In good and bad times
Harry had barely sat foot in the kitchen when Mrs. Weasley bombarded him with all kinds of questions regarding the wedding. His mouth echoed the confusion in his mind, so she apologized for her sudden attack, pressed him down into a chair, put a cup of hot cocoa into his hands and asked one question after another. It was a boring procedure, answering questions after moments of serious thinking about issues he would have never put up with in his spare time, if it wasn't for his own wedding they were talking about. They reached the topic of table decoration when Harry had enough.
"What kind of flowers would you like to go with the decoration?"
"Mrs. Weasley, I seriously don't know! Why don't you choose for me?"
"Oh dear, it's an honour! I thought you'd like lilies, what do you think?"
He immediately thought of the one woman who couldn't participate in all the crucial events of his life but who he missed and wished she could. He knew Mrs. Weasley had her in mind as well when she suggested it. "Don't – uhm – don't they blossom in spring?"
"They do but not when we let them grow magically. Actually, all we need are the seeds and a combination of the Juicing and Germinating potion by the famous herbologist Tilden Toots. I heard about it on WWN. I think we can buy them at the florist-"
"Fantastic," Harry interrupted her before she went on and on. He liked her but she went on his nerves from time to time. He thought to himself whether Malfoy's mother went on Malfoy's nerves, too right then. "But I can't decide this alone. What if we get narcissuses for Malfoy, as well? To be fair?"
"Good idea. But Harry, dear, you're marrying the boy, call him by his given name." She ignored Harry's annoyed expression and jumped to the next point, Harry decided it would be the last he was willing to hear. "We have to make a guest-list. Who do you want on it, Harry? Of course we can't invite many with the given circumstances but I think we can afford...ten to fifteen maybe?"
Harry considered who he'd like to have at his wedding while he emptied his cup of cocoa in three gulps, it burned down his throat but the heat was soothing. All of his friends of course, but who were his friends? Nowadays everyone called themselves Harry Potter's friends. He needed the loyal friends, friends who stood by his side in good and bad times, who backed him up no matter what. He needed friends who would still stand by his side and who wouldn't judge him if he married a boy, and the said boy being Draco Malfoy, Gryffindor House's nemesis, his nemesis.
Besides the obvious Ron and Hermione, he immediately thought of the old D.A.-members, Neville and Luna, these two proved their loyalty on more than one occasion and Harry loved them for that. Ginny and the rest of the Weasley's would be there, whether he wanted it or not. They were the most loyal family he knew, he thought of them as his family, but he was still awkward with Ginny. As awkward as he was with Dean at least, his Gryffindor fellow who he knew wanted to secretly get back together with Ginny, that's why he didn't want Dean there. And since Dean was best friends with Seamus, his former Irish class mate who didn't believe him during fifth year, he didn't think he would invite Seamus either. The Patil twins maybe, but otherwise, he was neither that close to them. Sure, they were in the D.A., too, and Harry went on a date with Parvati at the Yule Ball during the Triwizard Tournament, but their loyalty was shaky in Harry's opinion, she and her sister Padma left him and Ron that one night just because they didn't want to dance. Besides, Harry needed to invite the friends who were willing to put themselves at danger when coming to his wedding, the whole marriage was a risk and he knew the Patil twins' parents would never allow them to go on a wedding with half the guests having Death Eater connections, or worse, being former Death Eaters.
So, Harry thought, he needed close and loyal friends, and friends who willingly put themselves at danger for him. He smiled, there were some people like that who came to mind, people he was comfortable enough with to even show his sweaty and stinky self to.
His old Quidditch team.
Not the one from his sixth and last year but the one from his third year, the one he won the Quidditch cup with for the first time and the one he thought of as the best Quidditch team he ever was in. Yes, he'd like that, he would invite his old captain Oliver and the three fantastic chasers Angelina, Katie and Alicia, and of course the commentator Lee Jordan who made every match a thrilling and amusing memory. All of them came to the Battle at Hogwarts and fought by his side. He learned a whole lot about loyalty through his first Quidditch team. Oliver had a great spirit and a lot of passion for the game, he was a strict captain, but he taught Harry how to be equally humble, fair and, most of all, loyal to the team. He had never accepted Harry's resignation to the team that one time, he hadn't even been that angry with Harry, but he backed every one of his team-members up in every situation, Oliver was loyal and he knew he had the best team.
