The Buddy System. *Updating In Process*

Trouble Finding Me

I shook my head. "I know Theo. I know. But she feels like she is. I told her you were crazy about her and loved her. But she has been locked up for the last 6 months. She is out now but she is still healing. Remarkably fast but still healing. It may be a while before she is back to her old self."

"I will take her any way I can get her. I am just happy to have her back in my arms. It kills me to even let go of her to go to school. I never want to be apart from her."

I turned to him. "Do you tell her this?"

He looked at me frowning. "She knows Rae."

"So you tell her? Often?" I asked.

"Probably not in so many words but she knows."

I smacked his arm. "Tell her. Tell her how you feel about her. Tell her she is the only one and you want a future with her."

"You think? I mean it's been 2 years. Isn't that implied?"

"Women still need to hear it." I explained.

"So she needs to be wooed?"

"Yip. Constantly. Show her affection. Tell her how you feel everyday. You do not know how much time you have on this earth so make the most of it."

"That makes sense I guess. I mean of course I want to be with her for the rest of my life. She is the only one for me. I even have this..." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. Opening it, he revealed a very beautiful, very big engagement ring.

"Aw Theo, it's gorgeous. But Draco already asked me."

He shouldered me playfully and put the ring back in his pocket. "I have had this in my possession for a very long time. Over a year. My mother gave it to me. It's a family heirloom. Rae, I know she is the one. I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Marriage, babies, the works. I want it all."

I slapped his arm again. "So what the crap are you waiting for? And don't say the right moment because that is a stupid answer."

"Just waiting until it feels right. I want to make it special. Something she won't forget." He paused for a moment. "Will you help me?"

I beamed. "I would love to! But you may need to do it soon. I mean...I want to see it before....before -"

"Hey, we will find a cure!"

"You shouldn't put so much pressure on yourselves. You may not find a counter curse."

He shook his head. "We will find a solution. I mean come on, we have the Golden Trio on our side helping. If Hermione can't find an answer then between you, Draco and her you will probably invent one."

"Well we will definitely try," Draco's voice came from behind us. His hair was slightly wet. I hadn't even noticed that it had started raining. He leant against one of the wooden posts with his arms crossed. The rain make his skin practically glisten. He looked bloody hot.

"Good timing mate, I am going to find my girl and sweep her off her feet. Thanks for the chat Rae," Theo kissed my cheek and stood up, patted Draco on the back and enchanted his wand to be an umbrella, walking back to the house.

"So, fiancé, how are you feeling?" He beamed.

"I like hearing you call me that," I leant my head on his shoulder.

"And I love saying it, fiancé. You have made me the happiest man alive, do you know that?" He leaned in and kissed me.

"It's been quite a day hasn't it?" He asked me.

"Yip, an emotional rollercoaster."

"Any regrets?" He looked down at me.

"About getting married? Absolutely not. I love you Draco. You are my soulmate and I am proud I get to call you my Fiancé. I just wish the future wasn't so uncertain for us. This curse, looming over us. It's scary. I want to give you the world and I am terrified that I might be leaving you very soon. I don't want to be without you but I also do not want you to end up being alone. If I die -"

"Rae," he warned.

"No listen. If I die, mourn me. Mourn the life we could have had. But do not dwell on it. Move on. Find someone who loves you as much as I do and have the life you deserve. I want you to promise me."

"I just proposed and you are already trying to find me someone else?" he smirked.

"I want you to be happy."

"Well then shut up and kiss me," he winked. And I did as I was told. I turned around so I was facing him and wrapped my arms around his neck pulling him into me.

I would never get tired of kissing him. Never.

When we eventually did come up for air, he just smiled at me. "I cannot wait to marry you."

"If your mother had her way she would have married us that day she took us to the salon."

"Yes she would have. And I would have happily let her."

"It's funny how things work out isn't it? I mean think about that night in the Astronomy Tower when we nearly kissed. Or in the Shrieking Shack when we did kiss...a lot. I had no idea when you walked me back to school that we would end up here."

"Neither did I. But I knew then that you were special. After the Astronomy Tower I could have kicked myself that I didn't get to kiss you. But I had a task and it took up all of my time and energy. It would have been an awful time to start a relationship. Then in the Shrieking Shack. I almost turned around that night when I heard you. I almost left you there. But something made me move forward to you. Something pulled me towards you. Even then my soul knew it needed you. And I am sorry I pretended not to know you after that. And that I was horrible to you at the start of the year. But I am so glad and proud of how far we have come. I believe that together we can accomplish anything. With you by my side I feel like I could do anything."

I laughed again. I loved being with Draco like this. Carefree and loving. He made me feel like I was the most precious thing in the world.

I leaned my head on his shoulder again as we sat there drinking in the scene of the rain pelting off the stream. I loved the sound of rain. It was comforting. And sitting here with Draco's arms wrapped around me, well I couldn't imagine it gets much better than this.

I could stay lost in this moment forever.

And I made myself a promise. Right there under the gazebo in the rain. Sitting there with the love of my life. I vowed that I wouldn't give up. I would do everything I could to keep myself healthy. I would take whatever potions they give me. Medicines they gave me. I would take it all without complaint and I would do my best to find a counter curse. To not give up.

Draco deserved the world and I wanted to give it to him. And to do that I had to survive.

And survive I would!

But tonight we were going to celebrate, just myself and my fiancé. Azaleah had decorated our room for us with champagne and rose petals and I even bought new underwear for the occasion.

Tonight was just for us.