Cordelia Lyra Malfoy had always been different from the rest of her family. Her family were blood-supremacists who tried to teach their views to their children. Cordelia never believed with their views and would be punished for it.
She never felt a...
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At fifteen minutes before midnight on Christmas Eve, Fred snuck through the quiet house full of sleeping people to Cordelia's room. He always considered apparating into her room, but he knew that his sudden appearance while she slept would most likely frighten her. He was getting good at being quiet in this house, having learned where all the creaky floorboards were.
It wouldn't have mattered if Fred had apparated or entered through the door this night. Arthur's recent attack had left Cordelia feeling more paranoid the longer they stayed in the house without the father figure there. She shot up in bed with her wand raised toward the door when she heard it creak open. She sighed in relief, placing a hand in her chest, and lowering her wand when she saw it was her boyfriend.
"Freddie, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice in a whisper. Fred chuckled at the startled witch as he softly closed the door.
"I wanted to keep our tradition of giving you your gift right before midnight on Christmas Eve," he answered as he walked closer to the bed. Cordelia smiled as she scooted over to the side of the bed, giving Fred a place to sit next to her, the duvet resting at her waist.
"You've only done that once," she commented.
"And if I keep doing it, it'll be tradition," Fred replied with a chuckle. He pulled a small box out of his pocket before pulling back the duvet and sitting next to her.
"So, what is it?" Cordelia asked as she nudged him, looking at the box.
"Oh.. Umm..I-" Fred stammered, suddenly at a loss of words. "I had a whole speech prepared, but I guess I'm not so good with words... So, here."
Cordelia took the box out of Fred's outstretched hand and opened the attached lid, revealing a ring with a simple gold band with a small diamond-like stone in the middle.
"Fred," Cordelia gasped and turned to him with wide-eyes. Fred looked at her with a mix of disappointment and nervousness, trying to read her emotions. "It's beautiful and I love it, and I love you... But I'm not ready for an engagement."
Fred sucked in a breath. "It is definitely not an engagement ring... But it is a step in that direction. It's a promise ring. I love you Cordelia and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. This ring is to symbolize a promise that I will propose to you one day, when we're ready. It's a promise that we'll plan our futures with the other in mind, that we'll stick together no matter what."
"Fred... I love it. It's perfect," said Cordelia, with tears in her eyes. "And I accept your promise, and I make the same promise... But-"
"Before you say it's too much, the diamond isn't real. It's a muggle stone, made to look like a diamond, called cubic zirconia. I would have gotten you something big and flashy, but this seemed more like you. George agreed, and Bill helped pick it out through letters."
