December 20: 2025
5 days until Christmas…
"Try this," Rose giggled, shoving a bedazzled Santa hat onto Scorpius' blond hair.
He struck a pose in front of the full length mirror and whispered out of the corner of his mouth. "I think the clerk thinks I have issues."
Rose glanced behind her at the young witch at the front counter, who, sure enough, was giving them funny looks through her dark blue bangs.
"I think you have issues, too." Rose stood on tiptoe and kissed him. "But in a good way. Oh, and if I were you, I'd ditch the hat." She pulled it off his head and tossed it back onto the cardboard display.
"C'mon," Scorpius put an arm around her shoulders. "We promised we'd meet Albus and Julie back in the Leaky Cauldron and we're already late."
They strolled down the cobblestone street of Diagon Alley, snow dusting the slanted roofs of shops overhead.
"There you are," Julie said, setting her Butterbeer on the table. "I was beginning to think you two accidentally wandered into Knockturn Alley."
"Or maybe took a detour," Albus said, raising his eyebrows suggestively and smirking.
Rose took off her coat and draped it on the back of a chair. "For your information, we were sidetracked."
"Oh, really?" Albus asked sardonically.
Rose turned to Julie. "Make your boyfriend stop being perverted."
"He's your cousin!"
Scorpius stopped a waitress nearby and ordered drinks for himself and Rose.
"So, done with Christmas shopping?" Albus asked as the waitress scurried away.
Scorpius snuck a glance at Rose, who was chatting animatedly with Julie. "Not really. There's something else I have to get."
Albus, as thick as he could be sometimes, caught on quickly. "Hey, why don't we go check out Weasley's Wizard Wheezes?"
"'Kay, I haven't seen Roxy in forever!" Julie gathered up her bags.
Rose turned to Scorpius. "Are you coming?"
"I have a little more shopping to do," Scorpius said, waving her off. "Go have fun. I'll meet you there later."
He drained the last dregs of his Gillywater and reentered Diagon Alley, checking both ways to make sure he wasn't being followed.
A wizard pushing a large cart covered in black cloth hurried by. Scorpius ducked behind it, following it to Diagon Alley's south side.
Paragon's Fine Jewelry, the sign beckoned loudly. Beneath the curly writing, a wooden diamond shape swayed in the wind.
He entered the store with his heart feeling like he'd just finished an overly-exerting Quidditch game.
"Good morning," the wizard behind the counter said. He pushed his round glasses up his nose. "How may I be of assistance?"
"I, er, uh," Scorpius mumbled. "I'm looking for a ring."
The storekeeper perused through a few trays beneath the counter. "Anything specific in mind?"
"It's an engagement ring," Scorpius confessed. "For my girlfriend."
"Ah," the old man's face, creased with age, broke out into a smile. "What's her name?"
"Rose."
"She pretty?" he asked, placing two wooden trays on the glass counter and motioning Scorpius forward for a closer look.
Scorpius ran his hand over the multicolored gems. "Very. The prettiest girl you've ever seen."
"And now you have to find a ring to match, eh?"
"Yeah, something like that. Won't be easy though." Scorpius smiled, feeling already at ease.
"Any limit on price?" the man behind the counter asked.
Scorpius shook his head. "Just tell me whatever it costs to buy the perfect ring, and I'll pay for it."
The man nodded approvingly. "Alright, then. These here are marked at over a hundred Galleons."
Scorpius browsed through the selection. Too tacky. Too flashy. Too gold. Too silver.
He pushed away the first tray and started sifting through the second. Ugly. Clunky. Small. Big. Wide. Thin. He started to move the tray aside when another ring snagged in the lining caught his eye. "How much for this one?"
"Hundred Galleons and ten Sickles."
"I'll take it."
OMR! (Oh My Rowling) I cheated you out of seeing the proposal! Jk. Review and you'll get it in the next chapter.