The last Hollingworth - a Hogwarts Story

A wedding and a proposal

It was the day of my brothers wedding.
He was so incredibly nervous it was annoying.
He looked in the mirror every two seconds.
I really had the urge to slap him.

This was really not my kind of occasion.
Too many people.
But it was for him.

„Get yourself together Mattheo."

I blaffed at him.

„Let him be mate"

Theo chuckled out of the corner.

„Yeah Tom. He's nervous. You would be to"

Enzo said checking his tie in the mirror.

„Nonesense."

I replied dry.

„Oh come on. It's about time you propose to Elli"

Theo grinned.

„Mind your business Nott! A wedding is a shallow affair. It's just a big party."

I huffed.
I really saw no point in it.
It was a shallow promise.
Nothing more.

They all rolled their eyes.

It was finally time.
We gathered in the garden of our parents mansion.
It was all decorated and neatly planned.
We were first there.

Mattheo had made all of us his best man.
All matching in deep green suits.
After some time the bridesmaids arrived.

My breath got stuck in my throat as I saw Elli.
I saw this woman every day and she seemed to get more and more beautiful with each one.

They all wore matching deep green dresses.
She looked amazing.
It looked like the first ever dress I had bought her.
It woke memories I didn't even knew I had.

Her smile at this party.
Her sparkling eyes as I asked her to the Yule ball.
The same sparkling eyes that looked over to me right now.
This deep captivating blue.
Half of her hair tied up with a matching bow.
The rest of her golden hair falling over her shoulders.
How could someone be so perfect.
She smiled bright over to me and blew me a kiss.
I couldn't help but to smile.

I had totally forgotten everything around me till the music started playing and Pansy walked down the aisle.
She looked stunning.
In a very outgoing white dress.
I could see Mattheo cry like a baby.
My mind wandered off.
I couldn't concentrate on the ceremony.
All I could see was Elli standing there.
With her smile as she followed the ceremony.

My mind couldn't help but imagine her in a white dress.
Standing there and looking at me with those eyes.

This women did things with my mind that I couldn't explain.
I just stared at her the whole time.
I was just not interested in the whole show.

I tagged along the whole time till we finally had all the official stuff over.
After they announced that the party would start I searched for Elli.
But she found me first.

„Nice suit Riddle"

I heard a sweet voice behind me.

„Looking for someone?"

She grinned.

„I was searching for the most beautiful woman on this wedding. I think I found her"

I smiled and pulled her towards me.

„You look so gorgeous my love"

I murmured against her lips.

„Have you seen yourself? Can't believe you're my man"

she smiled.

I couldn't get the image of her walking down that aisle out of my head.
It would consume me.
But I had to think about something greater.
No shallow promise.
I wanted a much stronger bond.

But first I had to propose to her.
I was never a man to endulge in such things.

Elli had been deeply involved in Mattheos proposal but I knew for sure how much she disliked his kind of proposal.
In front of everyone.
With so much drama.

So I planned something better for her.
Some days after Mattheos and Pansys wedding I was waiting for her to get home from work.

Normally I would arrive home way after her.
But I had taken the day off just to set this up.

I had given my best to cook her favourite food, I had plastered the whole house with all kinds of flowers I knew she loved, candles everywhere.

I knew she wouldn't directly suspect anything.
I had discovered some sort of romantic in me over the years.
Not because I liked it.
Simply because it made her happy.
Seeing her sparkling eyes and her little happy jumps were everything for me.

As she entered the house I could already hear her giggle.
She peaked inside the living room and smiled bright.

„hello my love"

I said sweet.

„And with what have I deserved it this time?"

she asked sweet and jumped into my arms.

„A very special occasion this time"

I murmured against her neck.

„Ohhhh."

she purred.
Oh she had no idea.
Initially I wanted to wait till we had eaten but seeing her already so excited gave me the confidence I needed.

„You know I don't think much of such shallow promises. And I know we don't need such things. But I wanna make you mine once and for all. Not only by heart. By blood and by name"

I sunk down on one knee and pulled out a small box with a ring.

„Elisabeth Avalia Hollingworth. Will you marry me and let me make you a real Riddle?"

She stared at me for a solid minute.
I thought for a second she would have a heart attack.
But then she bursted out in tears and jumped.

„Yes! YES! Oh my god yes!"

I slipped the ring on her finger and got up.
In one swift motion I lifted her up with me and pulled her into a deep kiss.

After she had gathered herself and stopped crying she stared at the ring.

„I would have never expected this Tom. I always thought you would dislike weddings"

„I do. These are pathetic promises the most people break. But I can't stand not being able to call you my wife. I want you to have my name. To belong to me"

She smiled sweet.

„You know I don't like classic weddings that much as well. I'm sure we will find our own kind of wedding. To make me miss Riddle once and for all"

She smiled.