Chapter Nineteen

Draco watched Taryn's mouth open and close with a smirk. She began to cough, and he reached over to the bedside table to hand her the glass of ice water that was sitting there. He was helpful like that.

Taryn guzzled the water greedily as she tried to piece together her thoughts.

"A diamond?" She asked hoarsely. "As in a diamond ring?"

"That's what one generally gives one's fiance," Draco drawled.

Taryn's eyes went huge. "Draco we are too young to get married."

Draco snorted. "My parents got married right out of Hogwarts. So do many other couples."

"We haven't even graduated," Taryn said quickly, latching on to the statement that he had provided.

"That doesn't matter. We don't have to be married right away, but we do have to be engaged," he said.

"Why? Why do we have to be engaged?" She asked bluntly.

" You don't want to marry me? You trying to hurt my feelings baby?" Draco asked lowly, his tone almost caressing her skin.

"Don't even try it. That sexy tone isn't going to get you very far. We are still getting to know each other! We could be dead tomorrow for Merlin's sake!"

"Precisely, which is why we need to get married. We've decided that we are going to be together no matter what right?"

"Well, yes," Taryn allowed.

"Then what's the problem? You said you loved me. Generally, when you risk life and limb, not to mention proclaiming love, marriage doesn't seem like such a far off conclusion."

"Yeah, but that isn't your only reason. Stop stalling and tell me why," Taryn said grumpily.

"Okay. If we are going to be together, and I mean for real this time, not some undercover shit, then we are going to have to make it known. Hogwarts isn't enough. If we are going to do this then I have to make sure that you are as safe as possible. If I make us public then Voldemort will think twice about coming after you. If you are important, and baby you so are, then you can't just be my lover. A lover isn't protected. A fiance or a wife has more of a claim to safety. I'll only have to worry about Voldemort instead of half of the other fuckin' Deatheaters."

"So you don't really want to marry me?" Taryn asked quietly. She couldn't believe herself. On one hand, marrying Draco seemed pretty outlandish, but in her innermost depths, she wanted it. "You just want to marry this body." She looked away from him, in sudden shyness. She didn't want to see the truth in his eyes.

At his soft curse she looked back into his face, startled at the intensity she found burning in his eyes, before her eyes dropped once more.

"Taryn...Hermione...look at me baby," his hand reached out to take her own.

She looked back into his eyes, and his smiled softly when her blue eyes connected with his.

"I've been with a lot of girls, I can't lie about it. You know it and I know it, but I want you to know one thing. I might be putting a ring on your finger because of extenuating circumstances, but that is not the only reason. I trust you. I trust you more than I've ever trusted anyone else. I tell you more than I tell my brother, and I know that you can deal with it. That body that you have, while nice, isn't what makes me want to be with you. I didn't really know Tracey, but I'd have never let her in like I've let you in. I wouldn't have wanted her like I want you. I've never wanted another girl like I want you. I cherish what makes you you. Fuck, baby, I want to go to sleep every night with you in my arms, and wake up with you every morning. I want to cook you meals and watch you dance. I want you in the crowds when I fight when the energy is high, and sitting next to me while it ebbs away. And if we are standing in rubble and the end of all this, if we die, I want to go with my hand in yours."

Taryn hadn't realized that she was crying until a hot tear fell against their joined hands. He really did love her. He'd said everything but the words. The best part was that he loved her for her, not for this body. She hadn't realized just how much it bothered her that she'd thought that he wouldn't love her for herself, and here he was telling her that he loved the her inside, not the Tracey outer shell.

'Now, I realize that it wasn't the most romantic of proposals, and its earlier than I thought I'd ever do it, but its still real. So, will you marry me?" He asked seriously.

She brought his hand to her mouth, kissing it gently, before she nodded. For better or for worse, she was tied to this man and it was more than a ring and more than ink on parchment. It was real, and it was forever.

0o0

Taryn knew that Nigel and Jillian were going to hit the roof when they found out that she was engaged.

When she asked Draco how he thought his mother was going to react he had smirked and said, "Mum is going to want to plan our entire wedding."

Taryn had gawked at him a moment before asking, "She won't care that you are going to marry a half-blood? What if we tell her that I'm not even really a half-blood? That I'm muggle born?"

"She wont care. She isn't like my father about those things," Draco said seriously, "Its going to take a lot for her to wait until after the war to even begin planning the wedding, but she'll have to restrain herself."

"And your father?" Taryn asked.

"I don't give a fuck what he thinks or says," Draco said.

"What if he disinherits you?"

"He won't. We put up with each other. I deal with him for my mother's sake. He tolerates me because I'm his only heir. I don't need him financially. I've made plenty money fighting, and I've invested wisely. We could easily live off just the interest of my investments. It wouldn't be like at Malfoy Manor, or even Davis status, but we would be comfortable," he said.

