A dusky blue sky, wispy clouds appearing pink like candyfloss suspended stickless from invisible strings passing across before her eyes. Narcissa was sure she could feel no better than she did now. There she lay, in a field of forget me nots, on a silver and green plaid blanket, beside the man she believed to be the love of her life.

He appeared to her like a statue made of marble. Yet to her it was not in the way he was cold and unreflective of emotion, but his appearance. The semblance to a statue; one from Italy, hand crafted and sent over carefully wrapped for her alone. She could look at him for hours at a time and be able to see something new.

Even when his body and face was complex, his mind was much more so. She wasn't sure what he thought of many things. The singular things he did admit to were a hatred for his parents, her sister and early morning quidditch practise.

As they lay side by side amongst the flowers, Narcissa considered what he could be thinking, however she was pulled from her musings by his hand upon hers.

"Narcissa," he said weakly, as if he had just woken from a slumber, "I feel I must ask you something that you may find… strange." Her mind worked quickly to come up with an answer for every possible question he was to throw at her. The one he chose however came as a shock to her, even with her planning. "Do you know who you wish to marry?"

She waited for a moment before replying, "You of course…"

A dark night, like her heart. An empty space in front of her. Why had he bought her here? She could only think of a few reasons, many of which she didn't wish to contemplate. Her heart was set. She had a goal and a purpose and did not need a silly relationship to take up her time and effort.

Bellatrix had heard things about Rodolphus. That he was a passionate lover, a cold man with a wise head. However, upon meeting him a year or so ago, she had come to determine he was neither of these. He was as dim as a blast ended skrewt and as for passionate… she couldn't look at him undressed without laughing.

She waited for a small while before feeling hands upon her waist. She turned, eager to see a different face, feeling disappointed when she was greeted by Rod's. She turned away and took a deep breath, stepping from his grip. She was devoted to another man. He understood this, yet she expected his words to be the same as before.

"Marry me Bella… please for the sake of your dignity and mine marry me…"

"Fine…" she said helplessly, "But I can't love you…"

She had never felt a pain like it. Being sent from her home like she was nothing to them anymore. She was only comforted by the remembrance of her youngest sister pleading for her to stay, and by the man she loved.

Ted Tonks was a man of great intelligence. He was wise and brave and ever so sweet. He had, however, been unable to stand up for their relationship, but had been there to console her. He was a rock. A rock she was clinging to as she thought her life depended on it. And when she fell pregnant, it did.

She lay with her eye closed on the sofa, trying to drift into a small sleep, to take away the pain of missing her sister's birthday. She opened her eyes at the sound of the door closing and made a small grumbling noise. As she rolled over to look out over the sitting room, she caught sight of Ted sat opposite her, a small box in hand.

"Andy… I… I have this for you… I thought it would be more proper for the baby you know… and I understand if you say no because of your family and what not… but will… will you marry me?"

She smiled gently, giving him a weak smile and nod, happy that they wouldn't have to ask permission to marry now.