Harry would never forget how his old Quidditch team came to the Battle of Hogwarts and how Oliver helped Neville to carry away the dead bodies of the Creevey brothers. He was still so sorry to the parents he sometimes couldn't sleep at night. Visiting the parents and helping them with housework sometimes eased his mind but he knew he would always feel guilty.
Lee Jordan was more a friend of George and the late Fred, but he never missed to show his loyalty and support to Harry either. How many times had Harry listened to Lee's voice on the radio while he was searching for the Horcruxes in secret? How many times had Lee put himself in such a great danger by openly supporting him and the Order of the Phoenix?
No matter how many times, Harry was grateful for every single one.
He once more thought about other school friends, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, but he wasn't really close to any of them like he was to Gryffindors. And Slytherins were no question, surely Malfoy would take care of them.
He thought about other friends he made during his school years, Victor Krum came to mind and Fleur, but Ron probably wouldn't like having Krum there, and Fleur would accompany Bill anyway. Maybe Fleur would even bring her little sister Gabrielle to the wedding, Harry knew Gabrielle was fond of him since he once saved her life, kind of.
Besides these school friends he would never forget to invite his other best friend, his greatest and longest friend; Hagrid, the half-giant.
"I'd like having my old school friends there; Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Oliver Wood, Lee Jordan, Angelina Johnson, Alicia Spinnet and Katie Bell. And Hagrid of course. Fleur can invite the Delacours if she'd like to."
Mrs. Weasley noted every name on a parchment roll with the tip of her wand. Harry knew he didn't even have to mention the Order members like McGonagall, Flitwick or Shacklebolt because he knew they would be present for safety anyway. "Oh Harry, that's very nice of you. So that's it?"
"I think so..."
"Fine. Now this list has to be checked with Mrs. Malfoy's when we meet her and we'll have to coordinate the arrangements."
"Sorry, Mrs. Weasley, what did you say? We will meet Mrs. Malfoy?"
"Oh yes, dear. Didn't I tell you? We will meet her and Draco at Diagon Alley to buy some necessities for the wedding. You have to get robes, rings and some other things."
"Oh..." Harry was speechless for a moment, he didn't know he would see Malfoy again so soon. He was irritated, his mind repeated the question why Malfoy hadn't told him while his body screamed he was missing his warmth. Maybe Malfoy didn't know either.
"Are you nervous, Harry?"
"No," he immediately said but Mrs. Weasley just smiled at him.
"Don't be, I will be there, and probably a bunch of Aurors Arthur will send, too."
"But that's not necessary, I'm not scared!"
"Of course you aren't, dear. It's just a formality and we don't want to worry anyone, do we?" She could look scary when she wanted to and Harry had no other option than to agree. This woman killed Bellatrix Lestrange, after all.
"No."
"Good. Now it's time for me to make some other arrangements. Merlin, I have so much to do. I feel like I felt during Bill's wedding, like I'm sending away another son."
They were a touching three seconds, really, and Harry would have thanked her for her efforts, if Hermione didn't enter the kitchen, giving Harry the perfect excuse to stand up and leave before he had to deal with an emotional Mrs. Weasley.
"Hi," he whispered and she smiled genuinely back in her morning greeting. Help me, he pleaded with his eyes, making sure his green eyes glistened with tears that were never going to fall.
Of course she saw through and gave him a brown eye roll that said, oh-honestly-Harry. He gave up.
"Since you know me well enough, when she comes up with more questions regarding the wedding, please answer them for me. I can't stand this anymore."
She had pity on him and nodded understandingly, "fine."
Mrs. Weasley had enough to do with making breakfast, so she didn't notice him leaving.
Before he left for the stairs, Hermione whispered to him he should wake up Ron, so she had an excuse for Harry, in case Mrs. Weasley asked where he was. He nodded and went with the intention to let Ron sleep for at least another fifteen minutes.
"And don't forget what I told you, Draco."
"Yes, mother," he answered her on the way to Diagon Alley, he was bored and annoyed because she had already repeated herself twice. "Find out what he likes and buy it, no matter the price."
"Exactly. Wedding gifts are not to be taken lightly. From a pure-blood groom they are even expected, it's tradition. They usually give the most expensive and unique gifts during Courting. You should have seen what your father gave me, witches die for gifts like that!"
"In contrast to what you believe, mother, I heard you say that before. But Potter was raised by muggles, mother. He doesn't even know anything about Courting."
"That doesn't matter. People surrounding him do know and people surrounding us. There will be other wizards and witches at the wedding and they will ask or will observe, it will matter to them. Besides, it matters to me. I always wanted the best for the Malfoy bride. Well, I guess the circumstances are a bit different from what I always expected..."
