SnapelookedatDraoforalongmomentbeforereplying.“Iftheoasionarosewhereyoufoundsomeonewhomyoudeemedworthyofetoyourself,asyourGodfather,Iwouldhappilygiveyoupermissiontoproposetothatperson.However,asyourAutor,Iwouldonlyallowyoutomarrysomeonewhomyounotonlydeemworthyofyourself,butalsodeemworthyofsharingyourveryheartandsoulwithasperyourVeriaeblood.”
Draonodded,turningtoleave.“Don’tworry,Godfather.IfIdosaythevows,theywillmeanmorethanjustwordsdo.”
Harryouldn’teatbreakfast,justpushedhisfoodaroundonhispteforafewminutesbeforefinallygivingupallhopeofeatinganyofitandexusinghimselffromthetable.HermioneandRonwathedhimleavetheGreatHallworriedly,buttheyhadnotbotheredtoaskhimwhatwasonhismindtoday.Theyalreadyknew:todaywasMonday.
DraowasjustleavingthebedroomwhenHarryenteredtheportrait.TheblondwasdressedinlothingthatHarryawkwardlyrealizedwereprobablythreetimesmorethanallhislothingputtogether.HehadagaindeviatedfromtheHogwartsuniformtoappearinlothingsimirtowhatHarryhadfirstseenhimwearinginDiagonallybeforehehadstartedhisfirstyearatHogwarts.
“Inotiedyouweren’tatbreakfast,”Harrymuttered.
“Iwasn’tpnningonhavingany,”wastherispreply.
Harryshrugged.NowthathewasintheirroomsandinDrao’spresene,hehadnowheretofoushisay.
“Harry.”HarrylookedupatDrao’salmosthesitanttone.“HowseriouswereyouonWednesday?”
Therewasaquestionintheblonde’ssilvereyes,onethatHarrywasnotsureheuood.“Iwouldn’thavesaidanythingifIwasn’tserious.”Somehowhehopedthathe’dsaidtherightanswer.
Wordlessly,DraorossedtheroomtowhereHarrywasstanding,pikingupasmall,nondesriptboxfromthemantleashedidso.HestoppedinfrontofHarryforamoment,lookingdownthefewinhesthatseparatedtheirheights,asifsearhingforsometruthinHarry’sowngaze.Gently,Draodroppedtooneknee,hishandholdingouttheboxtowardHarry.
“WhereIamGaius,thereyouareGaia?”
Harry’sbreathaughtinhisthroatandheblinkedinastonishment.“WhereIamGaia,thereyouareGaius,”hemanagedtosay,usinghisownhandtoopenthebox.
Tworingssatsidebysideonawhitepillowinsidethebox.Theyweregoldenbands,enrustedindiamondsandopalsandarvedwiththeMalfoyfamilyrest.Engravedontheinsideofonewerethetraditionalwordsforerings,“UbituGaius”,andothertheother“UbituGaia”.AsDraoslippedthefirstontoHarry’sfinger,itshiftedinsizetofit;thesamewiththeringthatHarrypedonDrao’sfinger.
Draostoodagainandtheystoodthereforamoment,bothunsureofwhattodo.
“Er—Isupposeweshouldkissnow,”Harrymuttered,suddenlyfindinghisshoesveryiing.
Draodidnotrespond,butamomenttertwofingersrestedunderHarry’shin,pushinghisfaetoanupwardangle.Drao’smouthdesendedtomeethisown,likemoltensilveronmagmaDrao’slipsedoverhisown.Drao’sarmsenirledHarry’swaisttopullhimloser,andHarrygroanedasthekissbeamemoreneedful.