"Money isn't a big deal," Taryn said. "I wasn't poor coming up, but my parents were far from rich, so it really isn't an issue."

"It's just important to me that you know that I can take care of you," Draco said firmly. "After school I'd always planned to move in with my brother, but we can get our own place. I mean, if you want."

"We can do that," Taryn said softly. "Is fighting what you want to do with your life?" she asked curiously.

"For a while, yes. I'm still pretty young, but someday I might want to go pro. Eventually though, I want to help train other fighters. You remember Willy and Steph?"

Taryn nodded.

"Well," Draco continued, "They want to eventually open their own legally licensed gym and they've just as much said that Rico and I can come work for them someday. That's something that I plan to look into," he said looking at her, wanting to see her reaction to the news that he fully intended to make his life in the fighting world.

Taryn smiled. "If that's what you want to do, I'm all for it. It must be nice knowing exactly what you want to do."

"You don't?" Draco asked. She had always seemed like the type of girl that would know exactly what she wanted to do.

"Well, before I...died," Taryn said quietly, "I had planned to work for the ministry, or teach maybe. Now, well I'm not so sure."

"What about dancing? You seem pretty serious about it," Draco said.

"I like dancing, really I guess I love it, but I'm not going to make it my career. Does it bother you that I'm so undecided?"

"No. What you went through, baby, I'm sure its changed your perspective on life. Shit, I know it has, otherwise you wouldn't be with me," he laughed. "As long as you're happy then I'm behind you one hundred."

"What do you think about children?" Taryn asked.

Draco's eyes widened in horror, before looking pointedly down at her abdomen.

Taryn burst out laughing. "Don't get scared. I'm not pregnant. I just want to know what you think about them in general."

Draco sighed in relief before his thoughts turned to her question. He'd always considered kids in the abstract, something other people had, but not something for him. He liked them, but he'd never been sure about whether or not he wanted them for himself. Now that Taryn had brought them up, well he had to consider the possibility.

He couldn't stop the question from leaving his mouth. "Do you want them?"

Taryn fidgeted on the bed next to him. "Someday, I would like to have at least one."

"At least one?"

"Okay, I definitely want to have at least one, but no more than three."

The visions in Draco's mind of he and Taryn visiting exotic places now had more members. He imagined a small boy with his grey eyes and her cinnamon hair. Or a little fair haired girl with her vivid blue eyes. It surprised him that he didn't immediately balk at the idea. In fact, he rather liked the thought of her belly softly swelling with his child.

When Taryn nudged him, he realized that he had been silent for far too long. "We can have kids someday, baby," he said. "But not for awhile," he added quickly.

Taryn grinned. "Well I wasn't suggesting tomorrow, " she laughed. She remembered his reaction the first time they had made love, and she hadn't been sure about his stance on children. She was glad that he wasn't adverse to the idea.

"We'd better get up and get going if we are going to get this engagement underway," she said.

"We're already engaged. We just need the ring, but you're right. We have to get some food too, cuz I'm starving. First we get you some new clothes, then food, then the ring. After that we have to go talk to our parents," Draco said.

"We should probably hit my parents first," Taryn said grimacing.

0o0

"Don't they only let you browse in here at certain times?" Taryn asked hesitantly, as they stepped out of the taxi. She looked at the slightly intimidating facade of Harvey Nichols. It was slightly after noon and Taryn was sure that browsing hours were over.

"My family has a standing appointment," Draco said laughing.

Sure enough as soon as they entered the store an employee intercepted them swiftly.

Taryn soon found herself clothed in slim fitting designer jeans, and yellow cashmere sweater with a maroon leather jacket topping it, and cute leather and suede matching boots.

"Next the ring," Draco whispered in her ear. He knew these employees and that if they had a juicy secret they wouldn't hesitate to spill it to each other. It would be only a matter of time before it got back to his mother, and he didn't want them spilling the beans before he even bought the ring.

Taryn sighed. They would have to go to Diagon Alley to purchase the ring, and though she knew that that was the easiest way for news to travel, she was still leery.

0o0

She pushed down her nervousness with effort as they watched the familiar brick wall fold back upon itself.

They headed directly for Payne & Co.

Payne & Co. was Diagon Alley's, and therefore London's wizarding society's premier jeweler. The shop was said to have designed the crown of King Arthur himself, and was the place to that anyone who was anyone patronized.

The shop itself was beautiful, with highly polished wooden floors, and spotless crystal display cased that housed their insanely priced wares.

As soon as they entered the shop a young, impeccably dressed witch approached them. She was wearing a smart set of cherry red robes which matched the shade slicked upon her lips. Her shiny brown hair was pinned atop her head in artful curls and she smiled at them in welcome.

"Welcome to Payne & Company. My name is Helene. Is there anything that I can assist you with?" she smiled, batting her eyes at Draco.

