Draco opened his eyes, feeling disoriented. He was in his bed, but something was different.

His eyes were drawn to his left. Messy dark hair covered the other pillow, a patch of bare skin visible at the base of his neck. Draco pressed his lips there, almost without thinking.

Harry rolled over, his lips curved into a small, shy smile. "Good morning."

Drawing him closer, Draco kissed him, slow and sweet. Unrushed. Savoring the way Harry returned the kisses.

He pulled back. "Last night...did all that really happen?" It just seemed too crazy. He was almost afraid to question it too closely. Whatever had happened, the end result was Harry in his bed kissing him that way.

Harry chuckled. "The curse breaking ceremony? Yup."

"Did the house elves slip me a potion in my drink or something? It all seems a bit fuzzy to me."

Clearly amused, Harry grabbed his glasses from the side table to see Draco better. "Tell me what you remember. I'll tell you if you get anything wrong."

"Fireworks?"

"Well, of course. Hermione had mentioned needing to go 'all out'. I thought they fit the bill quite well."

"It certainly started things off with a bang," Draco said dryly. "The bonfire and the honeysuckle stuff?"

Harry gave a little shrug. "I left in the morning still a bit angry with you and Hermione. So I went to have it out with her. We talked everything over. I agreed to do the ceremony as best we could."

"So bonfires are essential?"

"We checked through many books, and thought it couldn't hurt. Luna gave us a lot of suggestions too. She supplied the body butter." Harry was trying to keep a straight face.

"Were you in pain? You kept moving so weird, I was afraid you'd hurt yourself."

Harry sighed. "I was dancing! Naked, uninhibited dancing around a bonfire was stressed as important."

"Was it, really?"

Pressing his lips tight together, Harry glared at Draco a little. "Look, didn't you feel it? The energy? It was pulsating all around us and got stronger and stronger. It was much easier to feed it when you got naked and moved."

Draco took a deep breath, thinking back on the night. The energy had been there, almost like their regular low grade awareness of each other, but cranked up a thousand times. The energy had hummed and pulsated, dancing over their skin and through them. "Yeah, OK. I felt that."

"It worked. I feel like myself again. I slept normally last night and again this morning." Happy grinned widely.

Draco felt his heart skip a beat at that. "So, what now?"

"I've thinking pancakes and bacon. I'm so hungry."

There was a small knock on the door, and the house elf waited for Draco's command before opening the door. "Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley have arrived, sir. Inquiring after Mr. Potter."

Draco rolled his eyes. "Tell them we will down shortly."

Once Mino was gone, Draco gave Harry one last, long kiss. "We will continue this later, once they have left." He wasn't sure if he meant the conversation or the slow kisses. Probably mostly the latter.

Crawling out of bed, they both stretched before slipping on the robes. Their hair was a mess from sleeping on it wet. Draco finger combed his silky strands into a semblance of order, Harry didn't even bother with his.

Grabbing Draco's hand, Harry ran with him down the stairs and into the living room.

Ron and Hermione grinned at seeing Harry looking so energetic and happy. They came forward, both giving him a hard hug, and then surprisingly hugging Draco tightly too.

"Thank you, Draco. I think the curse is completely gone now." She pulled out her wand, using it to scan over Harry. Ron had his out too, doing his own checks for his own piece of mind.

Hermione grabbed Draco's wrist tightly, with a slight gleam in her eye, and apparated them before he could react.

"Shit! You have to stop doing that!" Draco growled at her, yanking his arm away and looking around. It was the same upstairs hallway she had taken him to the first time.

Ron appeared with Harry a second later, looking a little irked as well.

Hermione just grinned widely at them both. "Now that the curse is broken, it's time to celebrate. All the people who came to visit you when you were under are here, and it's only right they get to see you hale and hearty again."

"So, this is a surprise party...for me?" Harry grinned slowly, as he realized there were sounds of music and people talking coming from the main floor.

Ron nodded. "Just go into the guest bedroom and get dressed. We bought you some clothes. Come down when you are ready."

With that, Hermione and Ron went downstairs to their guests, leaving Draco and Harry alone.

Draco just arched an eyebrow towards Harry. "Well, shall we?" He could see how quietly pleased Harry was by this gesture by his closest friends, so didn't want to make things uncomfortable by leaving himself.