"Oh mother, Potter won't like that title," Draco suppressed the laughter that threatened to escape, showing his mother only his usual smirk while in public, anything else would be frowned upon and wasn't proper behaviour in her opinion, she had taught him.
"You mustn't tell him that I called him that. Draco, I forbid you to. Draco?"
Draco's attention went somewhere else. "Someone is following us under a Disillusionment Charm."
When he looked back at his mother, she smiled a little bit to his surprise. "Good but too slow, Draco. We're being followed since Knockturn Alley. He's one from our side though, it's for our own safety."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted to get you through today with drawing as little attention as possible. Oh." Narcissa slowed down her steps and inconspicuously pulled out her wand, alarming Draco.
"Oh?"
"Seems like we have another visitor. Draco, pull your wand out and go in," she pointed with her chin to the next shop in reach. "Look, Harry is already there, go and talk to him while I take care of this," she ordered and looked at a spot in the air where Draco suspected their invisible bodyguard to be standing. She seemed to be communicating with him silently but Draco didn't stay to observe, he did what his mother told him. It was a Slytherin characteristic, following orders without questioning. Were he a Gryffindor, he would have stayed out of protest, or bravery, like they used to call the stupidity behind the action. A Gryffindor would have been slow enough to stand outside and get into danger. As a former Slytherin he knew Narcissa was a witch who could take care of herself, he knew he would only be a hindrance to his mother and make her take care of him before she could take care of herself. So, like the former Slytherin he was, Draco knew he should rescue his own skin first, in order that his mother could be egoistic, too.
"Malfoy?"
Draco turned his eyes away from the shop's window and looked at Potter, noticing Mrs. Weasley there, as well.
"Hey, Malfoy bride," he smirked at the look of Potter's lips turning upside down.
"Very funny, Potter bride."
"Shut up!"
"Come and try your white dress on while I'm fitting the wizard robes."
"Just shut up!" Draco came forward with the intention to either hex those lips closed or put his palm on that rude mouth but Potter wrestled his hand away, their engagement rings thrumming against each other and reminding both of what happened in the morning.
"You started it!"
"Boys, calm down!" Mrs. Weasley interrupted them and Draco's hands dropped to his side, being embarrassedly remembered of her company. "Draco, where is your mother?"
"Don't tell me you came alone," Potter said, somewhat shocked but Draco wasn't sure he read that expression right.
"Of course not, you stupid-" he stopped himself in time before letting the childish 'git' slip, why was being mature in front of Potter so difficult? He started again. "That would have been foolish. What do you take me for? A Gryffindor? She's outside, getting rid of an unwanted follower."
"Oh dear, that has to be one of the ministry's Aurors! I'll have to go out and clarify the misunderstanding, you boys get your robes. And Harry, don't fight!"
"Me? But Mrs. Weasley, he started it!" Potter had a pathetic, childish look on his face when he said it that it made Draco snort, the blue lips worried him though.
Mrs. Weasley was already leaving and didn't see the look, fortunately. She rushed through the door and meanwhile Draco took in the scenery, only realizing then where he sat foot in.
"Madam Malkin's?" he asked Potter and turned to him unbelievingly, remembering Harry was standing right there where he had stood during their previous two encounters in the shop. Not very nice memories plagued his mind. The first memory was the one of their first ever meeting, it had been before their first school year at Hogwarts and Potter had barely talked to him while he had given it his all to make him his friend. He had had ignored the filthy muggle clothes the boy had walked in with and he hadn't even known it had been Harry Potter he had been talking to.
The second memory was about their meeting right before the sixth school year and they had almost hexed each other. "Get out, Potter."
Potter looked confused. "What?"
"Let's go to Twilfitt and Tatting's."
"Why?"
"Why? Because I'm not buying here, that's why!"
Various emotions passed on Potter's face, first anger, then confusion and suddenly he nodded knowingly and laughed in a mean way, his emerald green eyes glowing dangerously at him. "You're being ridiculous, this is because of sixth year, right? Because we fought in here?"
"No, it's not," Draco answered and tried avoiding to look at his feet.
"Oh, really? Since when don't you buy here, then?"
"Since..." he didn't know why he couldn't lie, he sighed.
"Sixth year," Potter said with finality. "Is it because Ron and Hermione buy their clothes in here? Do you still think they're a blood traitor and a mud blood?"
