Chapter 7

Harry was at the bottom step of the staircase when he heard a pair of voices talking. He stood against the wall and listened in on the two who were just around the corner.

"When should we tell him?" He heard Ron whisper.

"I don't know. But definitely before everyone else. Maybe after Kingsley's funeral, it might cheer him up a bit." Hermione sounded excited about something but Harry couldn't figure out what. When he didn't hear anything after that, he peeked around the corner to see if they had gone. All he saw though was them kissing. Harry, pondering what that could have been about, went back up the stairs quietly and waited a few minutes before he came down again.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt was an honorable, brave man. While he did not have a wife or children, he was loved by many. He was a childhood friend of mine and I remember back when were just boys-" Harry tuned the wizard out. He didn't want to hear anymore. It was hard enough just being in the cemetery. He looked down at the coffin hovering in front of him. He thought about what it would be like to be dead. If it was peaceful and if there was really a heaven or hell. He wanted to believe that if those places did exist that he would go to heaven. He had a feeling that he wouldn't, what with being the cause of so many deaths. He never directly killed anyone, unless you count Voldemort, but it was because of him that so many people were now six feet under. To him, that meant he was just as guilty as the person who pulled the trigger, figuratively speaking of course.

Harry scanned the crowd around him, wondering what they were thinking. He only recognized a few people, most of them being Order members and professors from Hogwarts. This made him reminisce about Dumbledore. He missed the man dearly. He was like the grandfather he never had. While Albus kept him in the dark most of the time, he did it with intentions of protecting him and telling when the time was right. He was glad for that, he didn't think he would have been able to handle learning about Horcruxes at age 11. On the other hand, Harry was upset that the man didn't think him capable of handling the truth as he got older.

Harry watched as the ivory casket lowered into the ground. He saw the people crowd around crying and throwing roses into the hole in the ground. He didn't have anything to give, so he made his way through the mourning people and disapparated as soon as he exited the graveyard.

He didn't stop walking as he grabbed his trusted bottle of firewhiskey, uncapped it, and headed to the study, taking large gulps of it as he went. It was half empty by the time he threw himself onto the couch. In his drunken haze, he started to think about death again and decided that it might be nice to die. He covered his face with a pillow sitting on the couch but gave up when he couldn't breathe. He threw the pillow across the room, knocking several books off a shelf, and laid down with a sigh.

"Having fun Potter?" Harry hadn't realized there was anyone else in the room, let alone, Malfoy. He was startled by the sudden intrusion of Draco's voice into his thoughts and fell on to the floor. Harry found this hilarious and started giggling uncontrollably. He felt Draco grab his arm to help him up.

"Your hands are warm."

"And that surprises you, why?"

"I don't know, I guess I expected them to be cold like your heart." Draco narrowed his eyes at Harry.

"I'm not an emotionless bastard you know. I have feelings too. I just don't make them as obvious as you do." Draco didn't sound angry when he said this, which surprised Harry. Actually, Harry was surprised Draco answered him at all, and helped him up too. This was getting weird. In a good way though.

"Why'd you help me up?" He was sitting on the couch with the blonde at the other end.

"My mum's in France, my fathers in Azkaban and I'm not being pushed around by Nott anymore. I can do whatever I want."

"And what is it that you want Draco?" Harry let the question slip before he could stop it. He was yelling at himself inside his head. What made it worse was that he practically purred the question. Malfoy quirked an eyebrow as he looked at Harry.

"I want..." He paused and bit his lip. Harry was sitting on the edge of his seat hoping and praying that Draco's answer would be 'You'. Just as he was about to finish the sentence, though, the study door was opened.

"Harry! There you are. We've been looking everywhere for you. Oh," Hermione stopped when she saw Malfoy sitting on the couch with Harry. Draco rolled his eyes and left the room. Harry couldn't help but feel disappointed.

"Harry, Ron and I have an announcement." Hermione and Ron were standing in front of him holding hands, both had big grins on their faces.

"We're engaged!"

Ever have a friend who wants to hang out constantly and they never go home? yea. im dealing with that right now. so thats why this took me so long to update. but the next chapter will be harrys reaction and dracos answer :D