5 YEARS LATER

The years following the battle changed the way pureblood society ran itself. But that didn't translate to all parts of life. I was still being pressured by my parents to get married to a suitable pureblood boy. It was because of them being the way they are that I hadn't told them about me and Blaise. I already knew what they would have said if they'd known. They'd have told me to get pregnant and marry him.

Blaise had no idea that I hadn't told my parents yet and I hadn't broached the subject with him. I was just worried that they'd say something to him that made him think he had to propose to me. Or even worse, if it made him break up with me. Besides, I could just gently break the news to my parents if we ever did get engaged.

Or rather that had been the plan.

I hadn't expected Blaise to find out, let alone to confront me in the middle of a wedding reception. I had been talking to one of the bridesmaids just a minute ago only to be pulled away by Blaise to a secluded part of the venue. Now I was standing in front of a pouting six foot something Italian, desperately avoiding his eyes.

"Were you ever going to tell me?" He asked, eventually giving up on his pouting. I met his eye briefly and looked away, snagging a champagne flute from one of the passing waiters. "I'm taking that as a no then."

"How did you even find out?" I asked taking a sip of the champagne.

"Your father approached me." He lowered his voice as a group of women passed us by, their eyes flickering inquisitively between the two of us. "He wanted me to see if I could set you up with Draco because I'm friends with the two of you. Can you imagine how shocked I was? The father of my girlfriend asking me to set my girlfriend up with my best friend!"

"Blaise," I started placatingly, reaching out to put a hand on his arm. He shook it off.

"Just answer a question of mine." He looked down at me, the weight of his stare rooting me to the spot. I nodded. "Are you ashamed to be dating me? Because I'm nothing like Draco?"

"Of course I'm not!" I exclaimed, stepping closer to him. "How can you even think that? Merlin's beard Blaise, if you were like Draco then we wouldn't have made it passed the first month, let alone last five years."

There was a smile playing on his lips. "Really?"

I nodded, smiling back, "Really. You of all people should know that Draco's not my type."

"And just what is your type then?" An arm was slung around my waist, pulling into a broad chest.

Fingering one of the buttons on his shirt, I looked up at him. "Brooding Italians who turn pouty the moment they don't get what they want."

Blaise chuckled, leaning down to press a kiss to my lips. Pulling back a fraction to mumble against my lips, "I don't pout."

"Oh please," I muttered, pulling completely away from him. "You're the king of pouting."

Blaise was silent again and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. He was only this silent when he was overthinking things. I nudged him in the side to snap him out of his thoughts.

"What are you thinking about now?"

"You didn't explain why you haven't told your parents yet." And the pout was back.

"Because the moment that my parents found out, they would start hounding you to marry me."

"And that's a problem because?"

I rolled my eyes, nudging him slightly. "Be serious for a moment here Blaise."

"I am being serious."

With that he took the champagne flute from my hand and tipped the rest of its content down his throat. Signalling a waiter he picked up a glass of fire whiskey and my eyes widened.

"Blaise," I protested, moving to take the glass from him. "Are you trying to get drunk? You know what fire whiskey does to you!"

"I also know that it's liquid courage," he replied, tipping the liquid down his throat before I could snatch it away from him.

"And you need liquid courage because?"

"Because I'm going over to your father and offering for your hand." He said as if he was discussing the weather.

"Blaise!" I hissed after him but he ignored me and started to walk away. Catching his arm, I forced him to look back at him. "Don't do this because you think you have to."

His eyes narrowed at me. Using his free hand he rummaged through his pocket. Taking something out from it, he threw it towards me and I caught it with two hands. I stared down at the black velvet box in my hands in shock. Slowly raising my eyes to meet Blaise's I tightened my hold on the box.

"I've been carrying that around with me for over a year now," he announced casually, fixing his robes. "Now if you'll excuse me."

He disappeared off into the room and I opened the box slowly, taking in the beautiful ring nestled inside. I scanned the room, looking for him to tell him off. My words died in my throat when I saw him approaching my father. The two men started a quiet conversation which they continued as they made their way to the edge of the room.

Looking back down at the ring, I let out a deep breath. I snapped the box shut.

He did not just propose to me by throwing the ring at me.