"No, I don't," he admitted. He stopped thinking of them as that since a long time, he didn't remember when, but he guessed it was after sixth year. Maybe he didn't ever think of them as that, he just used those insults because they aggravated Harry the most, they were just tools to help him get under Potter's skin. "It has nothing to do with them!" He got angry, too.
"But you implied it then."
"I was angry and actually, my mother did! It's because of you, understand?" He screamed. "Every time I'm in here with you, something goes wrong! Either you're too good to even speak to me or you fight with me! I have a feeling it will neither go well this time!"
Potter opened his mouth and closed it again, staring at him with that stupid, confused expression on his face. When his eyes softened, he answered in a calm voice, "I'm not too good to talk to you, I was a nervous kid and you were being a little, racist brat. And there have to be at least two parties for a fight."
He wanted to argue he hadn't been racist but he calmed himself down, he noticed how Potter tried to reconcile with him. "Does that mean we're not leaving for Twilfitt and Tatting's? Because honestly, Madam Malkin hates my kind..."
"Don't be ridiculous, you bought from here for six years at least. And I don't want to remain in your memories as the one who changed your robe-buying habits."
He puffed air at that. "What do you know about my robe-buying habits? Twilfitt and Tatting's is so much better than this, and nicer," he opened his arms and pointed to the room they were in, looking disgusted at the fabrics and other materials hanging from the shelves in various colours, probably all second-class.
"Come on, Malfoy. Maybe three times will do the jinx."
Potter looked hopefully at him, Draco knew he was trying to hide a grin, and Draco wanted to see it appear on his face. "Whatever."
It did appear then, however shy and not as bright as he hoped it would be. He would have to work on that.
"I wasn't racist back then, by the way. I was being polite and tried to make conversation, but you didn't catch any opportunity I offered you."
"You call that conversation? I barely understood you talking about the wizarding world, coming from a muggle family. You reminded me of my young and horrible cousin Dudley who thought I was a freak."
"The wizarding world's mighty Chosen One and leader called a freak by a muggle? That's outrageous!"
"You don't have to act like that..."
"I'm being serious, Potter!"
"Oh. Yeah, Dudley was a big bully back then and made my life as uncomfortable as he could."
"I'm hurt, you compared me to him."
"I'm sorry. But you made my life uncomfortable in Hogwarts, too."
"Sorry," Draco apologised as well. "However, you did the same."
Potter nodded, "Sorry. Guess we're both somewhere to blame." He looked thoughtful and it made Draco curious while he looked around in search for the shopkeeper.
"Where is she?"
"She's in the back room and eating lunch since I told her I'd wait for you."
"All right. Let's get this over with," he politely snipped his fingers, as if to conjure a house-elf but Potter shook his head and went to knock at the back door.
"Madam Malkin?"
A woman in extravagant clothing, probably self-made, opened the door, "oh, has your fiancé finally arrived, Mr. Potter?"
"Yes, madam," Potter said and nodded almost shyly to Draco, it amused him immensely.
Let's see the old hag get a heart-attack, Draco thought to himself.
"Mr. Potter, I only see Draco Malfoy," she said as she distastefully looked at him, after all he didn't buy at her place anymore and Draco saw that accusing 'traitor' glare in her eyes. "By the way, what are you doing here, Mr.?"
"Well, yes," Potter said pathetically.
Just to annoy her, Draco added, "I. Am. His. Fiancé."
He smirked widely when the old hag fanned herself and chewed on her lip. When she glared with wide eyes from Harry to him, back and whispered to him, "are you sure," Draco wanted to laugh or punch her in the face, all muggle-style.
"Can we choose the robes now?" Potter decided to change the subject to the important part, since he wasn't going to get any warmer wasting time in that shop. He and Draco had better things to do than this. Draco still had to think about the gifts.
Madam Malkin looked like a Confundus had hit her too hard, then she suddenly said, "out, out of my shop. Get out!" She directed that at Draco and shoved him hard before they even knew what was going on. But Draco knew then what was going on, he had predicted this kind of behaviour. Potter made his way between them and Madam Malkin stopped her hands for a moment. "I'm sorry that we have to part this way, Mr. Potter, but this is unacceptable!"
"With all due respect, but who are you to judge that, Madam Malkin?" Potter countered.
"This-I-I can't support this-this uneven, disgusting coupling with robes from my shop, a Death Eater and our War Hero? No! Absolutely no!"
Draco didn't know what to say. He was deeply hurt, and worst, he could have avoided this, if only Potter hadn't been that stubborn. With effort he eased his face muscles and turned the hurt features into a practised coldness, sending it directly to Madam Malkin before he made his way out. At the door he could still hear Potter's meaningless complains which made Draco shake his head.
