The common room is unusually loud tonight. Cards, books and whisky bottles are scattered across the table where Mattheo, Blaise, Theo, Regulus and Lorenzo are engrossed in conversation.

You walk in, followed by Draco, whose collar is undone and whose tie is loose. He rests his hand on the small of your back as though he owns you.

"Hey guys," you say casually. "I’m here with my current boyfriend, Draco."

A few heads snap up.

"Current boyfriend?" Draco says, stopping in his tracks.

You glance over your shoulder at him and shrug. "Well, you are my current boyfriend."

Draco raises an eyebrow, his nostrils flaring slightly. He steps in front of you. "I’m not your boyfriend," he says.

"Oh? My mistake," you say, feigning innocence. "Then what are you?"

Draco doesn’t blink. "I’m your husband."

"Without a ring?" you ask, crossing your arms. Your tone is amused, but there’s challenge beneath it.

"Yeah, where’s her ring, Draco?" Lorenzo says with a crooked grin.

"Stay out of this, Enzo," Draco mutters, his eyes never leaving yours.

"You think I need a ring to own your heart?" he says. "We crossed that line ages ago. You’re mine. Everyone knows it."

You tilt your head. "Saying it and proving it are two different things."

"I can prove it," Theodore says from the couch, propping his feet up like he’s just been waiting for the drama. "Give me an hour and a jewelry shop."

Draco doesn’t even turn his head. He simply raises one hand and says, "You’ve got ten seconds to shut your mouth, Theo."

Theodore smirks. "Alright, alright. Tense crowd tonight."

"You all act like a ring means something," Blaise says lazily. "But clearly, she wants one. So where is it, Dray?"

"She’ll have one when I decide the world is worthy of seeing her wear it," Draco says. "Until then, she already has something better than a ring."

"And what’s that?" you ask, raising an eyebrow.

"My name," he says. "My loyalty. My soul. Diamonds are replaceable. I’m not."

Regulus chuckles from where he’s curled up in the corner with a book. "A bit intense, but I can respect it."

"And yet," you say, your eyes narrowing, "I still don’t have a ring."

"I can get you one, sweetheart," Lorenzo says, teasing.

Draco turns his head slowly toward him. "You can get a head start too, Enzo."

Lorenzo raises his hands and laughs. "I’m joking! Merlin."

"You’re all unsufferable," Mattheo mutters.

You ignore them. Your eyes are still locked on Draco.

"You know I’m not really mad," you say quietly, stepping a little closer.

Draco’s voice softens, just for you. "I know. But you want the ring."

"I want the promise," you say.

"You already have it," he says. Then, with a smirk tugging at his lips: "But I’ll get you the ring too. Black diamond. Silver band. Serpent engraved. Something worthy of you."