Okay, I know this chapter came in majorly late ... I apologize! :'(
"That one?"
"No, that's too simple."
"What about this one, sir?"
"Most definitely not."
"This, sir?"
"No -"
"Malfoy!"
He turned to her, "Keep it down, will you?"
She pouted and stomped her feet, "Aren't these supposed to be our wedding rings? In which we both decide which to choose?"
"Sir, won't you just show me the most precious rings - I don't care how expensive it is, I swear to you, I will be able to afford it."
The man nodded annoying and went into the backroom.
"Stop ignoring me, would you? It's really getting on my nerves."
Draco sat down on the leather couch and started reading the latest edition of the Daily Prophet, "Hey, the price of cabbages just went down - See, I knew they were bad vegetables."
"Why, you insolent bastard," Hermione mumbled.
Draco looked up at her with his grey-white eyes, rather shocked, "Did you just curse? Such a naughty potty-mouth, aren't we?"
"I wouldn't need to use such vulgar language with anyone but you! I want us to pick out our rings together, Malfoy; I'm apart of this marriage, too, y'know."
Draco groaned and got up from the couch, dropping the Daily Prophet, and walked up to Hermione, taking her my the shoulders. He stared into her eyes, and he couldn't tell if they contained anger or agitation. He sighed and turned to around to face the counter as the man returned with a case, "Fine, but if your idea of the perfect ring is too simple, I'm taking the most expensive one - I cannot go around in public with a commoner's ring, Granger."
"Really, Malfoy?" she taunted as she removed his hands from her shoulder, walking up to the counter, "I'm pretty sure my sense in jewelry will satisfy your rather large ego, but that's just my opinion."
"Mister Malfoy, Miss Malfoy, in this case are the finest diamond rings in all of the wizarding land, if this doesn't satisfy you, I've no idea what would," he spoke as he opened the clear case and revealed four sets of gorgeous rings.
Hermione looked at all of them carefully, but one pair in particular caught her eye immediately.
"It's not polite to stare, even if what you're staring at is a ring, Granger," Draco teased as he stood beside her.
"It's not polite to interrupt one's thoughts either, Draco."
He smirked, she had a point there, but he wouldn't admit it - it's in the Malfoy genes. He looked at her concentrated posture, the way her eyes scrolled down every detail of each ring, wanting to know which was the one for her. He didn't want to admit it, but he wouldn't go against what she wanted - even if she wanted the most hideous ring in the universe, he'd purchase it. Why? - Who knows, only Draco did, that's for sure.
"I like that one," Hermione pointed to a wedding band with what looked like to be about seven diamonds - gorgeously defined.
Draco peered over her shoulder and chuckled, "Y'know, I usually wouldn't care, but I sure would hope you were a female - that's a men's ring, genius," he teased.
"Isn't that what I was supposed to do?" she snapped, turning her head to face him, just inches away form his face.
He started at her - bewildered, "What are you rambling on about?"
Hermione crossed her arms, "Well, isn't the bride supposed to pick the groom's wedding band?" she asked innocently.
He peered down at his wedding band she had taken the time to pick out.
And all along I thought she was picking her own band; no, what am I thinking - she did this on her own accord, I never told her to do such a thing. But here I was, silently taunting and teasing her about her gender and whatnot's.
Hermione blushed at the close range they were both in so she scooted away, "I'll - I'll be outside; I need fresh air."
She turned on her heel, her hair touching his neck and quickly moved away with the body. He walked up to the counter and picked up the ring she had picked out for him - he had to admit, she did have taste, very good taste. He placed the ring to the side and asked for it to be measured according to his size. As the man measured his ring finger - rather carefully - Draco looked over the other rings and found one particularly simple, but at the same time, it was extravagant. It was a platinum band with five diamonds - simply put, it was stunning, and alongside her beauty, it'd be perfection. He held the ring at the sunshine from the window, admiring its shimmer. At that time, the automatic door opened and Hermione stepped in.
"Do you like the ring? I tried to pick the nicest one; I liked that one particularly because - I don't know, it just looked like it'd fit you, I suppose," Hermione stammered as she approached him, "Hey, that's not the ring I chose!"
Draco smirked, "Keep it down; I chose this ring for you. I thought it was simple enough."
Hermione reached up and pulled his wrist down so she could see the ring, "You call this simple? This is completely unnecessary; five diamonds is simply too much, Malfoy."
He chuckled, "And seven diamonds on my ring is just right? Don't contradict yourself, Granger."
She pouted and held her hand out for the man to measure her ring finger. Draco placed both rings to the side and looked at them - they did look nice together.
"Sir, miss, both of your measurements are complete. Would you like the rings delivered to you or will you pick them up?" the man asked.
