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+----- Thread: emerald green ~ Drama (/showthread.php?tid=1093)
emerald green ~ Drama - Dragomir Zdravkova - 06-02-2026
Monday, 20 November 1922
3:32pm
~ the path along the lake's edge ~
3:32pm
~ the path along the lake's edge ~
The grounds were still wet from an earlier shower of rain, scattered leaves sticking to the ground in colourful patterns of red and yellow and brown. Sometime after his last lesson the sun had finally broken through the clouds, now glittering over the lake’s surface and casting the space in golden light, warm on his face.
He had been carrying the small box wrapped in blue velvet all day, a square bulging out his left front pocket, but the moment had never fit. Unsurprisingly. The short time in between classes and the chaos and noise of mealtimes had left little opportunity to properly present Matilda with the gift he had gotten her, bought the week before term had begun and safely stored inside his trunk since.
He had wished her a happy birthday already of course, the moment he had seen her in their common room before breakfast.
For her gift though he hadn’t wanted all those eyes on them, always following and prying. He wasn’t bothered by it, people tended to stare at him with a variety of emotions. Not just here where he seemed to be a curiosity beyond comprehension, but at Durmstrang too. He hadn't cared for it then and he didn't now, yet for this, privacy had felt like the better choice somehow.
Once lessons had ended, Drago has asked for her company on a walk and she had agreed.
Walking casually with hands behind his back he looked around at her. “How has your birthday been so far? Did your grandfather send you presents?”
The jewellery box rested against his thigh and even though it had been there all day long, he suddenly became hyper aware of it.
RE: emerald green ~ Drama - Matilda Nordstrom - 06-05-2026
Seventeen.
For some reason she thought it would feel different when the day came. Sure, she could learn to apparate now, but past that nothing felt different. Although, with the freedom of adulthood came the oppressive feeling of duty. With age came responsibility and expectations she wasn’t ready to fulfill.
The flutter in her stomach as Drago and Matilda walked around the grounds told her that things were changing. If someone had told her that a mere four months after finding out she was betrothed to the man next to her, she might not think of it as the end of her life. Well. She would have laughed in their face.
Drago had been a man of his word. She had asked for time, he gave her time. She asked to go slow, icebergs went faster. Little touches, their knees pressed up against each other, disarming smiles and those damn perfect dimples. He knew what he was doing. She was almost certain.
Smart Persistent Bastard.
As was their routine, after his run at the crack of dawn, he found her in the common room. This morning, wishing her a happy birthday, bringing a smile to her face. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that he remembered, but a frozen piece of her heart melted a little this morning.
Thankfully, Matilda had managed to get the day off from all extracurriculars for her birthday, so once classes were done she made her way back up to the common room and changed into a simple skirt, blouse and sweater. When Drago asked if she wanted to take a walk she happily agreed, much to her surprise and more than likely his. As the weeks went on, spending time with Drago was something she looked forward to, not that she would ever admit to it.
Walking through the grounds, they discussed their day, Matilda filling most of the silence. Which was their norm. “Professor Crook paired me with Robert for our potions project. I may have to slip something poisonous into his pumpkin juice so I have a prayer at passing.” Robert was a constant flirt, and someone who didn’t take no for an answer.
“How has your birthday been so far? Did your grandfather send you presents?”
As they walked down by the lake she turned to face him, walking backwards a few steps. “It’s been good. Strange I guess, thinking that I’m officially an adult. Somehow that snuck up on me.” She said, chuckling.
Pulling her long red hair behind her ear, she tilted her hair showing Drago the beautiful family heirloom earrings Bram had sent for her birthday. Beautiful emerald green flower dangling earrings. “He sent these last week, but I opened them this morning. Apparently they were my Great Great Grandma Nordstrom’s.”
RE: emerald green ~ Drama - Dragomir Zdravkova - 06-07-2026
Robert. Drago bit down on his comment, maintaining his softened expression as they walked.
He couldn’t help but feel a sense of annoyance every time the Slytherin’s name fell, especially when it tied to Matilda in some way or another. First it had been that sewing project, and now potions. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think this Robert was inserting himself into projects with his betrothed on purpose somehow. He doubted he could be credited for being smart enough however.
Besides, he had found that Matilda seemed neither interested in the boy nor did she lack the fire to set his head straight by herself. And Drago couldn’t explain why, but he was beginning to like that about her.
“It’s been good. Strange I guess, thinking that I’m officially an adult. Somehow that snuck up on me.”
His smile widened as she chuckled, remembering his own seventeenth birthday and how that had suddenly attached a new label to his name, sharpening expectations, a foretaste of what was to come after graduating.