"For me you are the only disgusting person right now. Draco and I abandoned a normal, typical and peaceful life with wives and heirs, just so people like you could live in peace! I sacrificed my whole life for this stupid war and Draco did the same in agreeing to this truce. Is that your way to thank us?"
Potter obviously didn't wait for her answer because just a moment later he felt Potter beside him, joining him out of the door while Madam Malkin shouted something after them in a stutter. "You will hear about our complain of how you treat customers through a Ministry-owl," Potter bothered to say over his shoulder, then he smashed the door close with a flicker of his wand.
"I told you she didn't like my kind! I told you this would happen," Malfoy hissed between his teeth and led Harry on the way to Twilfitt and Tatting's.
Potter ran to keep up with him and Draco felt him hook his arm in his elbow, pressing into his side in a gesture people would call a public show of affection. Draco knew this wasn't it, though. "Would you stop doing that?"
"See, I'm sorry, you had to go through that, Malfoy. Okay?"
"Not okay, we could have avoided that if you had listened to me!"
"I know and I'm sorry!"
"Good, now take your arm back."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because people who bother to see should know I stand to my decision and the truce, and that I'm not ashamed of it."
"So this is just a public stunt?" Draco looked from their joined arms to his eyes and saw Potter was a bit nervous.
"Yes. That and I'm cold. This feels so much better." He grinned shyly and uncertain, Draco couldn't help but feel a bit sorry, as well.
Instead of commenting on Potter's statement, he pulled him through another alley with the force of his arm. "This way."
Twilfitt and Tatting's seemed just half as big as Madam Malkin's from the outside but it was four times as spacious from the inside. It was a well known fact by the pure-bloods but not among the rest of the wizarding world, maybe that was why it wasn't as famous as Madam Malkin's. The pure-bloods enjoyed feeling superior and having their well kept secrets after all.
The door was spelled to open when customers stood in front of it, much better, than dirtying one's hands, Draco thought. He was just getting accustomed to Potter's arm.
Once they stepped in they were immediately welcomed by the shop owners, Mr. Twilfitt and Mr. Tatting.
He saw Potter watching every corner of the shop with fascination and leaving his side when the two men approached them to observe the fabrics.
"Oh, look who we have here," said the first one with a wide smile.
"Draco, darling! Kiss, kiss," said the second in a high voice while bending down to Draco and kissing the air by his right and left cheek. Draco was already used to their feminine and pompous behaviour, he let it happen.
Mr. Twilfitt air-kissed him, too before he introduced Potter to them. "That there is my fiancé, Harry Potter." The two fanned themselves all of a sudden.
"Oh my goodness, I think I'm going to faint!"
"Draco, you should have warned us! I think I'm going to piss myself!"
Draco smirked, he loved the drama they always put up. "Very funny. We would like to buy our wedding robes here."
"Heaven's sake, Merlin! Draco, you should have told us, you swing the other way, too!"
"Yes, you didn't even give us a chance! But Potter isn't a bad catch either, huh?" Mr. Tatting's winked at him and Draco smirked again.
"If I had known Potter swings our way-"
"You wouldn't have done anything then, love. Anyway, this is like a dream! We will design the most beautiful, most elegant wedding robes the world has seen, oh Merlin, the publicity we'll get!"
"I'm afraid to tell you that we don't have much time, the wedding is tomorrow, so we need the robes right to go. And the wedding is somewhat private for safety issues. I'm sorry," Draco apologised.
"Aw, it's okay. No problem, we can still say later Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy bought their wedding robes at our shop, can't we?"
"Of course," Draco agreed. "Po-" he wanted to call Potter but he didn't want to show how close or foreign they were with each other. "Uhm, Harry, would you come over for a second?"
Potter turned around with a frown in wonder, but shrugged his shoulders when he caught on. "Sure, Draco." He moved to Draco's side and put his arm around Draco's waist as if it was the most natural thing to do. "Hello, I'm Harry Potter." He greeted the owners.
"Of course you are," grinned Mr. Tatting.
"You're most welcome," yelled Mr. Twilfitt and hit his shoulder playfully.
"Uh, Draco," Potter whispered into his ear, his breath a bit freezing against his shell and making him gasp, "could it be that these two are gay?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Way to point the obvious."
"No, I mean seriously, we are not like that-"
"I know what you mean, and now shh," he hushed him. Mr. Twilfitt and Tatting were starting to make goo-goo eyes at them and it was unnerving. He saw Potter nod in his peripheral vision and smiled politely at the men in front of them.
