Winter 1998
Harry hunched his shoulders as he trudged in the snow near the border of the Forbidden Forest. He squinted at the Lumos light in front of him which wavered on top of Draco's wand.
"The wards function alright," Ron mumbled, walking a few steps behind him. "Now we have to get out of this bloody cold!"
Draco pulled up the collar of his cloak. "I wish I had one of your scarves, Weasley."
Ron snorted. "Really?"
"Yes."
"I'll tell mom." From the corners of his eyes, Ron glanced at Draco. "Now that you're with Harry, she will be pleased to knit one for you."
"Thanks, Weasley."
"It's alright."
Harry craned his neck to glance at the night sky above as cold snowflakes caressed his cheeks. "The lights from the wards are fading. Only the yellow afterglow remains."
"Talking about yellow," Draco said. "Several of the Hufflepuffs that attacked us are Muggleborns."
"Yeah, reckon there are lots of Muggleborns in that House," Ron said.
Recalling Hermione's list, Harry caught the significance of Draco's words. "You think they might be behind Cyclops?"
"Finch-Fletchley also is a Muggleborn," Draco said. "I'm not sure about Romilda Vane."
"Come on, Draco!" Harry sniggered. "You can't take her seriously. I remember when she came to our Quidditch tryouts; she fell on a heap, laughing with her pals. Had to ask her to leave."
"Nevertheless, she has reason to dislike us." Ron pointed out. "And she was smart enough to slip me that love potion."
"You're right, Weasley. It wouldn't do to underestimate anyone." Draco nodded. "We should make a list and owl it to our future selves."
The three wizards were walking out of the copse of trees when they heard a rumbling voice up ahead.
"Greetings, Harry Potter."
Harry looked up at that, recognizing the gold coat of the centaur that walked towards them with slow steps, his silvery blond mane seemingly glowing in the dark.
"Good night, Firenze." Harry gave him a shallow bow.
Firenze stopped in front of them, his hooves moving restlessly as he glanced up at the swaths of stars visible through the clouds. "The sky is in turmoil tonight."
"Must be the wards," Ron said.
"It's not that simple." Firenze's tail flicked nervously. "The wards are transitory, but in reading the sky, my brethren find puzzling signs of change the likes of which we've never observed."
"What do you think it means?" Harry stuck his gloved hands in his pockets, wishing Firenze would get to the point. At that moment he wanted nothing more than to sneak into the Hogwarts kitchens and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.
"The presages in the stars are ominous," Firenze mumbled. "Foretelling disasters untold, yet they shift restlessly and contradict themselves the next moment."
"Are those disasters going to strike soon?" Harry said.
Firenze's blond mane spread like a cone of Lumos light as he fiercely shook his head. "That's the strangest aspect yet; the heavens behave like a restless foal, pointing to catastrophes in the future and present."
oOoOo
"It was nice of McGonagall to let us come to Hogsmeade." Harry cradled the cup of hot chocolate between his hands, peering at Draco over the rim of his cup. The clangs of the pots and pans in the kitchen provided a soothing background noise which was interspersed with songs from the Wizarding Wireless Network.
"Yes, given that she caught us as we were about to enter the secret passage," Draco said ruefully. "I thought your Invisibility Cloak was undetectable?"
"She must have Dumbledore's keen senses." Harry mused and then took a long sip of his drink, delighting in the sweet taste. "Anyway, you managed to charm her enough so she let us go."
"Thanks, I just complimented her warmly on her idea about explaining the wards." Draco puffed up his chest as he cupped his hot chocolate drink between his palms. "I just used her preference for Gryffindors so she would let us come."
"Did you send the letter?" Harry cocked his head at the window of Madam Puddifoot's.
Glancing at Draco's chiseled face, Harry didn't pay attention to the tacky ambience of the tea shop. They had the place mostly to themselves, since the students were at Hogwarts.
Draco nodded. "Chronus was there. I guess he got tired of the Owlery."
"Good." Harry raised his cup and took a long sip of the chocolate. His face lit up as the slow cadence of the Weird Sister's hit 'Magic Works' came over the wireless.
"I just love this song," Harry said.
Draco cocked his chin at a space in front of the table. "Do you want to dance? It's our first date after all."
Harry ducked his head to hide his blushing cheeks and nodded.
The two wizards stood up and stepped towards each other, Draco's arms easily molding around Harry's toned chest.
Madam Puddifoot glanced at them, her face breaking into a wide grin at the sight of the two wizards swaying slowly to the music, blond and black hair glimmering in the soft light as they leaned closer for a slow kiss.
Harry breathed the lyrics into Draco's ear as snow fell outside the window.
This is your final chance
To hold the one you love
You know you've waited long enough
...
...
Believe that magic works
Don't be afraid of being hurt
Don't let this magic die
Draco whispered the words into Harry's ear, his fingers brushing tousled hair as he reluctantly broke the contact.
"You remembered, Draco," Harry whispered, the pad of his thumb tracing a path down the alabaster cheek he knew so well.
"Our first date, Harry." The corners of Draco's lips tugged up in his trademark Malfoy smirk. "I thought it was appropriate for our anniversary. Let me tell you it was a chore to get the record of that old song."
"It's been wonderful." Harry made his way to his chair and sat down, tilting up his chin to glance out the window of their apartment at the London skyline. He picked up his cup of hot chocolate and took a sip. "Wonder how you managed to find the time in your busy schedule."
Draco took his seat on the other side of the table and raised his cup in a silent toast. "The Minister of Magic will always make time for his husband, especially now that the Muggle situation is stabilized. And your schedule is equally busy."
"Reckon so," Harry mumbled. "Luckily Ron helps a lot in organizing the Aurors."
The two wizards looked at the window when they heard the pecking sounds coming from outside. It was an Eagle owl which seemed to be in a bad mood, judging by its imperious hooting.
"Mrs. Havendish must have forgotten something," Draco said as he took out his wand and swished it at the window to unlatch it.
Draco narrowed his eyes at the glimmering silhouette of the owl. Then he liberated the parchment tied around the owl's claw, shuddering as the owl pecked him almost affectionately, its weight upon his shoulder conjuring a vague remembrance.
He pursed his brow as he smoothed the crinkled parchment with the palm of his hand and read the letter.
"Well, what is it?" Harry said anxiously, lowering his cup to the table. "Do you need to go back to the Ministry?"
"This is strange," Draco murmured. "The letter points out our recent problems with Muggleborn surveillance and mentions wards and list of suspects?" He drummed his fingers on the table and then glanced up at Harry. "And it's your handwriting. It says you wrote it twenty years ago…"
"You're taking the piss, Malfoy." Harry frowned at his husband. "I don't believe you."
"It's Malfoy-Potter to you," Draco drawled, waving the parchment. "Is this for our anniversary? Are you trying to evoke the feelings of the times we pulled our pranks at Hogwarts?"
"Let me see," Harry said, nodding at his husband when he pushed the parchment towards him.
Harry tilted down his chin and read the message, his eyes widening at the content. "This is incredible!"
AN: Lyrics are from the Weird Sisters' Magic Works ^-^