But that probably wouldn’t be the best conversation to have right now, the ominous promise of real life sneaking up on her too, and what it all entailed, what she would be expected to be. Lev’s warning words sat at the back if his mind but Drago had his plan. He was still convinced of it.
Walking backwards in front of him, Matilda pushed her hair back, showing him her grandfather’s gift.
“He sent these last week, but I opened them this morning. Apparently they were my Great Great Grandma Nordstrom’s.”
The gemstones caught the afternoon light, barely enough for him to see. Wordlessly he reached a hand out, gently grasping hers to bring them to a halt. He let go a split second later, lifting it to push her hair further back, properly revealing the earring.
Glittering emeralds, arranged in a delicate flower patter, contrasting with the red of her hair.
Green and red. He had grown to like that, too.
“Very pretty,” he smiled after a moment, sliding his gaze to hers and dropping his hand away from her face. The small box in his pocket urged him on and for reason he didn’t understand, his heartrate quickened.
“Will look nice with this,” he added, ignoring the sensation and finally pulling the box forth, lightly grasping her hand with his free one. Lifting it, he turned hers palm up, setting the blue velvet box atop it.
His hands returned to clasp each other behind his back, grip a little tighter. “Happy Birthday, Matilda." He smiled, watching for her reaction. "I hope you like it.”
RE: emerald green ~ Drama - Matilda Nordstrom - 06-07-2026
His hand stopping her mid air caused all breathing to halt in her lungs. Still as a statue, she waited for his next move. Her blue eyes locked in on his face watching his eyes take in the earrings, his smile. God that smile. It was rare and beautiful and completely disarming.
“Very pretty.” He said, causing all bones in her body to turn to mush. Oh, she was in a lot of trouble. Loads. She was so hyper focused on his words and the lingering touch still tingling from here his hand tucked the hair behind her ear. That one simple action should not render her stupid, but here they were.
“Will look nice with this.” His hand found hers, lifting it up to deposit a velvet jewelry box in her waiting palm. Could he feel the electricity shooting under her skin? Crackling with excitement. “Happy Birthday, Matilda. I hope you like it.”
Matilda looked down at the box resting in her palm. For a moment she simply stared at it with a small tremor in her fingers. Her eyes stayed on the box, too nervous to meet his eyes that were surely waiting for a response or reaction.
"Drago..." Her voice came out quieter than intended, barely a whisper. Taking a deep breath, she carefully lifted the lid. The breath left her lungs in a hushed “Oh!”
Nestled inside was a delicate gold chain. At its center hung a teardrop emerald, rich and vibrant, the color catching the afternoon sunlight. Where the emerald came to a point sat a small diamond that glittered like a drop of water. For a long moment she forgot how to speak. Her empty hand coming to rest on her stomach, a way to quiet the butterflies.
It was beautiful.
Not flashy or extravagant. Simply beautiful. Something that she could wear everyday, only taking it off for some fancy party or ball.
Her fingers lightly touched the pendant. "Drago..." She tried again, still failing to find the words. "No one has ever..." A lump formed unexpectedly in her throat.
Slowly she looked up at him. The afternoon sun caught in his dark hair. His hands were clasped behind his back again, trying very hard to look calm. He looked almost nervous, probably because she hadn’t thanked him for the gift.
A smile spread across her face, bright and genuine. "It's beautiful. I absolutely love it." Very carefully she closed the box and stepped closer. Her blue eyes searching out his brown, wanting to watch his reaction to her next words. Something she had been researching. Practicing. It would be undeniable when she said it. No more pretending that she hated him or the idea of a future marriage.
Taking a deep breath, calming her nerves, she said in the best attempt she could, “Thank you.” The Russian word came out slightly awkward, clearly practiced in secret and repeated a hundred times before being used.
"Would you..." Her fingers tightened around the velvet. "Would you help me put it on?"
Words in blue are her attempt at Russian
RE: emerald green ~ Drama - Dragomir Zdravkova - 06-09-2026
The anticipation almost grew unbearable the longer Matilda stood there and simply stared at the box in her hand. For a split second he thought she might not want it, merely for the fact it had come from him. That maybe his calculations had been incorrect, that this was too fast and that he should have waited a little while longer yet.
And for some reason that made his heart beat even faster.
But she did open it and that just made it all worse. The grip of his hands held on for dear life. Drago watched her face, tried to interpret every minute flicker of emotion and movement. She wasn’t saying anything and he had no idea what that meant. Even when she looked up her facial expression made no sense to him.
"It's beautiful. I absolutely love it."
She smiled and relief flooded his system like water drenching a fire.
