Four and a half years later, Draco and Harry were practically a legend at Hogwarts. Every year, the new First Years were informed that, although they refused to admit it, the Potions Master and the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor (you know, the saviour of the wizarding world?) were definitely together.

Every year since they had received the book, Harry and Draco had made a special point to go out of their way to frustrate the Seventh Years. They would drop hints here and there, and always act confused afterwards, refusing to confirm anything.

Neville found it particularly amusing, since he was always the one the students went to complain to, although he had joined in on the act almost immediately after they started. He always acted completely befuddled by their complaints and questions. Neville. The person who knew more about Draco and Harry's relationship than anyone else. He found it strangely satisfying.

This year, however, it wasn't sly actions or suggestive comments that got the students talking.

When Harry and Draco got back from the winter holidays, they wore matching rings on their right hand middle fingers. They were silver and gold braided bands with three small emeralds set in them.

Draco had proposed to Harry on Boxing Day, and the rings were connected magically in such a way that when Draco slid the ring onto Harry's finger, an identical ring had appeared on his own finger. They could not be removed unless the engagement was broken off, or when their wedding vows were spoken. Then they would be able to move their engagement rings onto the same finger as their new wedding bands.

There was much fuss and speculation, but ultimately everyone besides themselves and Neville were unsure because they weren't wearing the ring on their ring fingers.

~*~

Nearly a year later, one Saturday in November, they used the Floo in the Headmistress's office and left to get married between lunch and dinner. It was as simple as that. It was very small, with only the Weasleys (all thirteen of them, now that Ron and Hermione had had two children), Hagrid, Neville and Hannah, Andromeda, and Teddy in attendance. It had been outdoors and the weather was absolutely lovely. Harry didn't think he'd ever experienced a happier moment.

When they arrived back at Hogwarts for dinner, they couldn't stop beaming at each other. Both of their left ring fingers now proudly displayed two shining rings.

Surprisingly, it took a couple of days for the change to be noticed, which the pair found utterly hilarious. Apparently their, Teddy, and Neville's absences between lunch and dinner had slipped by unnoticed. It was in Draco's class that it finally happened.

He was doing a lesson with his Second Year Ravenclaws on identifying the differences between similar herbs. As he stirred the cauldron with his right hand, he gestured to the herbs with his left. The light caught something quickly, and one of the boys gasped loudly.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, concernedly.

"I'm fine— it's just, your rings!"

The other students all immediately focused their attention on his left hand and began to chatter excitedly.

Draco adopted his most impossibly confused expression.

"I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about, but I'm sure that, whatever it is, potions is more important right now." He spoke quietly, but the students knew when to listen, and quickly became quiet.

He continued on with his lesson.

~*~

Of course, by dinnertime the Great Hall was buzzing with chatter. Heads from all of the tables would occasionally crane their necks toward the staff table in hopes of catching the glint of metal on Harry and Draco's hands.

As the weeks went by, the students became increasingly frustrated. They were certain that Draco and Harry were married, but they couldn't be completely certain, because neither of them would even acknowledge the rings. It was driving the Seventh Years, in particular, insane. This year's Seventh Years were the ones who had started Hogwarts at the same time as Harry and Draco. They had witnessed the whole thing from the beginning, and they wanted a conclusion.

~*~

During the spring holidays, they had left Hogwarts for the flat near Diagon Alley that they had been sharing for four years now. The last day of the break, they decided to go to the Leaky Cauldron for celebratory drinks.

Hours later, Draco was about to suggest they leave, when Harry got up to use the restroom.

The old bartender didn't look up from the glasses he was cleaning as he spoke.

"Mr. Potter?"

"Yes?"

Confused by the light, drawling voice, the bartender looked up to see Draco staring at him. He then saw that Harry's seat was empty. He spoke hesitantly, suddenly unsure of himself.

"I meant— I was...asking..." Draco casually brought his arm up to rest his chin on his left hand, and drummed his fingers. The bartender's eyes quickly darted back and forth between the rings and Draco's face. "..the other one?" he finished questioningly.

Draco's eyes gleamed and he repressed a smile.

"Hmm, yes. He'll be back shortly," he replied nonchalantly. "What did you need?"

"I was, er, just wondering if he was done with the drink."

"Yes, I believe so."

Draco had yet to realise that a Daily Prophet reporter had just been given the biggest break of her life by stopping by the Leaky after work. She was sitting at a table near the bar when she heard the bartender speak, and had whipped out a Quick Quotes Quill, which was now scribbling furiously. Draco did notice, however, when a bright flash blinded him as she snapped a picture.

"Draco?" Harry was walking back to the bar, looking confusedly at the reporter (as were most of the other patrons of the bar).

The reporter quickly looked at Harry's left hand and squealed.

"Oh, it's true! It's true!" She laid a hand briefly on Draco's arm. "Thank you," she said gratefully. "I'm pretty sure you've just made my career."

She quickly gathered up her stuff, leaving her payment on the table, and hurrying out the door. The pub was hushed.

"What did I just miss?" Harry asked warily.

"Tomorrow's front page on the Daily Prophet." Draco wiggled the fingers on his left hand with a slight frown. "It may have been my fault."

Harry laughed.

"Okay, whatever, I guess we'll find out tomorrow." He paid the bartender, and they left, oblivious to the stares that followed them out.

Apparently, the students of Hogwarts really didn't talk, because the wizarding world had accepted Harry and Draco's friendship (after the initial speculation when they were first seen in public together), but there had never been any public speculation that they were more.

It was true they were hardly seen outside Hogwarts or their own home, but it was still funny to them that after so long, nobody else knew. And the students had picked up on it so quickly. Harry shook his head, thinking that some of the students he'd had would've been great reporters, for all the snooping they'd done.

~*~

The next morning, they were back at Hogwarts. They went down to breakfast late, after reading the Prophet in the privacy of their room. It would do no good to be reading it for the first time in the view of those who had already done so.

"Bloody finally!" A Seventh Year Gryffindor boy had leaped up and grabbed them both in a hug when they entered the Hall.

"Er, Lloyd?"

The boy stepped back and beamed at them.

"Let it be known that I waited seven sodding years for this. My time was up. I was afraid it wouldn't happen before I left!" Lloyd dramatically pretended to feel faint. "I don't know what I would've done!"

"Thank you for the dramatics, Mr. Morrison. You may go back to your table now. I'm sure the professors would like to eat." Minerva McGonagall stated wryly from the staff table.

~*~

The last day of the school year was a little emotional for them. It was almost like the end of the first year all over again, but more so. They were saying goodbye to the last of the students that had been at Hogwarts for their first year of teaching.

They talked and reminisced about their years teaching at Hogwarts so far, and at some point during dessert, they got to talking about the beginnings of their relationship.

"Why did you kiss me that first time?" Harry asked. "I never figured out why. I was just talking about a long day, and right in the middle of a sentence, you just...went for it out of nowhere."

"I honestly still don't know what came over me. Usually I think before I act — then again, I used to be observant too. You were just being really cute, and I just...did it."

Harry smiled and gently gripped his chin.

And he kissed him.