"Would you like to choose the fabrics now?" Mr. Tatting offered.
"Yes please," he said.
"Thank you," Potter added.
Mr. Twilfitt vanished straight to a corner with the finer fabrics just to reappear with about twenty pieces of bewitched material that floated in the air behind him. "What colours, what materials and what designs would you like," he asked the usual standards.
Draco touched all the pieces, one after another, sensing the texture and observing how the light played on the colours. "Too soft, too heavy, too dark, Merlin, my eyes, too hard and filthy. Too much lace." The men looked apologetic and Potter sighed, Draco knew he was getting impatient, so he finally made a choice. "I like this one," he caressed a dark green and satin fabric that reflected the light like water. It looked quite acceptable, actually very acceptable when he gave it a thought.
"I like it, too!" Potter gave his opinion. Draco didn't know if he should take him seriously.
"It's green, Harry. Green is a Slytherin colour."
"And I thought it was my speciality to state the obvious. Contrary to what you believe, I like green. And someone once said green clothes match my eyes, which are also green, if you haven't noticed."
"How could I not notice that," he shouted and instantly regretted it. His face felt very warm and he forced his blood to rush back. But what was that? Was that an awkward smirk on Potter's lips? "Whatever, take it. I'll take something else."
Potter yet looked sad somehow, and embarrassed. "We... could wear the same thing, you know?"
Draco's lips twitched up, "how utterly romantic and disgustingly Hufflepuff of you."
Potter looked almost healthy with that flush across his cheeks. "Forget I ever said it."
"Aw, you're hurting his feelings!" Mr. Twilfitt cooed.
"Bad Draco," Mr. Tatting added and hit him in that playful way.
With a grin on his lips he leaned into Potter's side and whispered. "I was just joking, Potter."
Then he leaned out and turned to the tailors. "We will both take this one."
The two men cheered, separated the material from the others and let it hover in the air while Mr. Twilfitt spelled everything else back to a shelf. A moment later Mr. Tatting spelled twenty new materials to Draco's side, letting him investigate them.
"We will work with two materials, these will accentuate the already chosen one decoratively," he explained.
Two fabrics caught Draco's eyes. One silky grey one and one satin beige one. Both felt exclusive on his fingers and both reflected the light uniquely. He suspected the grey one had unicorn hair in it but he couldn't make out what that beige one was really made from, it shimmered almost golden, maybe there was even gold in it, both were with certainty extremely expensive. Not that it mattered. He hummed thoughtfully. "I don't know which one."
He felt Potter's elbow bump him when he came closer to inspect with Draco. "Looks good." Draco stared at him, Potter stared back and then to the materials.
"What do you think?" Draco asked for his opinion directly. Maybe it would make a difference. "Which one? I think the grey suits my eyes a little bit more."
Potter came impossibly closer, staring daggers into his eyes and Draco's heart nearly skipped a beat. What was he doing there? He must have changed his mind since he suddenly started to run his fingers through Draco's hair, first de-arranging, then rearranging it to its perfect shape.
"Your eyes are really grey."
"Oh really?" Draco scowled, how couldn't Potter have noticed, the ignorant and stupid-
"But the golden one suits your hair more."
So it did make a difference. He cleared his throat and avoided Potter's eyes for the rest of the process. "The golden one it will be then."
"Very well," said Mr. Tatting, separating the chosen piece from the rest which he spelled back to the shelf. He then pointed to the two little stools, "I think you know what to do, gentlemen."
They nodded and stepped each on one of them. Mr. Tatting took Draco's measures and Mr. Twilfitt Potter's with bewitched tape.
"Uhm... so, did your mother find out?" Potter whispered, trying to talk about the morning without being too obvious and the other men understanding.
"What do you think?" Draco snorted.
"I hope not and I think I made it just in time."
"You're right there but I think she knows."
When Potter looked at him in horror, he went on.
"No, she didn't see you but she suspects something, she definitely searched for some signs when I let her in. The ring you wear was once hers, after all. She knows how it works and I think she used Legilimens on me to find out why nobody was there but me."
"Oooh, you two did something dirty, didn't you?" Mr. Twilfitt guessed and Mr. Tatting chuckled.
Potter was more petrified about his explanation to bother what they were talking about. "She uses Legilimens on her own son?"
"Welcome to my life, Potter. Not all the time, but she has her moments of curiosity. Not that I'm not capable of building a stable Occlumency shield, by the way," he smirked, proud of himself.
