Ok! You've talked me into it! I'll update 2 times per week! I'm so glad you guys like the story so much!

Also, the Ministry letters seem to be a big hit! I loved the absurd letter Harry got in book/ movie #5. Tell him he's expelled and he'll have to hand in his wand and then say that you hope he's well... Doesn't make much sense to me, but JKR really amused us with that one so I based my ministry letters on that one. Speaking of Ministry letters the next one is in chapter 6, so don't miss it!

I'll be updating on Sundays and Wednesdays from now on.

Lori

******** ******** Chapter 4 ******** ********

"What's going on?" Harry asked, not understanding why they'd sent the blond away. "Headmistress?"

"Sorry, Professor; we'll be right there." Hermione glanced apologetically at the older woman.

"Quite alright, Ms. Granger." McGonagall nodded in approval. "I've time before I'm needed elsewhere."

"We've got to fix your clothes, Harry." Ron said. "Mione, do a 'Wrinkle free' charm for him. I'll straighten his tie."

"Tuck in your shirt, Harry." Hermione smiled after waving her wand at his clothes. "You should look presentable if not your absolute best when you're introduced to your future in-laws."

"Re-introduced would be the proper word, Ms. Granger." Their former teacher commented offhand.

"Huh?" Harry asked as they fluttered around him. "I don't understand. Like the headmistress said - I've met them before and…"

"Yes, and all they wanted at the time was to kill you." Hermione's lips twitched. "Now they have something you want and they're not just going to roll over for you... I mean, I suppose Draco might..."

Ron choked and even Harry smirked at the innuendo. "Nice, Mione...real nice."

"Thank you...but - back to the point - his parents will want you to prove that you can take care of their precious son and heir." She went on dramatically placing a hand over her heart.

"That will be very important, Mr. Potter, but it's not the most important thing." McGonagall cut in. "From what you said earlier, Mr. Malfoy - Lucius, that is - seems most concerned with their name and reputation as well as maintaining a level of control over his son. He always expected to have Draco and his future spouse under his own thumb because in this world there are rules and procedures for relationships such as these."

Harry nodded slowly as he absorbed what his friends were telling him. "What kinds of procedures?"

"They're pure-bloods, Harry." Ron said grimly glancing at the headmistress. "If this was a normal set-up you would ask his parents permission before getting paperwork from the Ministry. Then there would be a courting period lasting anywhere between two and twelve months. At that point the ceremony would take place and you would go on a honeymoon. That's when the consummation would happen."

"Wow, pure-bloods are pretty complicated." Harry whispered in horror.

"Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Potter." McGonagall shook her head. "Now - during a typical courting, parents generally look for certain qualities in a suitor. Pure-bloods of the Malfoys' stature will notice poise and self control as well as performance under pressure."

Hermione smirked. "In other words, Lucius will try to intimidate you. Don't let him succeed."

Harry bit his lip. "I never realized..."

"Yeah. That's why we're telling you this stuff - because you were raised by those blasted muggle relatives of yours and don't know the wizarding traditions. Also, I think it'll help you impress the Malfoys and that's important if you're to be the Dominant in this marriage." Ron seemed to be taking Hermione's place as the lecturer of their trio. "If Draco sees that you're being considerate of the traditions he was taught, things will be easier between you for the beginning of your marriage."

Harry grinned and hugged his best friend. "I knew you would help me out in this! Thanks, Ron!"

"Hurry!" Hermione nudged him out the door after casting a shine spell on his shoes. "No need to keep them waiting."

"Mr. Potter, you may tell the Malfoys that they may floo home from my grate anytime they wish." McGonagall interjected before the door closed.

Harry rushed down the stairs and bowled Draco over. "Sorry, Draco; shall we?" He held out his hand to help the blond get up.

"You're quite a bloody klutz…" Draco trailed off as he took Harry's hand and stood, looking him up and down. "Well, you clean up pretty nice, Potter… I'm – uhm – Yes… we should go…"

"My friends just know some brilliant charms." Harry smirked. "Ron also gave me a few pointers for dealing with your parents. So…do you trust me?"

Draco nodded once. "I suppose so."

Harry's smirk bloomed into a smile. "Are they in the same room as before?"

"They should be. I believe the auror that escorted them said they were supposed to stay there until McGonagall allowed them to leave the castle by floo." Draco bit his lip and stuffed his hands into his pockets.

Harry led the way back to the classroom he'd seen them in. When they reached the door, Harry extended his hand for Draco to hold if he wanted to and took a deep breath. He smiled when Draco accepted and then pushed the door open to step inside.

The elder Malfoys looked at the boys from a couple of large armchairs that didn't look like they belonged in a classroom.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy." Harry greeted them bowing formally. "I'd like to apologize for getting us off on the wrong foot. The ministry's decree kind of threw things of kilter. I'd had plans to seek Draco out and get to know him better this year but this is putting the horse before the cart – so to speak. I know they've taken away your right to give permission and even forced us to skip over the courting, but I'd like to formally introduce myself... My name is Harry James Potter, and I've requested your son's hand in marriage."

All of the Malfoys looked stunned, Draco included.

Narcissa recovered first. "Well, Mr. Potter, it's nice to know that my son's future husband is aware of the old ways, if unable to follow them."

