Soul Mate - Chapter 24:
Since that day at Malfoy Manor, Harry had become a frequent visitor.
Narcissa had given him permission to apparate within the estate and
connected the Floo network between Malfoy Manor and the Black ancestral home,
allowing him nearly instant access to the estate whenever he wished.
Lucius said little while his wife made these arrangements, pretending ignorance as always.
Harry, however, was delighted. Narcissa’s elegance and grace left a deep impression on him,
and he genuinely enjoyed spending time with someone who felt like the mother he had only
imagined in his mind. He usually visited in the evenings, sharing dinner with her and
strolling through the manor afterward.
Draco often missed these moments. He had already joined the Ministry,
taking on an important yet not particularly high-ranking post.
After Lucius announced his retirement, the weight of the
Malfoy family’s vast enterprises fell squarely on his shoulders.
He was swamped with work, surviving on little sleep and
bottles of stimulant potions that felt like plain water.
Although Harry had begun official Auror training,
he still had some time before receiving his full Auror license and
taking up an official post at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
When not busy, he would either visit Malfoy Manor, help out at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes
as unpaid labor, or go on dates with Ginny.
Harry and Ginny relished these rare, leisurely moments.
Once the summer ended, Ginny would return to Hogwarts for her seventh year,
making it difficult to see each other. During this brief freedom,
they wandered nearly every street and alley of England together.
Ginny’s fascination with Muggle inventions rivaled Arthur Weasley’s.
She frequently marveled at ordinary objects and, of course, the shiny jewelry caught her attention.
Yet she never allowed Harry to overspend on her, even knowing he was now quite wealthy.
What she cherished was not the Potter or Black fortunes but Harry Potter himself.
One day, after riding a roller coaster at a Muggle amusement park, Harry and Ginny dismounted.
Both members of their Hogwarts house Quidditch teams,
the roller coaster’s thrill was amusing but hardly comparable to the madness of Quidditch.
They laughed, but their expressions remained calm and composed.
They found a vacant spot at a small ice cream stand.
Ginny excused herself to touch up her makeup while Harry went to buy ice cream for both of them.
Thanks to a little charm, he didn’t need to worry about someone else taking their seat.
The stand was surprisingly large, selling ice cream, snacks, and small trinkets.
Harry ordered two large chocolate cones. While waiting in line,
a display of rings caught his attention.
A familiar, almost comforting feeling drew his gaze.
Among the cute, flashy rings meant for young Muggle girls, one stood out.
It was incredibly simple a black glassy band with no decoration.
It seemed like a men’s ring, wider than average, yet Harry couldn’t look away.
As he touched it, he felt a surge of magic. A magical ring?
Here, in a Muggle ice cream shop?
The shop assistant noticed him and came over.
Harry asked about the ring, noting its stark contrast to the other pieces.
The assistant explained it had been part of a trend for minimalist rings and was leftover stock,
offering him a discount. Harry didn’t care about the price, he paid eagerly and pocketed the ring,
returning with the ice cream. Ginny emerged from the restroom, and he handed her cone,
forgetting entirely to mention the ring. Fortunately, he had charmed the ice cream to stay frozen.
Ginny admired the Muggle amusement park with delight, pointing out rides she wanted to try next.
Harry checked his watch and suggested a few more attractions, followed by dinner at a Muggle
restaurant, and ending the evening with the park’s music fountain show.
Ginny happily left the planning to him.
After a full day, Harry sent Ginny home and declined Molly Weasley’s invitation to stay the night.
He Apparated back to the Black ancestral home.
A refreshing shower later, he reached for the clothes he had worn, only to notice something had
fallen from his pocket.
It was the ring.
Examining it under the lamp, he realized it was crafted from obsidian,
engraved with a magical sigil he did not recognize.
He would have Hermione inspect it later. Enchanted by the ring,
he rummaged through his belongings for a silver chain and
decided to wear the ring as a pendant around his neck.
Unbeknownst to Harry, as he slept deeply that night,
the black ring shimmered with a soft silver glow before quietly returning to its dormant state.