Everything Remains

Chapter 34-Always Have, Always Will

Stunned, Draco automatically stood up from his chair and exited the interrogation room. The muffled cries of his father could still be heard from a distance, uncomfortably paining his heart. 
Getting the support he needed from his mum was a shock, but comforting. She still loves him unconditionally. And that feels a hell of a lot better than the alternative. 

As soon as Draco exited the doorway, Harry bounded over to him and forced him into an embrace. 
"I could hear him from out here. I'm so sorry love." 
Draco sighed and buried his head into Harry's shoulder, inhaling his comforting scent. 
"I don't know what I was expecting from him. But somehow, not that." Draco lifted his head and gave a weak smile towards Harry. 
"Did you get what you needed at least?" 
"Yes. I got what I needed. And I can walk away from this knowing that my mother still cares, in her deeply depraved way." 
Harry's eyebrow quirked up, a confused look spreading across his face. 
"She.. she was okay. She was supportive in the way that she could be. Surprising me once again." 
Harry nodded, pulling Draco's hand into his softly. 

"Is there anything else you need while we're here Dray?" 
"No. But I do have some business to attend to in the city. Will you be okay heading back by yourself?" 
"I'll be fine, but will you? You're the one who just went through all of that." Harry gently caressed Draco's cheek. 
"I'm okay. Truly. I'll see you back at the castle?" 
Harry nodded, walking back to the ministry entrance as a group. 

As they departed back to Hogwarts, Harry had gave Draco one last quizzical look before heading to the portkey area. 
"I'm really okay, I promise. I won't be long after you." Draco reassured before waving and heading back down the cobbled road. He had some time left before Gringotts closed for the day. 

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Draco's shoes clipped neatly down the marble floor. His slicked back hair and infamous sneer put on the air that he means business and he is not to be messed with. 
Getting into the family vault was easy enough, but picking out which ring was difficult. Draco originally went in looking for his grandfather's ring, but spent some time looking through the vast collection of jewelry stashed away. 

A pewter ring caught his eye. The ring was embossed with a waving line around the entirety, creating the illusion of a river. Once touched, the "river" filled with cool green magic, so shimmering it looked liquid. 
The green was gorgeous; reminiscent of Harry's eyes. It was almost perfect, but Draco had a few ideas up his sleeve. 

Hence, why he was at Borgin and Burkes. After the war, Borgin and Burkes had struck up a deal to hand over dangerous, dark magic artifacts to the ministry to keep them safe and out of the wrong hands. In exchange, Borgin and Burkes could still operate, but with safer and approved magical objects. 
Draco knew they were the right people to go to for this.

"Draco my boy, I haven't seen you in a few years! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Borgin huffed as he rounded the large counter. 
"Borgin, I need your help with something. I think that you would be the perfect person for what I'm looking for." Without hesitation, Draco pulled out the ring he chose and presented it to Borgin. 
 "Ah! Mighty fine ring. I remember selling it to your father about 25 years ago. Didn't want any dark enchantments on it, surprisingly. What are you needing, boy?" 
"I have a few ideas. One, I would like to enchant the ring to include crimson in the swirls of magic in the middle. Second, I want something engraved on the inside. And third, I would like for you to make a similar ring and connect the two. So the wearers would know if the other needed them. Are those things that you can do?" 
"Of course, my boy. Easy enough! What do you want the engraving to say?" 
"Always have, always will." 

Borgin looked at Draco almost knowingly, with a gentle smile on his face. 
"Shall I send to you by owl?" 
"Please. Just let me know how much I owe." 
Draco left quickly, his heart stuttering with excitement at this huge step in his future. Their future.

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The next few months flew by in a misty haze of parchment, deadlines, potion ingredients, and nerves about the future. The 8th years were scrambling to finish papers, perfect draughts, and cram for their exams. There wasn't much time to do anything else but classwork and panic about the future. 

