First time?
Severus
*You know we’ve been to many jewelry stores, Severus. I don’t understand why we don’t just go to Diagon Alley. I know they will have what you want there.* Draco rolled his eyes as they walked out onto the pavement. Severus never had worried so much about buying something. Draco was right, he knew he could go to Diagon Alley and find what he was looking for. He didn’t want Draco to go there. After what happened, people would talk and stare.
*No, I’m sure we can find something here.* Draco stopped and crossed his arms. He gave him the signature Malfoy stare.
*I’m not taking no Severus. Neville deserves the best. I’ll see you at home. We can floo to the leaky cauldron.* Draco didn’t wait for him to answer; he left in a loud pop.
Severus gracefully walked out of the cauldron, followed by Draco. He didn’t know what he expected. No one looked up when they came out of the floo. Draco looked over at him. He could tell that the younger potion master was nervous. His Malfoy mask was placed on his face.
*Let's go. We promised Neville we would be home by dinner.* Severus squeezed the younger man’s shoulder before they walked out of the pub.
The jewelry shop that he wanted to check was tucked back in between two more prominent storefronts. Severus felt out of place, he hasn’t worn robes in so long besides his brewing robes. Draco and he wore trousers and jumpers. Severus did as he always did when he felt self-conscious. He stalked forward with his head up. He smirked to himself. He knew if he were wearing his robes, they would bellow behind him.
Draco wrinkled his nose when they walked up to the shop. Severus rolled his eyes. It wasn’t a posh place, but the witch who owned it was the best in the business. All of her jewelry had protection runes, as well as a portkey that would get them to someplace safe.
*Trust me.* Severus signed as they walked in. There were glass cases around the room. They were filled with jewelry.
“Hello, gentlemen. How may I help you today?” An older witch asked as she walked out from the back. Her black hair was pulled up into a tight bun. There were streaks of white that framed her face. Her face was pale like porcelain.
“I’m looking for an engagement ring for my partner.” The witch had a knowing look in her eyes.
“Of course. You want something that will protect him, as well as a portkey. I have a feeling that your partner has a green thumb.” Severus raised his eyebrow. She was good. Was she a seer?
“Yes.” He drew out. The witch clapped her hands.
“I knew it. I could smell it on you. You are a potion master as well, and so is your friend.” Draco crossed his arms and looked at him.
“Right, well, yes I am, but madam, how do you know?” The witch smiled at him and the lights caught her fangs. A magical vampire, of course. “I see, yes he has his masters in herbology.”
“Wonderful. I have been working on something for a while. I knew someone would want something like this. It’s in my workshop. Give me one moment and I’ll be right back.”
Draco touched his arm and signed quickly *A vampire Severus! You took us to a jewelry store that was owned by a magical vampire. You are going to get us killed.*
Severe sighed and signed back. *You were the one that wouldn’t take no for an n answer Draco. We could have found someplace in the States.” Draco huffed and crossed and uncrossed his arms.
*Fine, but be quick. This place is dripping with magic.* Severus nodded. He had been around a lot of dark magic, but this was a whole other level. Though there was light magic mixed in. It seemed the vampire had a different clientele.
The vampire appeared again with a wooden rectangular box. She placed the box on the glass case and opened it with a Florsheim. Five rings sat inside. Severus smiled when he saw the rings.
They looked like glass. Inside the glass there were flowers. Glass wouldn’t be comfortable. What if it would break? They were beautiful, and it would be perfect for Neville.
“They are unbreakable, they are made for people who work with their hands. They are comfortable.” She answered his questions without him asking. Severus picked up the ring that called to him. The flowers were multicolored. Burgundy, greens, violets, golden yellows, pinks, and blues. He looked over to Draco, who nodded with a small smile.
“Oh, that is a good choice. You said you wanted protection. All of those flowers are used for protection. Snapdragons, Verbascum, Baptisia, Yarrow, Witch Hazel, Tansy, Masterwort, and the simple wildflower. I’m sure your soon-to-be-groom will know all of those flowers. If you feel inside of the ring, you will feel the runes.” Severus' fingers ran over the runes he recognized a few.
*What do you think?* Severus signed to Draco.
Draco held out his hand, and Severus gave it to him. The blond held the ring up to his eye. Severus watched as the vampire looked at both of them with a smirk.
*It isn't what I would pick out, but Neville will love it.* Draco handed the ring back to Severus. The potion master nodded and looked at the vampire.
“I will take this one. Am I able to take it home today?” The woman took the ring from him and placed it in a smaller ring-sized wooden box. The box had vines and runes carved into it.
“Of course. If you like, I can add in your wedding band for free. I have a wonderful solid black gold ring. You can do whatever you want to do in it. It will not affect your potion-making. It also has the comfort band with the runes, portkey and I can link the rings together so if there is something wrong with either of you the other will know.” She flicked her wand, and another box came toward them.
“Yes, I’ll take that as well.” Severus paid the vampire. Draco looked like he was getting more uncomfortable by the minute. He was still worried about the younger man. Even though he talked about what he was feeling to Severus more, there were still times that the blond would close up and hide from both him and Neville.
“Perfect. I’ll make sure I tell your future husband you want an enormous diamond. I think princess cut, and a wedding band that has diamonds all around.” The vampire looked at Draco and winked. Draco practically pulled Severus out of the store.
Severus watched as the younger man shivered. *I will never go there again. If she is right about my future husband, he can go himself. As if that will happen.” Draco rolled his eyes and unconsciously touched the scar on his face.