Downstairs were people Draco hadn't seen for years. Many would probably rather spit in his eye than shake his hand. Had Hermione or Ron told them that Harry and he were ...what? Involved? Intimate? Would that make things even more uncomfortable for them?

It was probably best if they kept their 'relationship' to themselves for now. Draco would go to this party but bring as little attention to himself as possible. Let Harry be the center of their attention, as it should be. He's the one who had almost died and was back to his old self now.

Harry's eyes widened a little at Draco's acceptance of this surprise gathering, but then he nodded, enable to hide the spark of excitement in his eyes.

The bedroom had clothes for them to change into and the bathroom some grooming materials to fix their hair. Draco tugged at the simple black robe he wore, the fit good enough. Harry was wearing some dark jeans of Ron's, with the bottoms folded up a little, paired with a dark green hoodie.

Harry took Draco's hand, tugging him closer to give him a soft kiss. "Are you sure this is OK?"

Draco was touched at the concern in Harry's eyes, and that he understood how hard this was going to be for him. He squeezed his hand back, nodding even though he already felt nervous. This was important for Harry.

They walked down the stairs, Harry still holding his hand, but Draco let go when they got to the bottom. "Go on. They are all waiting for you." He didn't want Harry's well deserved attention for his recovery be spoiled by Draco's presence. He gave Harry a little push forward, while stepping back towards a wall himself.

There was a cheer as Harry got noticed by the crowd, pulling him into that circle to be hugged and fawned over. Everyone was smiling broadly, saying how great he looked. Many had happy tears in their eyes, with Harry looking touched by their concern.

Draco watched from the sidelines, only a couple people even noticing him there and getting a cool response. He sighed, trying to tell himself that it was better when they simply gave him the cold shoulder than resorted to insults or physical attacks.

It was easier to just watch Harry, seeing how everyone just loved him. What would it feel like, having that many friends? Draco couldn't help noticing the ones that hugged Harry a little too long. Where those some of his former relationships, people he had dated? The ones whose kisses hadn't worked on Harry?

Hermione pushed through the crowd, handing Harry a glass of champagne. "Thanks to everyone for coming here tonight to help us celebrate Harry's recovery. It's hard to believe a month ago he was at death's door, with almost no hope in sight. Let's toast to his good health."

Everyone held their drinks up, making the toast and taking a sip. Ron had appeared at Draco's side, passing him a glass of champagne and clinking glasses with him.

"There is someone here we really have to thank for being a key to Harry being here today. Draco Malfoy!" Hermione called out with a wide smile, and turning towards him. She waved for him to step forward.

Draco was frozen on the spot as dozens of heads turned his way. Staring at him, silently judging him. The last time he'd seen many of these people was at his trial, and knew many of them thought he should have served time like his father had.

Ron was pushing him through the crowd, bringing him to his fiancée's side. Hermione grabbed his hand, tugging him close to give him a hard hug. Right in front of everyone.

"This man saved Harry, but also saved me from losing my job. We had taken so much time off work to be with Harry, that when he started looking better, Draco volunteered to let Harry recover at Malfoy Manor." Ron added, smiling at him and patting him on the back. Draco was at a loss for words, feeling moved by it all.

"Ron and Hermione did drop everything to get me over the worst." Harry said, his warm glance going to his closest friends. "And thanks to everyone who visited me when I was 'sleeping'. I might not have been aware you were there, but you also gave my friends support when they needed it." His green eyes scanned over the crowd, clearly feeling emotional at seeing so many friends at the party.

Harry took Draco's hand, pulling him to his side. Draco tried to resist, shooting Harry a glare and giving a small shake to his head, but the Auror wasn't happy until his arm was around Draco's waist. "This man has been there for me every day this past month, letting me stay in his beautiful home, seeing to my every need. When I got bored, he took time away from his work to fly with me, or gave me easy jobs so I could feel useful. So, let's toast Draco Malfoy!"

Harry, Ron and Hermione immediately held their half-full glasses up high. Other people joined them, like Luna, the Weasleys, and their Auror friends. The rest of the crowd looked stunned at Harry's impromptu speech, and seeing them standing so close together. Slowly, more and more of them were lifting their glasses as well.