"Oi, we've had an extra year to prepare for the real world, why does it still seem so scary?" Ron rubbed his face hard with his hands, trying to relieve himself of the headache that had spotted behind his eyes. 
"No matter how much you prepare, you can never be prepared enough for the future." Hermione stated, not lifting her eyes from her parchment. 
"Ron, I think it'll be okay. You are a third of the 'Golden Trio'. I'm sure even if you mess up your exams royally, they would still find a place for you at the ministry." Draco half laughed, knowing that this was true, and not completely fair.
"I reckon that you will have it just as easy, right? You are the redeemed child, with skills to boot." Ron furrowed his brow quizzically at Draco before leaning his head back against the couch. 
"Ron, I am mostly known as a blood traitor, death eater, son of a death eater, Voldemort follower, than I am a 'redeemed child'. Those are difficult labels to break."
"Well, me and Harry will vouch for you if you need it. But I don't think you will. Just put your effort into the 'redeemed child' label and show the ministry what you can do with potions. They'd be mad to not see your talent." 
"You're so sweet sometimes Ron. I'm quite fond of your outlook." Draco smiled genuinely, causing Ron to blush crimson and scratch the back of his neck. 
"Just, uh, you know, looking out for you, and all. *AHEM*." 

"Harry, darling, you've been rather quiet. What's going on in that head of yours?" 
Harry was biting his lip and staring off into space, ignoring the cheesing that what happening between his friends.
"Hmm? Oh me, nothing. Just thinking about my interview and Auror trials once this is all over. It'll just be me... I won't have Ron's courage and quick thinking or Hermione's smarts and adaptability. I wonder if I'll even be good enough without them..." Harry came to a stop, realizing the words that just flowed out of him without thinking. 
"Darling, how could you ever think that? You are very capable yourself, very knowledgeable. You are the 'Chosen One' for Merlin's sake! You wouldn't be in that position if you didn't handle it very well and with expertise. You can do this, and we all know it." 
Harry looked around at his friends briefly. 
"I.. suppose so. I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll be back." Harry got up from the couch quickly before disappearing up the stairs to the dorms. 

"Well, that was weird. Do you reckon that's really the only thing he's upset about?" Ron stretched out on the sofa, closing his eyes.  
"I'm not sure.. I'll investigate more later. But I have something to ask you both before he gets back." Draco looked around the common room, making sure no one was close enough to hear.
"What is it?" 
"I'm planning on asking Harry to marry me after graduation. I want to do all this right, and I want to get permission from you both before I ask. Your approval means a lot to me. You both are his family, his everything. And since he doesn't have his parents or uncles around anymore, I was also wondering... if I could ask your parents for his hand in marriage, Ron? I know they are incredibly important to him too. And the closest thing he has had to parents, a loving family. But if you don't approve, I won't move further. I want to know that you are all on board with this before anything happens. I know we're young, but I can't imagine my life with anyone else. I can't stand the thought of not being with Harry. Now, if you want to say no, you can, don't let me pressure you-" 
"DRACO, stop rambling for a second! We fully approve of you asking Harry to marry you!! This is going to be amazing! Merlin, we will have to get started planning as soon as you ask, before everyone moves out of the area. OH, I wonder where we should have it? Maybe another burrow wedding, Harry has always loved it there, oh and twinkle lights and flying snitches, it'll be beautif-" 
"Hermione, now it's your turn to stop rambling, love. Draco, I also approve of you asking Harry to marry you. He is in love with you. I've never seen him so happy in my life. You've shown us over the past few months how much you care and how much you have changed. I think my parents would love to be included. Mum pretty much thinks she gave birth to Harry anyways." Ron chuckled, holding onto Hermione's hand. 

The group heard footsteps on the stairs, quickly quieting down and resuming what they were doing before. 
"I'll give you more details later." Draco whispered, averting his eyes from Harry. 
"What's going on? You're so quiet.." Harry questioned, sitting down by Draco again. 
"Oh, nothing darling. Just so focused..." 

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