He didn't know why but Potter went red at that. He'd have to find out another time. "So how did you send me back to the Burrow," he was asked while his arms were measured.
"I have no idea, I thought you did it with your ring."
"Nope, this ring only sends me in one direction. It had to be the Potter ring then."
"How do you come to that conclusion?" he asked although he knew it had to be the truth.
"I put it on your finger, you made your wish and tada, I'm in the Burrow. Practical thing, these rings."
Afterwards they presented Potter and him a huge catalogue about designs they could choose from.
Harry was fine with everything but the older fashioned robes like Ron wore them at the Yule Ball. Draco found nothing presentable. They had agreed to wear similar designs though.
In the end, Draco explained word for word what he had in mind. It had to be broad around the shoulders and tight around the waist but the material should flow wider out anywhere below. The robe had to have clasps on the side and a wide neckline, so one could see the vest of the same material beneath the robe. Underneath they would wear trousers of the same fabric. The arms should be modernly tight and fashionably body-fit, just wide and long enough so one could hide a wand inside. All in all, it should be royally in Draco's opinion.
Mr. Twilfitt and Mr. Tatting spent more than a little time on the design and they spelled a vision of a lot of possible end-products into the air till Draco approved of one design being up to his standards. Potter found it highly amusing, judging the stupid chuckles he gave here and there, which annoyed Draco to no end.
Fascinated they observed how Mr. Tatting charmed the decorative golden fabric onto the green one in magical patterns, circles, arabesque-lines and Runes.
"What are those?" Potter pointed the signs out and asked.
"Wedding blessings," Draco explained.
Mr. Twilfitt was the next one to work with the fabrics, he cut the designs out without destroying the patterns and signs.
They tried on the raw-versions and each tailor fit the pieces to Draco's and Potter's individual bodies.
"I think we still have outdone ourselves," Mr. Tatting noted.
"You both look amazing, it will be a glorious wedding," Mr. Twilfitt stated.
They thanked them and were both satisfied with the look of their robes when they paid and left the shop with more spoken blessings.
"That's how you should be treated," Draco said proudly.
"I admit, they were very nice. But the kissing went too far."
So Potter had seen that. "Jealous, Potter?"
"You wish."
"Let's go to the jewellery shop nearby," he said and grinned all the way with old memories in his mind.
They asked themselves where the adults were when they didn't see any of them in the vicinity till Potter suggested they'd search for them later.
"So what are we doing here?"
"Getting the rings, of course."
"Ah, yes."
The seller was a woman with grey hair, she didn't ask questions and they were grateful, they could act as if they bought the rings for two different people and not for themselves if she decided to ask.
"How about I choose your ring and you choose mine?" Draco murmured.
"All right. But let's decide on the material beforehand at least."
"Gold?"
"Okay."
Draco chose a thick golden ring with a deep-green emerald square on top of it, the reason was obvious.
He turned it to Potter, who grinned and presented him a slim golden ring carrying a fat diamond upon it.
"Why did you choose a diamond?"
"The same reason why you chose an emerald for me. It reminded me of your sparkling grey eyes."
His lips lifted into a smile. "Is this flirting? Are you flirting with me, Potter?"
"Of course not," he said louder, so the strange looking woman could hear that, too in case she heard the rest as well. "Hey, let's get an engraving, as well," he murmured to Draco who raised his eyebrows in return. "Well, I already thought of one, that's why."
He quickly borrowed a feather and a little scroll of parchment from the seller and wrote it down.
"I'll show it to you when you have thought of one, too."
Draco gave it a thought, why not. A moment later he had an idea, it was profoundly embarrassing, though. "Okay, I got it."
"Really?" he nodded to a disbelieving Potter till he was willing to let Draco have a look at the parchment in his hands.
"My next great adventure starts with you – H.P." he read aloud. "Explain, Potter."
"Someone once said to me 'death is nothing but the next great adventure'."
He got very stiff. "So you think this wedding is death to you."
"No, no, no!" Potter shook his head, and he panicked. "I'm sorry, I can't express my thought behind that properly. I think of death as nothing but the next chapter in the story of my life, it's actually the start to the last chapter. But I'm not afraid of it, and someone once advised me not to be, he said it was the next great adventure. Marriage is another chapter in life. I take it, and I hope it will be another great adventure," then he stepped forward and murmured, "with you."
Draco's heart pumped painfully against his ribs that moment, making him breathe deeper in.
