Soul Mate - Chapter 26:
After Draco’s engagement, his days grew even busier.
Harry still dropped by Malfoy Manor from time to time, but Draco was rarely there to be seen.
Harry himself had been swamped with Auror work his assignments becoming more frequent,
his free time scarcer. Still, the two of them kept in touch through owls.
And through Narcissa, they each learned little things about how the other was doing.
Time slipped by quietly. Another summer arrived.
Ginny had officially graduated from Hogwarts and joined a professional
Quidditch club as a full-time athlete. Meanwhile, Ron after relentless persistence had finally
convinced Hermione to marry him. Their wedding was set for October.
And Harry, after several pointed hints from Ron and Molly,
decided it was finally time to propose to Ginny.
Only, he had absolutely no idea what kind of ring she’d like.
He didn’t trust his own taste either. After some thought, he sent an owl to Malfoy Manor,
asking if Draco might be free that weekend to help him out.
The reply came back quickly. Draco agreed without hesitation and
even set a time and place to meet.
That weekend, they met up in Diagon Alley.
The moment Draco saw him, he crossed his arms and said coolly, Harry,
I hope you have a very good reason for dragging me out on my one
free weekend instead of letting me enjoy it in peace.
Harry scratched the back of his head, looking awkward. Actually,
I need to buy an engagement ring for Ginny… but I don’t really know what kind she’d like.
Draco froze for just a second. It was so slight Harry didn’t notice.
His expression didn’t change, his voice stayed calm.
So, you want me to help you pick out a ring for that little for Miss Weasley.
You’ll help me, right? Harry asked with a pleading look.
Why not? Draco smiled thinly. I’m glad you finally realized the superiority of Malfoy taste.
I’m sure your Miss Weasley will agree with your excellent choice after she sees my influence.
Harry sighed. Honestly, you’re my only option.
Oh, I doubt that. Granger would’ve been a perfectly fine choice.
And what about your other Gryffindor friends?
Surely they wouldn’t refuse to help their beloved Chosen One with something as simple as this.
Hermione and Ron are buried in wedding prep, Harry muttered.
Being near them right now feels like drowning in pink bubbles.
As for Neville and the others… let’s just say I trust your eye more than theirs, Draco.
My honor, Draco said with a faint smile, pushing open the jewelry shop door.
The shopkeeper’s face lit up the moment he saw him. Mr. Malfoy, welcome back.
What are you looking for today? Clearly, Draco was a regular.
Wedding rings, Draco said smoothly, steering Harry forward. I’m here with my friend.
The shopkeeper’s eyes widened when he recognized
Harry’s lightning scar peeking out from beneath his fringe. Good heavens Mr. Potter, I
Harry quickly pressed a finger to his lips. The last thing he wanted was a headline tomorrow that
read Harry Potter Shops for Engagement Ring with Draco Malfoy.
Please, just… keep it down. I’m here to buy a ring.
Of course, of course. It’s an honor, truly.
The man flicked his wand, and rows of glittering rings appeared before them in elegant displays.
Draco took one look and immediately began to sort through them with surgical precision.
He brushed aside anything too plain, too poorly cut, or too gaudy,
narrowing the choices to just four elegant rings. These, he decided, were acceptable.
He pushed them toward Harry.
You can pick from these. They’re all good. Choose the one you like best.
And with that, he turned away, pretending to browse other displays.
Harry stared down at the four rings, each one breathtaking in its own way.
He had to admit Draco had impeccable taste. Every ring was beautiful,
the craftsmanship flawless, each with a different charm that made choosing nearly impossible.
Meanwhile, Draco’s composure was fraying.
He couldn’t stand watching Harry so earnestly pick out a ring for someone else
someone who wasn’t him. He’d always known it wasn’t his to have,
but seeing it laid out so plainly before him still made his chest ache.
He wandered away, needing air, and found himself in a quieter corner of the shop.
When he looked down, something caught his eye something small and dark resting in a glass case.
A simple ring. So simple it was almost nothing at all, a smooth black band, plain as shadow.
It looked like obsidian. It wasn’t even ornate enough to be called a ring, really just a circle.
But when Draco saw it, his heart gave a strange, sharp tremor.
He couldn’t look away. There was something hauntingly familiar about it,
something that pulled at him, soft and warm. Against all logic, he felt drawn to it possessive of it.
The shopkeeper noticed and excused himself from Harry to come over.
Mr. Malfoy, did something catch your eye?
That one, Draco said quietly. May I see it?
The man looked momentarily startled but nodded,
unlocking the case and setting the ring gently into Draco’s hand.
I’ll take it, Draco said almost immediately. His fingers curled around it tightly.
It felt alive against his palm, pulsing faintly, as if responding to him.
Name your price.
The shopkeeper only smiled and shook his head.
No, Mr. Malfoy. You don’t need to pay for it.
That ring already belongs to you.
Draco frowned. What do you mean?
It’s been in this shop for over a hundred years, the man said.
I’ve always known it was here, but I’ve never actually seen it before.
It appears and disappears on its own.
This is one of the Soulmate Rings.
They stay invisible until the person it belongs to touches it.
Which means, Mr. Malfoy, you’re the one it’s been waiting for.
Soulmate Rings?
Yes. There are always two. I don’t know where the other is it could be anywhere,
wizard or Muggle world. But whoever holds the twin ring… that’s your soulmate.
Soulmate… The word felt strange on Draco’s tongue, distant yet familiar,
like something half-remembered from a dream.
The shopkeeper smiled kindly. A soulmate is the one your soul matches perfectly with unique,
irreplaceable. But not every pair of soulmates end up together.
There are only two fates for them: a love for life, or a friendship for life.
Draco said nothing.
By then, Harry had chosen his ring a beautiful pink diamond in a heart-shaped setting,
elegant and graceful. He paid for it, clearly delighted, never noticing Draco’s silence.
Draco, thank you, really. I couldn’t have done this without you.
It’s nothing, Draco murmured, his voice faint. He wanted to leave it there
but something silver glinted at Harry’s collar, and he seized on the distraction.
You’re wearing a necklace?
Oh, this? Harry pulled the chain out from under his shirt, revealing a
black ring strung on it like a pendant. I found it last year in the Muggle world.
Funny thing it’s clearly enchanted, though I’ve no idea how it got there. I just liked how it looked,
so I started wearing it. Hermione said the carving on it’s some kind of ancient magical array.
Draco didn’t hear a single word after that.
He stared at the ring an identical black band and the world seemed to still around him.
The shopkeeper’s voice echoed in his mind:
There are only two endings for soulmates lifelong love, or lifelong friendship.
Draco closed his fingers around his own ring, forcing a smile as he looked at Harry.
A lifelong friend, then. That’s not so bad, is it?
He repeated it to himself again and again, as if repetition might dull the ache in his chest.
But no one noticed how heavy his heart felt, or how quietly tragic his smile had become.