*Who knows Draco? She seemed to know a lot about Neville. If only she told me how I should propose.* Severus thought the ring buying was hard. He didn’t even know how to ask him to marry him.
Draco smirked at him and rubbed his hands together. *Don’t worry about Severus. Harry, Barnaby, and I have talked about it. We have the perfect plan.* Severus shook his head. Of course, the three of them have spoken. Since the family dinner, Draco has been closer to them.
*Care to tell me about it?* Draco smiled at him and signed quickly. Maybe he should have written this all down. Though it seemed the older of the wizards had it all figured out. All he would have to do was ask the question.
Draco
Draco was nervous. This was his first group art therapy session. Neville and Severus dropped him off and now he stood in the foyer. He could do this. It wasn’t like he was alone there were other people.
“First time?” An almost familiar voice said beside him. Draco’s head snapped over towards the voice. He thought it was Toby. There stood someone who looked like Toby, but maybe a few years older. The same curly hair and brown eyes.
Draco nodded. He didn’t bother signing. It wasn’t like most people knew sign language. Plus, they could tell by looking at him he couldn’t speak.
“Me too. I’ve never done art therapy. I’m Justin.” Justin's hand was out and Draco shook it with one hand and with the other he reached into his pocket and pulled out a card that stated he could hear but couldn’t speak. A look of recognition flashed on the other man’s face.
*Sorry! I didn’t notice!* Justin signed and Draco's eyes widened. The man knew sign language. Little people knew sign language.
Draco shook his head again. *It’s okay, most people do not know how to sign. I’m Draco. Art therapy is wonderful.*
*I bet. Would you like to walk with me?* Justin smiled at him again and Draco blushed. Toby was cute, but he had nothing on Justin. Did he have dimples?
*Sure.* Draco followed the other man’s lead. Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad.
Neville
Neville held hands with Severus and Silas on their daily walk before bath time. He smiled to himself as he thought about pushing a pram with their youngest.
“We need to decide on a name. I know we have time, Severus, but I don’t want to refer to the baby as the baby. Silas’s name was easy. I knew I wanted to have the S because your name begins with an S and Silas means Forest. I loved it because you would always take me with you when you forged for ingredients in the forbidden forest.” Severus looked over at him with wide eyes.
“I didn’t know that was the reason that you picked Silas. I feel honored, Pet. I think then our newest mandrake should start with N.” Neville smiled up at Severus. He actually had a name that he liked that began with N.
“I have the perfect name, Severus. I liked this name before. What do you think of Nash? It means at the ash tree. Ash trees are known for their healing properties. Maybe he will take after you and make potions to heal people?”
“I wike Nashy Daddy!” Silas jumped up and down between them. Neville didn’t even think that their son was paying attention. When he looked up at Severus, he nodded in agreement.
“I think that is a wonderful name. I won’t lie and say that I wouldn't love for this one to take more after me than you. Silas is very good at potion making, but I fear he likes growing the ingredients for potions rather than actually making potions.”
“Ya!” Silas agreed.
“Then Nash it is. Silas and Nash. I can’t believe that we are having another baby, Severus. I know it wasn’t planned, but I wouldn’t change this. I wouldn’t change anything.”
“I am glad, Pet, so glad we are having another baby as well. Though there might be something I would change. Come, I want to go to the greenhouse. It’s been a couple of days since I’ve checked on the few things I planted.” Neville nodded. Severus wanted to plant some things. together. They tried to do things together. Once it was safe for Neville to brew again, he was going to brew with Severus. Neille didn’t think that was a good idea, but Severus convinced him. He would get rewarded if he didn’t blow up the cauldron.
Severus let go of their hands and opened the door of the greenhouse. When Neville walked in, he gasped. Fairy lights twinkled and there stood his family. Draco was standing there with a smirk on his face. Harry was crying, holding Topher. Charlie had Winnie. Pop had a camera in his hand and Dad had a tissue in his, dabbing the tears off his cheeks. What is going on?
“Neville,” Severus called to him. Neville turned around and Silas pulled away from him and clapped his hands. Severus was on his knee holding a wooden box.
“Severus…” Tears burned his eyes as he placed one hand over his mouth and the other on his stomach.
“This would be the one thing that I would change, Neville. I would change the fact that you are not my husband. That every plan that I have starts and ends with you and our family.” Severus flicked open the box it held a ring. Not any ring, the most beautiful ring he has ever seen. It looked like glass and in the glass there were flowers. What looked like real flowers that were shrunken down.
“I want to make every future plan with you. I would like to start right now. Neville Longbottom, will you marry me?” Severus’s smooth velvety voice asked. Neville thought he was dreaming. There is no way that this could be real. He has always wanted this.
“Yes,” Neville said in barely a whisper.
Severus looked at him and asked. “What was that, Pet?”
Neville cleared his throat. “Yes Severus, I’ll marry you.” The potion master jumped up from the ground and pulled him into a breathtaking kiss. Neville wrapped his arms around his now fiance.
They only pulled away when they felt someone run and hug their legs. They looked down and saw their toddler beaming up at them.
“Tad uppie!” Severus picked up their son.
“Do you want to help me put Daddy’s ring on his finger?” The toddler nodded, and Neville held out his shaky left hand. Severus and Silas slipped the ring on his finger.
Neville could feel the ring change to the perfect size. Then he felt the magic around the ring. It calmed him. Cameras flashed and voices cheered.
“I love you, Neville. Always.”