Harry drank the rest of his champagne, and then gave Draco a tight hug. "Thank you." The soft words were for his ears only, and Draco's heart gave a hard squeeze in response.

Little speeches over, the party got into full swing. The music went louder and drinks flowing freely. Harry was soon pulled away, continuing to visit with all his own friends.

Draco found people looking at him differently now, giving him small nods of acknowledgment and grudging respect.

"So, what have you been doing all these years? I've hardly seen you around and had wondered if you moved abroad." Neville Longbottom had stepped closer, surprisingly tall and fit these days.

Draco finished off his drink since his mouth felt incredibly dry. "Oh, I...um... have a workshop at home and brew potions. How about you?"

"I teach Herbology at Hogwarts now." Neville said with a chuckle.

"Really? Perhaps you could help me with a problem I've been having lately. My mandrake roots have been coming out a bit soft." Draco explained, accepting a glass of wine from Ron when he passed by.

Neville grinned. "Yes, that's a common problem. It's likely too wet for them and they are rotting. Try an area that drains better with lots of sun."

That sparked other questions, and Draco hardly noticed how long they had been chatting, with other people joining them to discuss their gardens and asking Draco about his potions.

"I've gotten quite good at potions for allergies. One of my house elves was always sneezing and having the worst runny eyes due to hay fever. He hardly shows any symptoms now." Draco told a Hufflepuff girl whose name he couldn't remember. "Send me an owl with your address and I'll send you a bottle of my latest formulation."

Eventually, he escaped to go to the washroom and slipped out the back door of the house afterwards. He just needed a moment alone somewhere quiet.

Unfortunately, Ron was sitting on a chair nearby, sipping a glass of fire whiskey. He motioned for Draco to join him. "I see you aren't really into big parties either."

Draco shrugged as he sat down. "I've been on my own so long, it feels odd to be surrounded with people now. A bit overwhelming."

"Well, you looked comfortable. You were certainly talking with enough people!" Ron chuckled.

Draco rolled his eyes at the redhead. "Thanks to you three making speeches about how much I did for Harry. He simply stayed in my large house with the house elves doing everything for him. I hardly even saw him except for those damn goodnight kisses."

"I never did understand why you did that." Ron sat up straighter, giving Draco a funny look.

Draco scowled back at him, crossing his arms tightly over his chest. "What choice did I have except do that? After Hermione told me he was getting worse after he woke up?"

Ron scoffed, taking another big sip of his fire whiskey. "That's ridiculous. He was awake about fifteen minutes longer every day. Steadily improving. He was up almost five hours on the day you came for tea..."

Draco simply saw red. Ron babbled on, his words fading into the background. That fucking witch! Guilting Draco into doing things, lying to him outright, convincing him that Harry needed to stay close to him for a month. Was any of it true?

"Hey, did you really think Harry needed you to kiss him every day to get better?" Ron was chuckling, noticing how silent Draco had been. "Oh Merlin, this is so good! She out-snuck a Slytherin!" The fire whiskey was making him slur a little as he said that.

With a huff, Draco launched himself from his chair. He stomped into the house, scanning over to the crowd until he saw the witch heading into the kitchen with a handful of empty butter-beer bottles. He followed her into the small room, thankful that no one else was inside.

"How could you lie to my face like that, time after time?" Draco hissed, standing right in front of the witch.

She shrugged, one corner of her mouth lifting in a bit of a smirk. "What lie? Nobody knew exactly what the curse involved."

"Ron said Harry was awake a little longer each day after he woke up. You definitely lied to me about that." Draco glared at her, daring her to deny it.

Hermione broke the stare first, her face reddening a little as she looked off to the side. "OK, OK...maybe I exaggerated things a little, but it was for both of your sakes."

"Yeah right!" Draco's voice was getting louder in frustration. "You wanted a nice convalescence home for Harry while you and Ron went back to your normal lives. I was a convenient nursemaid!"

Hermione straightened up, glaring right back at Draco. "Oh Merlin, you know it was more than that. You, and only you, were the one whose kiss woke him up. You damn fools love each other and are too stupid to admit it."

