a n c h o r

t w e n t y f i v e

Draco took a deep breath, staring at the ring he held in his hand as he went over what he wanted to say an almost concerning number of times. He wasn't the most romantic person on the planet, but he wanted the moment to be special. He wanted her to know how much she meant to him.

"I'm home, love!" Alexandra's voice echoed throughout the house. "Hermione is so excited. She was practically-"

Alexandra stopped mid-sentence, dropping her bag on the floor and throwing her hands over her mouth as she examined the scene around her.

Draco had decorated the bedroom exactly the same as he had decorated the Room of Requirement the night they first kissed. Green and white flowers and candles filled the room, but Alexandra couldn't take her eyes off of Draco down on one knee with a ring in his hand.

"The first time we met, we were only children. Mum had just bought me a load of sweets at Honeydukes when I ran into you. You were crying because you had lost your stuffed animal, so I gave you my jelly slugs to make you feel better. It was the first time I made you smile," Draco smiled, nervously adjusting his position. Alexandra smiled as well, fondly remembering the moment. Draco had even went out of his way the following Christmas to get her another stuffed animal that she still held on to. "I knew in that moment, before I even knew your name, that I wanted to spend my life making you smile. That I wanted to spend my life with you."

Alexandra began to cry, kneeling in front of Draco so they were level with each other.

"I know making you smile is far from what I've done since that day, but I have every intention to make up for it if you'll agree to spend your life with me," he continued, hope filling his eyes as he took a deep breath. "As my wife."

"Of course," Alexandra smiled, watching her hand shake as Draco took it in his own and carefully placed the ring on her finger.

"I love you," Draco smiled, holding in a few of his own tears as he pulled his fiancée closer to him and kissed her with the same passion he did almost two years ago.

The idea of being too young escaped Alexandra's mind months ago. After everything her and her friends have been through, she believed each and every one of them are perfectly capable of making adult decisions, whether they be regarding their career or their love life.

"You really want to marry me?" Alexandra asked, almost in disbelief as she continued to comprehend what had just occurred.

"Of course," Draco laughed. "I didn't leave my parents and the manor with intentions of leaving you as well."

"I know, I know," Alexandra sighed, a large smile still evident on her face. "I'm just surprised, that's all. I've dreamed of this moment, but I didn't expect it so soon. You really caught me off guard."

"That was the plan, darling."

"Darling?"

"It has a nice ring to it, I think," Draco smiled. "As does Alexandra Malfoy."

"I always thought Alexandra Weasley sounded better," Alexandra joked.

"I'll just go on and return the ring, then," Draco joked back, attempting to take the ring off of her finger but being quickly stopped.

"Stop it!" Alexandra laughed, grabbing onto his hands. "I'm only joking."

"I don't believe you," he stated, not being able to hide his smile despite his attempt to act serious.

"I could always keep my own last name, like Hermione," Alexandra tested. "But I won't. Do you want to know why?"

"Why?"

"Because I want everybody to know I'm proud to be your wife," she smiled. "It's always been you, Draco."

"If I recall, it was once Tom Riddle," Draco smirked. Alexandra gasped.

"Oh, that's not fair!"

"I think you've got a thing for people your friends don't like, honestly."

"They like you!" Alexandra stated, hesitating for a moment. "Now."

"Only because of you," he smiled, squeezing her hands. "You're the only person who has ever truly believed in me."

"Because there's so much to believe in," Alexandra smiled. "I wish you could see what I see."

"What do you see?"

"A wonderful man," she started. "A man with a kind heart and a warm soul. A man who is strong, brave and passionate. A man who has been a great friend, and is going to be a great husband and maybe even a father one day. A man I love and will love for as long as I live."

"You're a gift," Draco chuckled lightly, hugging Alexandra. He's said it before and he'll say it until the day he dies: he did absolutely nothing to deserve her.

"A gift you can't return," Alexandra smiled.

"I can't think of a reason why I would."