CW: marriage equality, prejudice, growth, trains, unpleasant surprises

:SEVENTY-TWO:

Petunia was over for tea, telling them all about Noah's proposal. It was a magnificent evening, which had made Petunia incredibly happy for the last few days. And her ring was just perfect too - small, modest, but exactly what she wanted. She'd never cared for rings much, especially bulky ones, because they interfered with her cleaning habits. Her band was also engraved with small leaves and the diamond was made to look like the inside of a flower.

"Right, well," Sirius got up to refill the kettle. "We'll both be back from Harry's school on Monday, so we can help you start planning then."

"Okay," Petunia couldn't stop smiling. "Speaking of planning though, when are you going to actually start doing that?"

"Oh," Remus said loftily. "It's one of those things that we think about in passing every so often."

"Yeah," Sirius smiled crookedly. "I mean, it's not like we've got loads of people looking forward to it. And we're basically married already anyway."

"That's not the only reason though, is it?" Petunia questioned seriously.

"No," Remus acknowledged. "There's a lot of reporters sniffing about at Hogwarts this year. Ideally, we'd like to avoid any attention for Harry's sake as much as our own."

"But you said Dumbledore secured your claim to Harry, didn't he?"

"Yes, but -"

"Sod it all then!" Petunia declared. "The reporters and the whole bloody wizarding world for that matter! All three of you have done so much for them that they really ought to just leave you alone anyway."

Sirius would have agreed more with Petunia, but years of peace with Remus had made him more cautious. He didn't have any problem taking risks, or going after anyone who tried to hurt the people he cared about, but time had also taught him to take those same people into consideration before acting. Remus had spent so much time fighting that really all he wanted was to be left alone and to protect Harry. And Harry would do just about anything to avoid bringing attention to himself and his family - he just wanted to be a kid.

"We don't mind, Petunia." He assured her. "But we appreciate that you'd take down the wizarding world on our behalf."

"I would." She grumbled, but she dropped the subject after that.

"Thank you," Remus said later, quietly to Sirius as they packed to head back to Hogwarts. "I know it's difficult for you, not fighting this head on. But I really think it's what's best for all of us."

"Yes, well," Sirius smirked. "You always were the smarter of the two of us, Remus."

"Should be interesting though, eh? Harry and his friends have been trying to guess at the second task ever since the first one ended."

"That sounds like them." Sirius chuckled. "I bet you Hermione's cracked it by now though."

"Probably," Remus sat down on the bed. "I'm most curious actually about what this 'surprise' is Harry's got for us."

"And why we have to come all of the way to Hogsmeade for it." Sirius sat down next to him. "Not that I'm complaining though - I was a bit miserable about not seeing him over Christmas holidays."

"Me too. But now we have a perfect excuse to visit!"

Meanwhile, at Hogwarts…

"Sirius is going to kill you." Ron intoned lowly.

"Oh, don't be so dramatic, Ron!" Hermione waved him off. "He'd never kill Harry."

"Making a deal with the Malfoys? I bet he would."

"Thanks, Ron." Harry said miserably, hiding his face on the desk.

They were in Transfiguration class, and Harry had just told them about his and Draco's plan. The two of them were going to go to Hogsmeade, where the Malfoys, Sirius, and Remus were to meet them.. The Malfoys already knew why they were meeting, but Harry hadn't been able to put it in writing. Working with your former enemies seemed to be more of an in-person conversation.

"Once Harry has explained everything, I'm sure it'll be alright." Hermione said assuringly. "I mean, really. Draco has turned into a completely different person since we agreed to help him, hasn't he?"

That was true - Draco had become a much kinder person ever since Harry had agreed to help him. He spent most mealtimes with the Gryffindors, still dramatic but not as much of a bully. This would have been more strange if the Slytherin table hadn't slowly been growing smaller. Parents were pulling out their children every week - taking them to other countries and going into hiding as more attacks were reported.

Most of the students didn't feel too badly for the students who left, but the professors looked on with concern at their depleting number of pupils. Snape had become even more unbearable, while the other professors were taking Slytherin students aside to help reassure them. It was all masked though, as preparations for the Yule Ball kicked up and the other schools provided more gossip.

"Who are you going with, Hermione?" Ron asked for the thousandth time.

"Ronald!" Hermione snapped, glowering at him. "Will you please stop asking me - it's none of your business!"

"I think we ought to just go as friends, Ron." Harry said quickly, trying to prevent a row.

"What?" Ron looked confused. "I thought you were going to ask Luna?"

Harry flushed, but shook his head. "She's going home to see her dad."

"Well, I suppose we could do that." Ron mused. "It'd be easier than trying to ask a girl for sure."

Harry grinned. "It's settled then."

"I wonder who Draco's going with." Ron continued, pondering as they worked. "Pansy's left just last week so he can't ask her."

"Maybe we can invite him to go with us too?"

Ron glowered in response.

"Right, it was just an idea." Harry said quickly.

"Hermione…" Ron turned to her. "You're not going with Draco, are you?"

"Of course not!" Hermione narrowed her eyes dangerously at Ron. "He'd have bragged about it to you already if he had. Now stop asking me!"

"That's true." Ron went back to trying to guess as they finished class.

"Do we at least know this bloke?"

"Yes!" Hermione yelled, slamming her book bag down on the table in the Great Hall. "And if you don't stop, Ronald, I will not edit your Potions essay!"

Ron paled, but blessedly stopped pestering her for the rest of the day. His potions grades had gone down significantly as Snape's mood dropped with each week, so he really couldn't afford to lose Hermione's help.

"You know," Harry commented from his seat. "I really think Snape would be better off somewhere else besides teaching."

"Forget him," Ron retorted. "We'd be better off without him terrorizing us all!"

"It is strange that he's a professor when he seems to really hate kids." Hermione mused while she looked over their essays. "I've never actually seen him smile once."

"I have." Draco commented, taking a seat beside Harry. "He comes to our manor sometimes. He's happiest when he's brewing potions."

"Hey, Draco." Harry said, feeling weird even though he'd been using Malfoy's first name for weeks now. "Are you ready for tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes," Draco replied, spooning roasted potatoes onto his plate. "For the hundredth time, my family and I are ready to meet with your…"

"Family." Harry stated firmly.

"Yes, that." Draco nodded. "Tomorrow at the Three Broomsticks. I'll be with you to meet them at the train station."

"Right." Harry ran his fingers through his hair anxiously.

"Honestly, Harry." Draco said scornfully. "You've got no reason to be nervous. I've already explained things to my parents, and you've explained things to yours. This is just to work through the details."

"You did explain everything to them, didn't you?"

Harry smiled guiltily. "Well...I think it might go over better in person."

Draco stared at him like he'd grown three heads, his eyes wide and his jaw slack.

"Tell me you're joking." He said finally. "Tell me this is just a clever way to make me panic along with you."

Back at the train station…

"Oh, bloody brilliant." Sirius grumbled, catching sight of the Malfoy family when they'd reached the platform. "Look who's here."

"Sirius!" Remus elbowed him. "They're probably just going to see their son like we're going to see Harry."

That didn't stop Sirius from grumbling all the way down the aisle to their compartment though. He only calmed down when the lunch trolley had come by, and that only worked because Remus let him purchase as many licorice wands as he wanted. In fact, by the time they'd arrived at the station, Sirius was back to his cheerful self.

Only to find Harry standing next to Draco Malfoy on the platform, both of them looking very nervous.

"...Surprise?"

Notes:

I tinkered with this chapter for ages trying to decide which direction made the most sense. This is what I finally settled on, so here we go!

Happy Reading!