Draco wanted everything to be perfect for his proposal to Ginny. He decided to call Maggie, she was the only Muggle he knew that he could ask, and he did not want to ask Granger. He remembered a song that he had heard when he and Ginny had been listening to her 'radio' and thought it would be romantic, and perfect. Draco didn't particularly like the Muggle music he heard, but this song fit Ginny so well, he stopped to listen. He just had to get a copy of the song now.
He had met Maggie on several occasions, and liked her very much, he felt totally at ease calling her and asking for help. Maggie agreed to meet him at a music shop, and help him in any way she could once she had wormed the fact that he was proposing out of him. Maggie was late, and Draco felt like an idiot, standing in the loud shop, with all kinds of mad looking Muggles, with odd looking hair, and piercing's in the strangest places.
Maggie finally showed, and hugged Draco, "It's about time you made an honest woman of her!"
Draco could feel his cheeks flame, but tried to maintain his composure. "Thank you, well, I do appreciate you coming out, any help, would be welcomed. After this I am heading to the florist, and picking up the ring, so…Let's get started."
Maggie winked and asked Draco what song he was looking for. Draco reminded himself that she didn't know they were wizards, and might find it odd that he didn't have general musical knowledge.
Maggie knew the song the instant that Draco had given her a few lines over the phone, but she was nosy, and wanted to be in on all the goings on. She knew he didn't need help at the florists, but she wanted to tag along anyway, and she was dying to see Ginny's ring!
"Well, I don't really remember exactly how it goes…"
Maggie was having too much fun watching him squirm. "What are the lyrics, again?"
Draco sighed, "Something like, 'Unforgettable, that's what you are, that's what makes you so incredible…"
"Hhmmm…Doesn't sound familiar. Can you sing it for me?"
Draco looked appalled, "Certainly not!"
"Well, if you don't want help…"
"Alright, I'll try to hum it," Draco looked extremely uncomfortable, but it was quite loud, no one would hear…
Maggie walked over the clerk, and asked him to please turn the music down a little, and he complied.
Draco was feeling totally exposed. People were looking over at him now as Maggie said loudly, "Go on then, hum it, so I can get an idea of what you are looking for."
Why did he have to have an audience for everything he did anymore? He ignored his fellow shoppers, and did his best to hum the tune, as Maggie did her best not to burst out laughing.
"Um, sort of rings a bell. Might be better if you sang it."
"No, forget it, ridiculous idea anyway." Draco was weaving his way through the racks when Maggie stopped him.
"Don't give up! Ginny said you were as tenacious, and stubborn! Why give up so quickly?"
Draco turned slowly to face her. She was right; he shouldn't let a little embarrassment stop him from making the evening as romantic as possible for Ginny.
Maggie stared expectantly, and several shoppers were looking with interest as Draco decided to get this over with as quickly as possible. Ginny would value this. Draco spoke-sang, in a nervous, broken voice, "Un..Forgetable…That's what you are…And you're incredible…"
Draco's face felt like it was on fire. He couldn't believe he had sung, publicly. He couldn't have felt any more humiliated, but he was when he demanded, "Well?"
The clerk, who was across the store answered first, "Nat King Cole, mate. Easy Listening section." He took the licorice stick out of his mouth and used it to point to the section.
Several customers clapped, and Draco gave Maggie a dirty look as he headed off to find the CD. It was almost like using the library, shouldn't be too hard to find, if only he'd spent more time in the library…
Maggie came up behind him and clapped. "That was so incredibly romantic! You have to forget the CD, and sing it instead!" Maggie began to sing the song as she swayed in the aisle.
"Doesn't ring a bell, might be better if you sang it," Draco imitated in a high pitched, female voice.
Maggie put her hands on her hips. "Don't be upset! I was only teasing you." Maggie grabbed the CD and grasped Draco's arm, "C'mon! Let's go get the ring!"
Draco decided it was better to drop Maggie off as fast as possible, and agreed to take her to pick up the ring. He was still angry with her when they stopped in front of a posh jewelry store. Maggie couldn't keep her mouth closed when the jeweler brought the ring out. Draco used his fingertips to close her mouth, but it popped open again.
