Author's Notes: Thank you to everyone who is reviewing and reading this story! This is a short update but I hope you will like it. And I have a question…how much detail do you want of the Auror training? Because…I have to cover two years before Harry comes to live with them and I have most of the Harry stuff written but I've got a total Writer's block on the Auror training. So, can I skip to Harry? Let me know!

And now…

Chapter 3

Corbin set his trunk down in the room that would be their bedroom and took a deep breath, looking around. His broom was already in the front closet downstairs. He didn't have anything else, not being able to get his things from his parents. They'd Apparated directly from King's Cross station to the cottage. The end of school had been a whirlwind of Quidditch matches and classes and studying for NEWTs. The tests had been tough but he was confident both he and Cassius had done well. They were now waiting to hear back from the Auror admissions to see if they qualified.

Corbin couldn't quite believe school was over and he and Cassius were going to be married in a week.

"Ready to go to Diagon Alley?" Cassius was leaning against the doorway, Corbin wasn't sure how long he'd been there. "I thought we'd shop first then have dinner, we can at least get a bed before the shops close."

"Cassie, I think maybe I need to get a job or something, you can't spend all your money—"

"It's our money," Cassius interrupted with a slight frown. "I thought we sorted this all out already."

"But furnishing the cottage will cost a lot of money." Corbin's stomach rolled at the thought. The cottage was completely empty and neither of them had any furniture. (Cassius had refused to take any furniture from Malfoy Manor.)

"Which we have."

"Which you have." Corbin corrected him and rubbed his stomach when all Cassius did was raise an eyebrow. "I don't want you to resent me not paying my share."

"I won't." Cassius straightened, "Now, come on, I'm starving."

That night, they lay on their bed, in the middle of their empty bedroom and Cassius slides into him and Corbin doesn't feel the emptiness anymore. He just feels the silk heat of Cassius as they move together. The moonlight streams in through the curtainless windows. Cassius's skin echoes the pale glow of the moon and Corbin digs his fingers into Cassius's back, feeling the scars underneath his fingertips.

The next few days, they go shopping for the rest of their furniture. They'd drawn up lists for each room, prioritized what they needed. Corbin feels his stomach twist as the galleons are spent, big bags of them over several days. They don't have everything they want yet, but Cassius says he's given a list to his family of things they can get them for wedding gifts. Corbin wants to ask how expensive the things are on the list, but doesn't. He wonders how his own parents would feel if they got an invitation to the wedding.

Corbin is woken by a muffled thump and swearing.

"What are you doing?" Corbin asked, hearing Cassius in their closet.

"Looking for dress robes."

"Why?" He sat up in bed, rubbing a hand over his face.

"We're getting married."

"I know we are. But…you didn't want to wear dress robes. We're just going to wear muggle clothes. That's what you wanted."

"Really?" Cassius looks at him around the closet door.

"Yes."

"And…where we getting married?"

"At the Ministry." Corbin answers. "You haven't been sleeping." It isn't a question.

"Have."

"You're supposed to tell me when you're having problems sleeping." Corbin scowls.

"No dress robes?"

"No dress robes." Corbin repeated firmly. "Come back to bed, Cassius, it's not even three in the morning."

The day of the wedding started out as a nightmare.

Corbin woke to Cassius having a panic attack, his fingertips bloody. He managed to keep his stomach from rebelling until the fingers were bandaged.

Owen arrived as he was getting sick in the loo and started a monologue about how if he was getting sick maybe that meant their relationship wasn't ready for the step of marriage.

He could hear Cassius start hyperventilating, again.

"All right, enough," Corbin splashed water on his face and quickly brushed his teeth. "I don't want to hear one more word."

"If Cassie is in this state, I don't think it's good for him—"

"Owen, he's forgotten that his father won't be there." Corbin snapped. "It'll be fine." He walked back into their bedroom where Stevens was sprawled across their bed, one arm hanging over the edge rubbing Cassius's back as he rocked back and forth. Corbin crossed to him and knelt down. "It's just going to be us. No dress robes. No other Malfoys. Just us." He lowered his voice and leaned closer, "Baby, I told you I'd never let anyone hurt you. I never would. Ever."

"Father not there?" Cassius looked at him.

"No. Lucius arranged a family holiday, they're out of the country." Corbin kissed Cassius's cheek gently. "Our appointment is in less than an hour. Take a shower with me?"

"No dress robes."

"No. You can even wear jeans, I don't care."

"Getting married."

"Yes, we are." Corbin agreed, pulling Cassius to his feet. "We'll see you all tomorrow."

"What?" Owen looked at him, "Why won't we see you at the ceremony?"

"Because it's just going to be the two of us," Corbin said, "It's what Cassie wanted."

"See you tomorrow for brunch, yeah?" Stevens said, standing up.

"Yeah."

"Give us a hug," Stevens didn't give Cassius a chance to refuse, just folded him into his arms. Corbin could hear him murmuring something that caused Cassius to nod and smile shyly.

Owen hugged Cassius too, while Stevens gave Corbin a hug that made his ribs creak.

"You two," Stevens said quietly, "make me believe in true love."

"You old sap," Corbin laughed, hugging Stevens tighter.

Owen offered his hand for Corbin to shake and Corbin, feeling his stomach flip, didn't feel comfortable pulling him in for a hug.

The hot water sluiced down his skin, as he rubbed soap over Cassius's back.

"I swear, Cassius, you're going to be on a sleeping potion for the next week." He grumbled as he grabbed the shampoo bottle and squeezed some out, rubbing it first in Cassius's hair then his own. "Wash your hair."

Cassius started scrubbing at his hair, "Cory, you sick?"

"You know the sight of blood always makes me sick." Corbin answered, moving around Cassius to rinse the shampoo out of his hair. "I want to marry you."

"Yes?"

"Yes." Corbin answered. He was thankful the ceremony would be short and that Cassius would have to repeat the vows.

They finished their shower and ate a quick breakfast before leaving for the Ministry. The ceremony was quick, mainly signing forms and papers to show that they were legally married.

Corbin looked at the goblet filled with dark red liquid. It was twilight outside now, and they'd been married for seven hours.

"You don't have to do it."

"Yes I do." Corbin took a deep breath, trying to settle his stomach. The ritual was centuries old, performed whenever a Malfoy married. In spite of his rocky relationship with his father, Cassius still held tightly to some of his family's traditions. Corbin took another breath and then slammed the contents of the goblet, trying to swallow as quickly as possible. He set it down, wiping his mouth with a shudder. "Ugh." He shuddered as he felt a heat all over his skin. He looked over at Cassius who was staring at him with open adoration. He grinned and grabbed Cassius by the back of his neck, drawing him into a hard kiss. "How long until we know it worked?"

"Father said it should be within a few minutes."

Corbin shook his head, the words felt different, heavier than normal.

"Did you understand me?"

"Yes." The word seemed oily in his mouth.

"It worked, you're talking back to me." Cassius smiled joyfully.

"Does this mean we can talk now and Owen and Stevens won't be able to understand us?"

"Yes, now I can tell you all the naughty things I want to do to you and they won't have a clue."