"Bell! Oh, it's so nice to finally meet you!" I'm a little taken aback by Jordan's girlfriend, Lisa, who has me in a vice grip of a hug. I throw Jordan a look and he just shrugs. Lisa finally lets me go and dives for Draco. The shocked expression on his face is totally worth any type of hug she could have put me through and I stifle my laughter at the look of sheer panic on his face before she finally lets him go as well.
Jordan has decided the weekend mum is gone with the younger boys is a good opportunity to bring his girlfriend home to meet me and Nate. I have to say, it's pretty smart. After what Nate and Becca went through when they announced their engagement, I'm surprised Jordan's bringing her 'round at all. This also gives us a chance to discuss Nate's wedding without mum overhearing. Part of me feels like we should feel guilty for plotting a wedding without including her, but it isn't my wedding to exclude her from and is none of my business to bring up. If Nate doesn't feel guilty then I'll just have to live with it and hope she never finds out.
It's also nice seeing my family interact with Draco without feeling like a bomb is going to explode at any second. Having mum and Draco in the house at the same time is very tense, even when they're not in the same room. The tension is there and everyone can feel it. Right now, sitting back and watching him converse with Jordan about football, makes me feel like maybe this is all going to work out after all.
Draco squeezes my knee under the dining table and I smile, taking a sip from my wine glass. We've all been sitting around the dining table eating cheesecake instead of dinner. Jordan raises his glass and takes Lisa's hand. It's then that I notice a glittery ring on her finger. "I'd like to propose a toast to love, in whichever way it finds us. And to Nate and Becca, who are the only ones to have outed themselves to mum." We all laugh before Lisa shows Bec and I her ring and Nate, Jordan and Draco all congratulate each other on being awesome men. Insert eyeroll here.
Lisa looks at my ringless hand. "Bell, where's your ring?" I glance over at Draco.
"Oh, uhm, I think I've packed it." Draco grins and pulls a small box from his pocket. "Do you just carry that with you everywhere?" He shrugs and takes my hand from Lisa, sliding the ring onto my finger then letting it go. Immediately I hear squeals from Lisa and Becca and glare at Draco, who just shifts away from me slowly.
"It's absolutely gorgeous!"
"Stunning!"
"Draco's outdone himself!"
"How could he ever afford this?"
I snort a little at the last one. If only they knew how much money Draco was worth. "He didn't spend a cent. His mother gave it to him." That brings on a chorus on aww's and I feel my sanity leaking out of my ears. I am saved by the doorbell however, as the real dinner shows up in the form of takeaway. Everyone leaves the table in separate directions and I stalk toward Draco, who has managed to slip to the other side of the room undetected. "You prat." His eyes widen just enough to fool someone else but I know better. I shove my hand in his face and wiggle my fingers practically up his nose. "I packed this and left it at the Manor on purpose and you knew it."
He takes my hand and kisses my finger, just below the ring. "Yes, but I also thought you might change your mind on wearing it someday and didn't want it to be at the Manor when that feeling overcame you, just in case it left again. I have to seize these opportunities when they arise." I narrow my eyes slightly but feel a smile tugging at my mouth.
"Pizza is served. You two can look at each other later." I take my hand back and sit at the table, claiming a slice of cheese pizza before it's gone. I notice Draco hesitate before taking his own slice and wonder if he's ever had pizza before. He smiles at me briefly before sitting and studies everyone before taking a bite of his own slice. He doesn't seem displeased or disgusted so I call it a win for the Muggles.
After dinner everyone goes their separate ways. Nate and Becca go back to her flat, and Jordan and Lisa decide to hang out in the basement. Draco and I are in the middle of choosing a movie when I hear a tapping at the living room window. I look up to see an owl I don't recognize, and neither does Draco. It's my house so I open a window to let the bird in and it drops a letter at my feet before swooping back out of the window. I pick up the letter and sit beside Draco on the couch, opening it to see Lena's name at the bottom.
Dearest Bell,
Please excuse the lateness of this letter. My family and I have had a very hard time adjusting since the end of the war. It's been such a relief, but so, so hard.
I hope this finds you well and happy. I would like to visit soon so I hope we can work something out.
Give that baby lots of squishes from me. I miss her terribly and cannot wait to see her again. Please send more photos when you can.
I do hope that Draco is all right. I hadn't heard news of him but also hadn't heard from you so I wasn't sure what to think.
I send my love,
Lena
I look at Draco with tears in my eyes. "Oh, I am a terrible friend, Draco."
"You've been-"
"Do not try to make me feel better. I have not been too busy or preoccupied to send her something." I write a long reply, add some pictures, stuff it all in an envelope and send it off with Hector. After I shut the window I turn around to see Draco peering at the VCR. I lean against the sill and smile. I love catching him in moments like this.
"How does this work?"
"I'm not sure exactly. I know it has something to do with electromagnetic signals that the machine reads from the tape. How it does it though, I couldn't tell you." Draco looks at the selection of movies we have.
"What's a.. twistie?" I slide down to the floor beside him and take out the movie.
"Oh, Twister. It's about tornadoes and storm chasers. I really like it."
"Let's watch it then." I stick the movie in the VCR and press play. While it starts up I get us some popcorn and when it's done pour it into a bowl, then grab us two bottles of water. The entire time Draco has been watching my every move. When he first started doing it, it made me feel self-conscious at first but I've gotten used to it. Now I don't really mind it.
I pick up the bowl, Draco takes the water, and we head to the couch to enjoy the movie.