"That's a huge rock…"
Draco looked smug now, "I know. Ginny deserves the best." Draco looked over the ring carefully before he accepted it, paid, and pocketed the black velvet box.
Maggie walked with him to the florist and fingered her mobile phone. "Please, please let me call her."
Draco grabbed the phone, "Are you mad? Do you think I would let you call Ginny and ruin everything?" Draco held the phone over a trash bin, and Maggie, as tall as she was, still couldn't reach.
"Alright, I won't call. But I want a call first thing from Ginny tomorrow with the details!" Maggie grabbed the phone and kissed Draco's cheek, wishing him luck as she dashed away.
Draco checked his watch and made a few more stops as he headed to Ginny's. Mrs. Weasley had agreed to keep Ginny at the Burrow until at least six, then Draco knew Ginny would come home, thinking that she would change for dinner at the Manor. Only dinner was going to be at Ginny's, and it wasn't going to be a normal dinner, Draco was positive it would be a celebratory engagement dinner.
Draco walked into Ginny's flat and left the door open to allow the deliveries of flowers to be brought in and set up about the house. Once Draco was satisfied with the floral arrangement, he began to mess about with Ginny's radio. He had a little trouble getting the CD working, and almost called Maggie, when he figured out how to operate the thing. The song he wanted began to play, and Draco listened several times, while he set the table for dinner. The next time Draco glanced at his watch, it was ten to six, and Ginny and Baby should be home any moment now. Draco used his wand to light the candles and went to the loo to freshen up.
Draco looked in the mirror, and half smiled. He was ready, and excited, and anxious for Ginny to come home. He felt the weight of the ring in his pocket, and couldn't wait to ask Ginny to be his wife. Draco heard Ginny's key in the door, and Baby bark, and headed down the hall to Ginny.
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Ginny was shocked when she opened the door to her flat. The room was swimming in flowers, red and white roses, and white candles in every shape and size all over the place. The table was set up for dinner, and Ginny suddenly felt very excited and dizzy. Was Draco going to propose? Ginny looked around but didn't see him, and wanted to scream with joy.
She just knew he was going to propose. Ginny went to the coffee table and pulled a rose from the arrangement. Ginny was taking in the sweet fragrance when she looked up and saw Draco in the hall. He looked so handsome. He was leaning against the wall, watching her, and Ginny blushed and rubbed the rose petals against her bottom lip. Draco thought Ginny was never more beautiful than at this moment. She was bundled up from the cold, and she looked absolutely gorgeous in the glow of the candlelight. Ginny lowered the rose and unfurled the scarf around her neck.
"Hi," she whispered. She meant her voice to sound stronger, but she was ready to cry, and that's all she could think to say.
Draco walked over, and Ginny felt like her heart would beat right out of her chest. She could hear it echoing in her ears, and managed a smile when Draco grabbed the ends of her scarf and pulled her closer for a kiss. Ginny felt the nervousness ease away being held by Draco, feeling secure and safe in his arms.
When they pulled away, Ginny smiled and looked shyly at Draco, "What's all this?"
Draco pulled her closer and looked around the room, "Oh, I just felt like a little something special tonight." Draco finally looked down to acknowledge Baby, and her halfhearted growls. "Hello Baby. Did you have a nice time with your family?"
Draco helped Ginny out of her coat, and Ginny wanted to come out and ask him if he was going to propose. She was so excited and nervous, she didn't want to make small talk, she wanted to find out if her guess was correct, now!
"Gin? Are you alright?"
"Oh, yes, it's just, it's so lovely in here, I got distracted, that's all."
Draco knew that Ginny knew that he was going to propose, he could see it in her expression. He didn't want to make her suffer, so he decided not to make her wait until after dinner to propose.
Ginny let out a shaky breath, waiting…
"I popped into the jewelry shop; I bought something I think you'll really love."
'Oh Merlin, this was it, he was going to ask!'