"Go back to reading your fairy tales." Draco sneered.

She rolled her eyes. "Really? Sure, I pushed you two together, hoping that after being together a month you would figure things out. Are you denying that you and Harry...?"

She left off the last word suggestively, and Draco took a step away. "Put any two people together in a situation like that, and they are likely to turn to each other out of sheer convenience. Opportunity. Hormones." He shrugged. "It doesn't mean anything. Harry's cured now and he'll move back to his own place. Who knows when I'll see him again."

"Oh no, that will screw things up completely! You have to be together for every day of the honeymoon." Luna said, entering the kitchen. She must have just heard the last part of what Draco said. She looked pretty in a long, lilac colored dress, her blond hair elaborately braided.

"Honeymoon!" Draco repeated back, looking between Luna and Hermione.

The dark haired witch seemed uncomfortable. "The ceremony you two performed last night had most of the elements of a Moonist wedding ceremony. It's an ancient religion, tied closely to the moon and nature, much like the curse on that apple. You had to raise the energy and prove your bond under a full moon to truly break the bond the curse had on Harry."

Draco felt a bit shaken, grabbing hold of the counter nearby to stabilize myself. "So, Harry and I aren't married then?"

The sound of glass breaking had them all turning around. Harry stood in the doorway to the kitchen, staring at them, a broken bottle at his feet. "We aren't, are we?"

Hermione grabbed her wand, murmuring 'Evanesco' to vanish the glass away. "No, no...of course not. We just based the ceremony on that to break the curse." She put a comforting arm around Harry, drawing him towards Luna and Draco. Her concern over him was still very evident.

"Um...I think there was some confusion then." Luna said, giving an apologetic smile. "I had the impression you thought only a Moonist bonding would break the curse."

Hermione ran her fingers through her hair. "Yes, something powerful. Bonding but not a marriage."

Luna shook her head. "There really isn't a difference to Moonists. What Harry and Draco did is a Moonist marriage."

Draco let out a groan, needing to sit down now. He felt a headache coming on as well. This was just all spinning out of control. He really should have declined Hermione's first ridiculous request and stayed happily in his own home alone.

Hermione and Luna were debating over Moonist theology and practices, Hermione basing her arguments on the research she had done. Luna was countering with information from her own family, many who still followed that ancient religion. Draco just closed his eyes tight and tried to tune them out.

Something cold nudged against his hand, and Draco opened his eyes. It was Harry, looking down at him with concerned eyes. He was offering Draco a cold beer, already drinking one himself.

Draco accepted it, taking a long sip and savoring the way the icy, slightly bitter ale slid down his throat. He felt his tension unwinding a little, his headache easing.

Harry sat in the chair next to his, leaning closer to talk with Draco privately. "Look, I know this is a mess and none of it's your fault. You've done enough already for me. I'll move back to Grimmauld place tonight. Give you back your peace and quiet."

Draco's heart clenched at the thought of Harry leaving, but he kept his expression as neutral as he could. "If you think that's for the best..."

"Oh, you can't do that." Luna said almost at the same time, overhearing them. "You have to sleep in the same bed until the end of the honeymoon."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, what now?" Draco groaned.

Harry bit his lip, his eyes troubled as he looked between Luna and Draco. "Is that really necessary? How long is the honeymoon period anyways?"

"Another cycle of the moon. Another month. Then you can be apart, except for full moon nights, of course." Luna happily supplied, seeming oblivious to the men's distress. "It's a lot like the ancient hand fasting traditions. The couple make the bond themselves, and after a year, they can choose to stay together or separate, with no bad feelings between them."

Hermione nodded as she took it all in, her mind working through a dozen possibilities. "What would happen if they don't follow those traditions for the year? If they were apart during the honeymoon?"

Luna looked sad at the thought, her large eyes taking in each of the men in turn. "The bond would break. It's very dishonorable with Moonists to do that. You could never enter into another Moonist union."

"Yes, but would it harm Harry in any way? Any real way?" Hermione asked, obviously frustrated by Luna's answers but trying to keep calm.

She shrugged. "The magic they brought together would dissipate. In this scenario, it would leave a void. That could be a weak spot in their defenses."

Hermione nodded. "So, it's possible the curse could gain power in Harry again?"

