out that Mr. Theodore Nott back there has already started planning our wedding with mum and dad's help." I turn and shoot Theo a look. He looks away and I turn back to Hermione. "He won't even tell me what he's planned and then he handed me this note from mum and dad that says they will be planning the entire thing themselves." I huff.
"Whoa, does that mean mum is the only planning the wedding and bridesmaids' dresses?" she claps her hands excitedly. I stop walking, fold my arms, and frown at her. "Sorry." she giggles. We walk in arm in arm to the Great Hall for hot cocoa. "Theo looks like a lost puppy." Daphne mumbles. I look over my shoulder and sure enough he's pouting and throwing looks my way. My pendant keeps buzzing and I sigh.
A quick rummage through my bag and I find the box I'm looking for. I tap it with my wand and it floats over to Theo who opens it curiously. "Another box of butterbeer flavored treats." I explain when Daphne tilts her head in question. The pendant starts to buzz more to the point where my friends notice. "Aww, you made him cry!" Padma points. I turn and Theo is indeed crying. I shoot them apologetic looks and race over to him.
Blaise and Justin are staring in amazement. I hug Theo from behind and he starts crying harder. "Did you bite your tongue trying to inhale the sweets again?" I ask. He nods and Justin and Blaise burst out laughing falling off their seats in the process. "Theo, everything IN the box is edible. You need to be careful love." I giggle. Theo whines and comforts himself with butterbeer cotton candy. I kiss his cheek and return to my friends wiping the tears of laughter from my eyes.
"He bit his tongue in rush to eat." I explain. Hermione turns in shock and Daphne puts her head on the table to hide her laughter. Padma falls off her seat giggling. After we warm ourselves up Hermione runs up to the library. Daphne and Padma leave with Justin and Blaise barely containing their laughter. Theo pouts holding his box of goodies.
I hold out my hand and he takes it leading me through the corridors. We wind up back where he first brought up getting married in five years. I straddle his lap and nuzzle his neck. "What?" he mumbles. "Can you tell me what you've planned?" I wonder. "No, it's a surprise." he chuckles. I lean back enough to look at him. "Please!" I whine. He kisses me softly. "No, no, and no." he smirks. "Then I'm withholding your birthday present until you tell me." I smirk.
He gawks at me and starts to object. I rest my head on his shoulder and hum softly. He lifts my chin and blink at him. He cups my face and kisses me. I try to get away but he wraps an arm around me keeping me in place. I give in with a sigh and place my hands on his shoulders.