Draco reached into his pocket, then hid his hand behind his back. Ginny thought she might faint, waiting for him to say something.
Draco had a surprise for Ginny, he didn't want to just propose, he wanted something special and memorable. He had bought Baby a new collar, and had the jewelry store customize it. Draco adjusted the collar across his knuckles and brought his hand around, holding up the leather collar, the ID tags shimmering in the candlelight.
"Oh."
Ginny felt her stomach turn; she could feel her tears ready to fall. She had truly thought that Draco was going to propose. When he put his hand behind his back, she fully expected him to bring it in front of her with a ring on it.
"You don't like it?" Draco saw Ginny's face fall, and felt bad for disappointing her, but hoped that she would be happy with the rest of what he had for her.
"No, no, it's lovely." Ginny fingered the tag, letting it slip through her fingers. For the first time since she'd had her, she was jealous of Baby. Baby was getting diamonds tonight, and she wasn't.
Draco hid his smile. A look of indignation had passed on her face. "Why don't you read the inscription?"
Ginny wanted to toss the expensive collar in the rubbish bin, but forced a smile, and held the tag to the light. "Baby..Malfoy?" Ginny whispered the last as she looked at the heart shaped tag.
BABY MALFOY
If lost, please return to:
DRACO & GINNY MALFOY MALFOY MANOR
Ginny felt the tears running freely down her face as she looked at Draco. He lowered his hand with the collar, and raised his other hand. On his pinky finger was a large, sparkling diamond.
Ginny covered her mouth to hide her scream. Draco stared intently at her for several minutes, before finally asking the question Ginny had been waiting for.
"Ginny, ever since I saw your photograph on Ron's desk, I've been concerned with little else but you. I would love to share my life with you. You are the most intriguing woman in the world, I am fascinated with every move you make, I would love to spend the rest of my days loving you. I now know what love is really meant to be like."
Draco took Ginny's shaking left hand in his and knelt down in front of her. Baby lifted her head, but seemed to know something important was happening, and stayed away.
"Ginny, will you be my wife?" Draco looked up at Ginny, his heart in his eyes, and Ginny couldn't seem to find her voice to say yes. Ginny began to cry harder, covering her mouth with one hand, and caressing Draco's cheek with the other.
"Yes," She whispered. "I would be perfect if I had you."
Draco smiled as he slipped the ring onto Ginny's finger. He was always telling her how perfect she was, and he truly believed she was. Draco stood to take Ginny into his arms, and hold her as she sobbed onto the front of his shirt. He carefully flicked his wand in the direction of the radio, and the song he chose began to play.
"Unforgettable, that's what you are
Unforgettable though near or far…"
Ginny jumped away for a second when the music began. "What's this?" she asked.
"I heard it somewhere; It made me think of you."
Ginny and Draco began to sway with the music, and Ginny rested her hand over Draco's heart, feeling it pound in time with hers. She couldn't have asked for more than this man. She was lost in thoughts of how romantic he was, the music, the flowers, the candles…
"Do you like the ring?"
"Draco, this ring is so beautiful, but it is too much."
"Nonsense. You are a Malfoy now, there is no such thing as too much! We do everything too much." Draco kissed Ginny the way he wanted to, with passion and possession and love.
Ginny leaned into him, trying to catch her breath, smiling. "I feel like I am dreaming."
Draco pulled her even closer, "You're not dreaming, this is very real." Draco pressed himself closer, and Ginny tried to push him toward the couch.
"Can we have dinner after?"
Draco allowed her to lead him backwards, felt his knees hit the back of the couch, and collapsed back onto it. Baby began barking when they knocked over the photos on the coffee table, and Draco was pointing his wand blindly at her as Ginny began pulling his sweater over his head. Draco finally took a moment to cast the Lullaby charm on Baby, and then the hover charm to place her on her bed. Ginny kept her face turned away and continued kissing Draco.
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A/N: Hope you like the proposal! I tried to come up with something different…The next chapter will be up soon; Draco will take a stand with Baby- a showdown coming!