"I may not be pure-blooded myself, but I have close friends who are and I try to keep myself informed of things I need to know." Harry went on, squeezing Draco's hand. "I assure you: I'm not in this for any unsavory reasons, so we'll follow the law but I won't push things to happen any faster than that. When the letter comes – probably tomorrow – all he has to do is check the box that says 'yes' and we can start down this path together. I'm rather looking forward to it."

"We understand from the letter that you will be given a week for the consummation but he must become with child by one month after that." Lucius said in a monotone voice.

"Yes," Harry answered softly glancing at a blushing Draco. "I wish I could do this right. I wish it could be less business and more emotion."

Lucius glared. "You cannot really expect us to believe that, Mr. Potter."

"Why not?" Harry asked cocking his head to the side.

"Father thinks you still hate me, Harry." Draco shook his head. "He doesn't understand that it was never really hate. You were just reacting to my obnoxious behavior. He doesn't really understand any of this."

"I see…" Harry stepped closer to Draco's father for a moment. "Mr. Malfoy, if I hated him, I'd never have saved him from the fires during the final battle. If I hated him, I wouldn't have noticed how isolated and stressed he was during sixth year. I watched him so closely because I was worried for him. Believe it or not…I care."

"Oh, do you also expect me to believe you didn't want to hurt him with the curse you threw at the end of that year – the one that sliced him open several different ways?" He hissed.

Harry's breath caught as he remembered the sight of Draco on the bathroom floor bleeding from the many gashes Harry's spell had created. He was still haunted by that image – to this day.

"He didn't mean to kill me with it, though!" Draco broke in, to Harry's surprise. "I was trying to cast Crucio; he was just defending himself."

"Don't tell me…he doesn't hold that against you either." Lucius rolled his eyes.

"I don't, actually." Harry admitted. "I forgave him for all the petty little things he ever did when he defied you in your very own ballroom…"

"Yes, I found out about that at the trials." The elder Malfoy turned his gaze onto his son.

"I knew Harry was our only hope, Father." Draco sighed. "I couldn't let him be turned over and killed; not when he could free us from that psychopath."

Lucius glared. "So you've said…"

"Now, Lucius… You know we've both seen the error of our ways, since then." Narcissa cut him off. "Do you truly have feelings for Draco, Mr. Potter?"

"Mrs. Malfoy…he's one of the few people who has never treated me like a celebrity. I've had quite a bit of interest in him for the last several years. We've saved each other and I think we have a sort of respect for one another. He's also very handsome…Affection can grow from attraction." Harry looked at his fiancé. "If the ministry hadn't interfered, I would've asked to date him. I would've wooed him…and figured out whether we had what it took to last before taking the trip up the aisle."

Draco smirked with an expression of sentimental amusement. "Why, Harry Potter…I had no idea you were such a romantic."

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Draco. I'd like to be romantic about this whole thing… but the Ministry was very clear." Harry said sadly. "I'll get my choice of spouse but no further exceptions will be made for me. I'll have to meet the same deadlines as everyone else. My friends are lucky that they match the requirements and had such a prominent role in the war or else they'd be split up."

"We understand, Mr. Potter; don't we, dear?" Narcissa gave her husband a nudge on the arm.

"Yes, of course we do, Cissa." Lucius said, eying Harry. "Draco, we will not fight you on this if it is what you truly desire, but I expect you to spend Christmas and the first week of the summer holidays at the Manor."

Harry stared at the man. Under ordinary circumstances, he would agree at once but the first and only time he'd been to Malfoy Manor was during the war when he and his friends had been taken there by the snatchers. He could still picture Bellatrix pinning Hermione down and aiming her wand with threats. Suffice to say he wasn't looking to go back anytime soon and apparently neither was Draco.

"What are you thinking, Father?" Draco gasped. "After everything that happened there last year… Tell me you're joking!"

"I most definitely am not joking, Draco!" Lucius sneered.

"Father, I'm not setting foot at the Manor until it's fully renovated and purged of Dark energy. I'll be pregnant by that time, for Salazar's sake! I wouldn't ask Harry to even visit there until it's a whole different place from where he was imprisoned and his best friend was tortured!" Draco glared. "Quite frankly, I'm shocked that you would. Where are your impeccable manners?"

"He just wants to be sure you're safe, Dragon." Narcissa stepped to her son's side and took his hand.

"Don't be ridiculous; Harry won't hurt me." He huffed. "If he'd go to these lengths to present himself this way and be polite to Father, I truly believe he'll not harm me. Besides, I'm sure the Ministry would have someone looking out for that sort of thing."

Harry blinked; hearing Draco defend him was quite a novelty. "I would never harm my spouse. I told you that before, Mr. Malfoy. Do I really have to say it again?"

"It's alright, Harry. We'll say it however many times they need to hear it." Draco assured him.

Lucius let out an undignified snort.

"Well, I think you've overstayed your welcome, sir." Harry's eyes narrowed. "The headmistress will allow you to floo home as soon as you're ready. Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Draco, would you care to go somewhere to talk?"

The other boy nodded. "I'd love to." He hugged his mother before following Harry from the room. "Where are we going?"

"I dunno, maybe the pitch…or the Room of Requirement. I checked it – by the way – and it still functions quite well." Harry suggested before slipping into an alcove and turning to watch as his future in-laws walked down the corridor to the gargoyle outside of the Headmistress' office. "No offense, but I really don't trust your father."

"I don't blame you." Draco said when his parents had disappeared past the gargoyle.