"Hermione, there's nothing more that you're needed here for; why don't you head outside?"
Hermione awkwardly nodded and walked outside, baffled that he had called her by her first name.
Draco turned to the man, "Have them delivered to the Malfoy residence when they are ready; designate them to Narcissa Malfoy, she'll take care of them."
Draco continued to look through the rings.
"Is there something else you need, Mister Malfoy?"
He continued to peer over the rings, "You wouldn't happen to have sapphire engagement rings, would you?"
The man turned around and took out a case, "You're lucky, these just came in today."
"Fabulous," Draco mumbled as he looked through them - they were all beautiful.
His eyes finally set on one he fancied; it was an eternity ring, around the band were alternating diamonds and sapphires.
"Can I have that one?"
"Certainly; would you like this one delivered as well?" the man asked as he rubbed the ring with a cloth.
"No, actually, would you by any chance have a necklace chain?"
"Yes, I do, a moment, please."
Draco held the sapphire ring and took the chain when it was given to him. He looped the ring through the necklace chain and closed the clasp, "Thank you; how much will that be?"
"Two thousand and thirty galleons, Mister Malfoy."
Draco took out a pouch and gave it to the man, "There's twenty extra galleons in there; my mother warned me it'd cost that much. Keep the change."
He slipped the necklace into his pocket and walked out the door, leaving a rather happy salesman behind. Draco stepped out of the shop and saw Hermione sitting on a bench, waiting rather patiently for him. As he walked up to her, she got up, "What took you so long?"
He put his hand in his pocket and shrugged, "Turn around."
Her brows furrowed together, "Why?"
"Just do it, would you?"
She obeyed and turned around, her arms crossed, obviously annoyed.
"Close your eyes, don't peak, and if you do, I'll hex you so you'll be blind for the next two weeks," Draco stated as he stood behind her, his hand grasping the necklace gently; he chuckled when he heard her groan, "Okay, they're closed."
He rounded the necklace around her head and gently placed it on her necklace - he couldn't tell if she gasped because of the cool-ness of the metal or because she was surprised. He closed the clasp and turned her around, surprised to see that her eyes were still closed.
"You can open your eyes now, y'know, Granger."
He held her by the shoulders as her eyes opened and looked down at her necklace. She touched it as if it'd break, "What - What's this?"
He smirked, "It's a thing called a necklace with a ring on it."
"You dolt, I know what it is, but why?"
"How should I know why they call it a 'necklace' or a 'ring'?" he teased.
"You're being amazingly stubborn about this, y'know," Hermione accused.
He released his grip from her shoulders and fingered the ring, "Well, let's just say that you saved me time from choosing my own ring."
Her eyes widened, "You bought me another ring because of that?"
"Well, that and the fact that you didn't have an engagement ring."
Hermione blushed and turned her face to the side, "That was - was really nice of you, Draco," she said softly.
"I had the galleons, Granger. Now, come along, I'm sure you're hungry, that took an awfully long while."
He was about to take hold of her hand and place it around his arm when she stopped him by holding onto his wrists, "I really meant it, it was nice of you; no-body's ever really done that for me."
"Well, this is your first time getting engaged, Granger; I couldn't go around with my fiancee - even if it is an arranged marriage - without one," Draco explained.
He looked down at her and before he knew it, the gap between them was closed. It was slow at first, with her lips just slightly against his own, but temptation gradually played its role. He didn't care that they were in public and possibly every witch and wizard was staring at the royally engaged couple or the fact that this would be all over the Daily Prophet. He took her by the waist gently and pulled her towards him, deepening everything. He felt her hands run from his wrists to chest, he felt her soft lips on his, and he felt his heart pounding against his rib cage.
"Hermione?!"
The two broke apart and stared at each other before turning to look at the passerby. With her cheeks flushed and her ragged breathing, he was tempted once again - he wanted her, but he knew he couldn't compare the the ever-long friendship of Ronald Weasley, whom was staring at them with his mouth agape and eyes wide.
Cliffie! :D
Here are the rings :) My treat to you.
Replace all the DOT's with periods and delete all and any spaces.
Draco's wedding ring ~ http://www DOT bluenile DOT com/diamond-ring-platinum-mens_1116?show_all_pages=1
Hermione's wedding ring ~ http://www DOT bluenile DOT com/platinum-blue-nile-signature-ideal-cut-diamond-ring_5707?sort=HTLP&show_all_pages=1
Hermione's engagement ring from Draco (the one on the necklace) ~ http://www DOT bluenile DOT com/sapphire-diamond-eternity-ring_8573?rf=pd
Again, if these links do not work, E-Mail me and I will send you a link from there; LoveAngel641[at]yahoo[dot]com .
Review, review, review; they make my day :)