"So what was your thought of engraving?" Potter asked him, taking him out of his bedazzled state.
He took the feather and wrote it down under Potter's line. Potter took the parchment when he was done and read.
"I don't do it now but I will. Deeply and only you – D.M.? You will...do me?"
Blood crept up his neck, threatening to flood his cheeks. "For Merlin's sake, Potter! Perverted much? I wasn't thinking about that!"
"What were you trying to say to me? You will do what?"
He cleared his throat. "Love." Potter was the one to blush and start to cough. "I was talking about love. It's a promise that I will try. And that I will stay loyal."
Potter's eyes softened immensely, he advanced in a motion that looked like he was about to hug Draco but Draco stopped him. "Not here."
"You know I would if I could," Potter whispered back and Draco nodded.
They bought the two rings after the seller spelled the engravings into the gold. She even told them the spell and showed them the hand-motion in case they decided to change the sentences cut into the metal.
"Do you think I can change your engraving and you mine even from great distances?"
"We can ask Hermione to make a connection between the rings, so you can change your engraving and it will appear on mine, too, in a sort of communication. We once did this with Galleons."
"Clever."
"What now? We have robes, we have rings."
"My mother is firmly convinced that I should buy you courting gifts in good old pure-blood tradition."
"You don't have to."
"She'll have my head if I don't. Make it easy for me and tell me what you want, Potter."
"I don't want anything."
"Come on, there has to be something, you can buy me something, too, if it makes you feel better."
"Hmm..."
They were slowly reaching Diagon Alley again, having just left Knockturn Alley. Draco suspected Potter wasn't even aware of it. When they passed the entrance to the Magical Menagerie, Draco stopped and turned back. An idea struck him, he knew Potter's owl was killed.
"Potter, do you want a new pet?"
He saw a swirl of hurt in those green eyes for a moment, surely remembering his snowy owl, now dead.
"Nothing can compare to Hedwig, but I kind of need a new owl. I wanted to get one myself one day, but I always postponed it."
"Great, then let's go in. But I'm sorry about Hedwig."
"Thanks," he nodded.
Various animals met them in cages with their different colours, different shapes and different smells. Some of them Draco remembered from their Care of Magical Creatures lessons but some of them even Draco had never seen or heard of. One peculiar example was the huge white-blue bird Potter was getting friendly with. How did he do that so easily, he wondered.
"What is that beast?"
"That's not a beast, it's a thunderbird," said the shopkeeper, a lady in her thirties who appeared out of nowhere. "One of the rarest animals on this earth. Newly imported and it cost a fortune."
"Can it deliver letters like owls?"
"Deliver letters?" the shopkeeper laughed. "Of course it can! And not only that. It can feed a whole city with electricity."
Draco tried to remember what that meant, he had heard that word before, it was something muggle, he was sure.
"We'll take it."
"Don't you want to know how much, first? I expect a thousand Galleons."
"You're crazy, lady!" Potter said, "Malfoy, she's crazy, let's go."
"Relax, Potter. I'm paying for it."
Potter watched him with his jaw dropped. Draco smiled reassuringly and pulled a bag of Galleons out of his robes. He knew the content was two thousand, so he divided the Galleons with a counting spell, creating two bags. One he put back into a pocket of his robes and the other he handed the shopkeeper.
"Thank you very much," she said with a wide grin. "Always a pleasure to have such generous and nice customers."
"A good day to you." Draco replied to her. "Potter take your bird and let's go."
"Are you serious?" Potter seemed to be yet dazed.
"Yes!"
"Wow. I mean, thank you," he mumbled. "I have never gotten such an expensive gift, I mean, wow."
Draco smirked when he left for the door and Potter remained to ask the shopkeeper if his new bird had a name.
"No, I don't know if it had one. You can rename it, but I know it's female" he heard her say.
When they were out of the Magical Menagerie, Potter pulled him into a hidden passage and rested his the large cage on the ground to hug him tightly. "Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you," he repeated against his neck, making his eyes flutter.
A violent cry from the distance made them jump apart. "Mother," Draco let out, scared.
"Mrs. Weasley," Potter said in the same moment while reaching out for the cage. They ran with fear in their bones.
Thanks to all the lovely readers for the hits and subscriptions, and thanks to the following people for the reviews on the last chapter: TearfullPixie, kiikii22, AcadianProud, watergoddeskasey, Cazzylove, Sasunaru N Itchihitsu, MDarkspIrIt, BlackScarredArrow, Paddy Gurl and RRW. You guys give me the spirit to continue!
/Verdandy