His shoulders relaxed, smile widening. “I am glad,” he said, bowing his head slightly, feeling like he’d just won a race. He didn’t know giving her this gift would turn out to be such a charged moment. When he had first bought it, Drago had pictured the scene similar to this but less…anxious.
It made sense though. This was important. A pivotal point in their relationship, one he had worked towards since start of term. Like a milestone. And it was working. That feeling of success warmed his chest from the inside out, easing the urgent pulse of his blood.
When she stepped closer, his brows rose, tongue on the verge of releasing the quip springing to mind but then her attempt at Russian wiped it away, eyes rounding in surprise before his smile stretched into a wide grin.
That was unexpected. And adorable.
A light chuckle rolled through his chest and he inclined his head once more. “You’re welcome,” he said, replying in Russian before nodding to her request.
Still smiling he took the box from her hand, gently releasing her grip, carefully taking the necklace from the cushion inside. He gave the box back to her and motioned for her to turn. "Lift up your hair," he said as the pendant came to rest against her sternum, and when the clasp closed behind her neck and she was turned back to him, Drago took a second to admire how pretty she looked.
"Green is nice on you," he said and because he couldn't help himself, the grin returned. “You are leaning Russian?” A tease laced his tone. “What else can you say?”
RE: emerald green ~ Drama - Matilda Nordstrom - 06-09-2026
“You’re welcome.” he said, in his deep Russian accent, with a smile on his face. Ugh, that smile had her wanting to do things that were not in the ‘slow’ category.
The pendant settled comfortably against her chest as her fingers found it again, absentmindedly turning the emerald between her fingertips. It felt good against her skin.
“You are leaning Russian? What else can you say?” He asked teasingly. She knew he would react like this.
“You don't get to laugh at me if I say it wrong.” Which, judging by the grin on his face, meant he absolutely would. The truth was, she'd spent far too many evenings practicing the pronunciation. Quietly repeating words to herself while studying. Scribbling them into the margins of parchment. Her nights on library duty could get rather boring, studying a decidedly difficult language helped pass the time.
“Fine, but it’s not much.” Sighing dramatically, she continued. “Thank you. You're welcome. Please.” She ticked the words off on her fingers as she went, carefully wrapping her tongue around the unfamiliar sounds.
A playful smile tugged at her lips.
“Good morning. Merry Christmas. A little.” She paused, then amended, “A lot.”
The smile widened.
“You're annoying. Go away.”
By now she was fighting laughter.
“And...” She pointed a finger at him. “This one was important.”
The next phrase came out accompanied by a snort.
“Oh shit.” The laugh kept going, she found it difficult to stop once she got started.
Pointing a finger at Drago, she said, “In my defense, Hogwarts provides very specific educational needs. I mean, have you met my friends? Please and thank you weren’t going to cut it.”
RE: emerald green ~ Drama - Dragomir Zdravkova - 06-13-2026
With each new word she listed, Drago’s smile grew a little wider. It appeared that maybe his earlier worry had been unwarranted, his concern for where her affections truly stood with him. In fact, it looked almost like the opposite. Learning Russian, even just these few phrases, was a turn of events he hadn’t seen coming.
A welcome twist though. She was coming around to him. To this. Slowly, but he had felt her soften over the past weeks, smiling more, talking more. If the Medovic hadn’t been a sign, then he thought this surely was. A confirmation and filling him with more than just relief. Triumph, yes, but something else too, something he couldn't name. Unimportant though.
He needed to keep her where she was, and that's what he decided to focus on.
“Good morning. Merry Christmas. A little. A lot.”
His brows shot up again. “A little, a lot?”, he asked, confused and intrigued alike. Quite the random addition to the rather ordinary phrases so far. But her next words stopped his train of thought.
“You're annoying. Go away.”
Drago barked a laugh, head tilting back before his eyes found to hers, twinkling with amusement. Of course she would try and learn something like that. She had made her annoyance with him clear enough on some earlier occasions, groaning like a boisterous child, eyes rolling. By now he was familiar with her more unruly, wild side. And not that he’d ever felt deterred by her attempts to get rid of him in the slightest.
If anything, it had only intensified his efforts and determination.
And here they were.
“And...This one was important. Oh shit.”
“Matilda.” His eyes widened by a fraction, tone shifting to something warning but not entirely losing its hint of humour.
“In my defense, Hogwarts provides very specific educational needs. I mean, have you met my friends? Please and thank you weren’t going to cut it.”
He shook his head, but couldn’t help still smiling. “Is not good to say for a woman. You cannot say this in front of family, ever.” He was fairly sure she knew that herself and wouldn’t ever dare but it was better to remind her.
“And pronunciation was off,” he added lightly, a little smug. “We will need to do practicing. Next thing you have to learn is, I will be happy to marry you.”