"I don't really know about the curse." Luna said softly.

Harry sighed. "So, basically we don't really know what's going on, but Draco and I are married. And to prevent me from falling back into a possibly fatal coma, we have to stay married one year."

"Look, you only have to live together one more month, and then see each other once a month for the rest of the year." Hermione said softly. "I think if you separated then, it wouldn't leave the magical void Luna mentioned."

Just a huge void in my heart. Draco sighed to himself, and hoisted himself to his feet. "Well, come on, husband, let's go home to our marital bed."

Harry made quick goodbyes to the people of the party, his manner much more subdued. They changed back into their own robes before apparating back to the manor.

Neither said a word as they went up the stairs, getting ready to turn in. Draco sat on the edge of the bed, feeling emotionally exhausted.

"Draco," Harry started, standing in front of him, his face tense, "you have already done so much for me, and it's not fair to keep pushing you for more. I'll work with Hermione to find another solution."

"Get in the damn bed, Harry." Draco growled, his patience at an end. He tore off his own robe, climbing naked under the sheets. They had been together in this bed too much to go back to false modesty now. "It's just another month, and ten full moons after that. I think we can get through it without killing each other."

"It's too much...," Harry said in the darkness from his side of the bed. The moon was still mostly full, moonlight giving the room a faint silvery glow.

Draco gave an impatient huff, sitting up and twisting around to be able to see Harry. "I'm tired of the lies, speculation and miscommunications around everything. Let's be straight with each other. Do you mind living here with me another month? Find me repugnant?"

Harry's mouth quirked into a small smile. "No, quite the opposite, in fact."

"Good. I feel the same. I actually like having you around here, so stop blathering on about giving me back my fucking peace and quiet." Draco snapped, a bit irked at the amused twinkle in Harry's eyes. "I know I'll be a mess when the year is over but that's nothing if it means you are safe from that bloody curse."

Harry sat upright at that, the sheet sliding down to his waist. "You'll be a mess...? Why?"

Draco took a deep inhale, and let it out slowly. He had just promised to be straight with Harry, or this would never work. "Because I have feelings for you, OK? Because if I feel like this after living with you a month, what will I be like after a year?" His head dropped forward, not wanting to see Harry looking at him with pity. His hair feel forward, hiding his face a little, and for that he felt grateful.

Harry's hand went under his chin, lifting his face. His other pushed his hair back, looking searching at Draco. "You have...feelings? For me?"

Draco's heart was pounding hard at the way Harry was looking at him, his eyes so green. "I fucking love you, OK? I probably have forever. I know you don't return my-"

His words were cut off by Harry's mouth on his, a hard, frantic kiss that was so good Draco could only moan and kiss back. It went on and on, one kiss becoming another, until they feel back against the bed, arms still around each other. Draco felt a bit dizzy.

Harry crawled over him, looking down at him fondly. "You stupid fool. Only your kiss brought me back from death, when only the kiss from someone I loved could do that."

"Hermione told me about that. The curse was supposed to be broken by a 'love's first kiss', but Ginny kissing you did nothing. I know you loved her, back in school." Draco argued back, but not too hard. He was distracted by having Harry so close, and the affectionate way he was looking down at him.

Harry shrugged. "I talked about it with Hermione too, yesterday. The German can be translated to mean slightly different things. I think 'first love's kiss' is more accurate. That's why Ginny's kiss didn't work. She wasn't my first love, you were."

Draco's heart was thumping hard at hearing that, and he pulled Harry back down. Their kisses were hot, hands greedily touching everywhere.

"Really, you loved me back then?" Draco panted breathlessly against Harry's ear, nibbling along his neck.

Harry nodded, slotting his leg between Draco's for better contact. "Yes, but I didn't really understand it at the time. I just obsessively watched you and secretly wanked off to fantasies of being in the shower with you."

Draco chuckled. "Me too. Fuck, all the time we wasted..."

"We better start making up for it now." Harry murmured as he kissed down Draco's chest.

...

A/N: And they lived happily ever after...or did they? ;)
Thanks for reading & for the reviews. I'm happy to have such a nice response to my first Drarry story.
I will write an epilogue, so keep an eye out for that