Well, Anna liked it…

Title: What You Could Do

Author: Kicks (kick_flaw@hotmail.com)

Archive: fanfiction.net under Kick Flaw, my site: http://www.angelfire.com/grrl/kick_flaw/

Pairing(s): Harry/Draco

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: slash, fluff

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Disclaimer: Is there any cross-dressing in Harry Potter? No? Then I still don't own it.

Notes: This is written along the same lines as the final conversation in Manifestations. I tortured myself trying to decide whether or not this should be an epilogue a longer fic, or kept alone (and posted). So, I figured, since I may never WRITE a fic it could epilogue, I'd go ahead with the posting, adding a disclaimer and the promise that a preceding story may crop up in time.

Disclaimer II – I retain the right to erase this fic from the internet for use in a later venture.

Summary: Harry and Draco have a pivotal, if simplistic, conversation.

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What You Could Do

Harry looked at Draco. Draco looked at Harry. Then Harry said:

"I'll never leave you, you know."

He said it placidly.

"It doesn't matter what you do. You could lie. You could steal. You could sleep with Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Dudley, Sirius. You could come to our bed with the blood of Dumbledore on your hands and I'd lift up the blankets for you."

There was no inflection in his tone. No rise or fall. Just the simple, core truth of his words.

"You could become everything I was taught to hate, and it wouldn't matter."

Draco listened.

"You could hurt me."

Draco didn't blink.

"You could leave me."

Draco didn't move.

"You could torch the very idea that makes me, and my arms would still be there for you."

Harry looked at Draco. Draco looked at Harry. And then Harry asked:

"You know that, right?"

"I know." And Draco's words were placid as well.

"Do you know why?"

Draco thought about it. His eyes went foggy as he sought through the depths of his knowledge and found no answer. Eventually, he shook his head.

"No."

Harry smiled, pleased.

"Because you love me."

Draco nodded at this.

"You love me. And it doesn't matter what you do or what you are, what you become or what I become, or how much hurt lies between us. That will never change. You will always love me, forever. Forever."

Draco nodded once again, unsurprised. It was no shock to him, what he'd already known. He asked:

"Are you proposing to me, Harry Potter?"

Harry thought.

"I think so."

Draco thought.

"I do."

"A little early for that line, don't you think? Last I checked, there were a few more formalities before it came to that." Harry arched an eyebrow playfully.

Draco shook his head again, a quiver of motion at the corner of his mouth belying his amusement. "No. I do. I love you. Forever."

"Oh."

They were silent.

"Is that a yes?"

"What do you think?"

"I don't when you're around."

"Well, what do you feel?"

"I do too."

"Then it's settled."

El'Endo

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If I were ever to get married, I would want the proposal to go like that.