Taryn wanted to cheer inside when he merely gave the woman a glance before stating, "Yes, my name is Draco Malfoy. Is Mr. Payne in by any chance?"

Helene went business-like at once. "Of course sir. One moment please."

The girl hurried toward a doorway off to the left, coming back with a short, portly man with smiling brown eyes.

"If it isn't young Mr. Malfoy! Are you here to find something special for that delightful mother of yours?" Mr. Payne asked.

"Not today," Draco said, grasping Taryn's hand in his. "I've come, well my fiance and I, have come to find an engagement ring. May I introduce you to Tracey Taryn Davis."

"Davis?" Payne tapped a finger against his mouth as he pretended to try and recall where he had heard the name. "Are you, perhaps, the daughter of Nigel Davis?"

"I am," Taryn said.

Taryn watched the man goggle for a moment before puffing up with pride. "Ah, and you both have chosen my little shop," he asked in false modesty.

Taryn pushed back a giggle. She could practically see the man's mental tally marks as he calculated what Draco would have to spend even the most simple of engagement rings within the store.

"Of course," Draco flattered the man, "There isn't anywhere else we would consider." Draco also knew that since he hadn't mentioned privacy that Mr. Payne would let all and sundry know just who had purchased items in his shop and exactly the sort of items bought.

"Do you have a price range?" Payne asked politely.

"Money isn't an object. Whatever my Taryn wants," Draco said, laying on the flowering phrases.

Payne couldn't help clapping his hands in absolute glee. "Then please follow me," he said leading them down a side hall to a more private viewing room.

Draco knew that this was where the most high end of jewels were kept, and only certain names bought entry into this wing of the shop.

"Do you have a favorite color?" Payne asked.

Taryn opened her mouth to answer but was cut off by Draco. She was the tiniest bit irritated until he answered, "She likes yellow."

She glanced at him, with a smile.

"Well, you do," he said quietly. "What? You didn't think that I noticed? You gravitate to the color."

Payne watched the byplay between the young couple. They did look very much in love. He had been in this business since birth, taking over for his father before him, and he thought that he had a sharp eye toward the engagements, and the marriages that would last. He would wager that this relationship would stand the test of time.

"Well," Payne said quietly, "If money is indeed no object..." he walked behind a nearby curtain, coming back with a small blue velvet box.

He cracked the box open, revealing a beautiful yellow diamond ring. "This diamond is the last stone in existence that was once a part of the necklace that Queen Guinevere wore during her coronation. It is a five carat, radiant cut stone, set in the purest of platinum."

"How much is it?" Taryn asked curiously. She wanted that ring. She'd have never thought that she was the type of girl to go mental over a flashy stone, but it was something about this ring that was alluring, compelling, and she wanted it for her own.

When the man stated the price she wanted to tell him to close the box immediately. Over forty thousand Galleons! That was more than two hundred thousand pounds! It was with sheer strength of will that she was able to tamp down her inner panic.

She looked over at Draco with wide eyes to find that he was watching her with amusement.

"We'll take it," Draco said, directing his comment to Payne.

"Splendid! You will also want to add the matching wedding ring and groom's band as well, I should think," Payne said happily.

"Yes of course. The engagement ring Taryn will wear out, but we would like the other rings delivered to my vault at Gringotts for safekeeping."

"Of course, sir!" Payne said, before turning his attention to Taryn. "Please hold out your left hand, m'dear."

Taryn did so, proud of the fact that she didn't allow her hand to tremble.

Payne placed the ring on her finger, and aiming his wand at her hand, sized to fit her ring finger perfectly with a murmured spell.

"Now, if you will wait here, I will return with the bill of sale, and the statement from Gringotts," Payne said, leaving the room.

Taryn immediately turned her attention to Draco. "Are you sure about this? This ring," she said holding up her hand, "is...well the price is insane. It's too bloody expensive," she whispered quietly.

"It has to be outrageous to warrant more interest, and I can afford it. I know you like it. Be honest. You all but came in your knickers when you saw it, and frankly I'm a bit jealous. I thought you only had that reaction to me," Draco said in amusement.

Taryn rolled her eyes. "I do like it," she admitted, "but it is crazy expensive."

"Don't worry about it," Draco said lazily, leaning back into the comfortable couch were they sat.

He began tapping his foot. "Shit, I hope he hurries up. I'm starving!"

"Are you going to wear your wedding ring after we're married?" Taryn asked. She genuinely wanted to know. Not all men wanted to wear their wedding rings, and she hoped that he was the type that would. Draco wasn't the only one that could get jealous.

"Of course," he said, looking at her. "I wouldn't be buying it if I didn't intend to wear it," he said simply.

Taryn smiled at his perfect answer. It was so Draco. Blunt and to the point.

Payne soon came back to with their documents, and Taryn left the shop with one hand in Draco's and the other sporting the beautiful yellow diamond.