Chapter Thirty-Five

The wizarding world celebrated and mourned for a month after that fateful night.

Fudge was kicked out of office, and Arthur Weasley was named Minister of Magic. Wormtail had been captured, and the new Minister had acquitted Sirius of all charges.

Albus Dumbledore had been crippled in the battle, and Minerva McGonagall was Headmistress, though Albus still lived in the castle (and with her). Sirius Black had been named as the new Transfiguration Professor, something that would get him teased mercilessly.

Almost every Death Eater had been apprehended and was placed in Azkaban. Those missing from the counts had either escaped or died. Lucius Malfoy, Avery, Nott, Walden Macnair, Goyle Sr., Pansy Parkinson, and her father were among the twenty that escaped.

Fortunately, only five people died for the light side on that December 18th.

While the rest of the world was both celebrating and mourning, Hogwarts was only doing the latter. Care of Magical Creatures had been cancelled, as there was no one to teach it. The Slytherins has many students missing from their numbers. Surprisingly, each house had students missing. Apparently Slytherins didn't churn out all the Death Eaters by themselves.

Everyone had changed with the last battle, but six above all else.

Remus and Sirius didn't joke anymore; it seemed they couldn't with out their beloved godson.

Draco had reverted into himself, and become almost childlike. The Slytherin talked to no one but Fred and George and could only find comfort in their arms.

Ron and Hermione found their roles reversed without the Boy-Who-Lived. Ron threw himself into his studies, and Hermione's grades dropped.

But the most drastic change seen was in Professor Severus Snape. The Slytherin had become quiet and withdrawn. The spy didn't show up for any meals and no one ever saw him outside of class. Points were now taken fairly, and most from his own house.

He hardly checked potions as they were being made anymore, and everyone knew it was from the limp he suffered from being under the Cruciatus for so long. Thankfully, it was the only injury that the Potions Master had sustained, except for something only very few people noticed. Heartsickness.

***

"I miss him, Rem," Sirius hugged his mate.

"So do I, Siri," The werewolf held on tightly.

"He should be worrying about exams, not…" Sirius trailed off, not able to continue.

"I know, love, but we can't change the past," Remus said, letting a tear slip from his amber-eyes.

"I want him back, and I know you do too. So why can't he come back?" The animagus sobbed.

"I don't know, Siri," The D.A.D.A. professor whispered.

***

Draco held onto George tightly as Fred locked up the store. The younger twin petted his hair and held him until his brother came back. When Fred returned, Draco wrapped one arm around his neck and kept the other around George's.

"Love, go back to George, okay? We can't both carry you, and I have something I need to get real quick," Fred whispered into his ear. The blonde nodded and went back to the other. Fred smiled and pecked him on the cheek and left.

"C'mon, let's go upstairs," George said softly. Draco nodded, and wrapped his legs around the redhead's waist. The Weasley stood and carried the Slytherin to the bedroom upstairs. When they got there, George laid himself down on the bed with Draco still in his arms.

Fred came in, not a minute later, holding something in his hands that neither George nor Draco knew what it was.

"Fred…what?"

Fred sat on his knees on the bed and opened his hands, palms up. In his hands were two velvet boxes, one green and the other crimson.

"Fred?" Draco whispered.

"I love you both with my entire soul. Draco, George, will you marry me?"

The two gasped in unison. Fred smiled and opened the green box first. Inside was a white gold emerald ring, which Fred presented to Draco. The blonde covered his mouth with his hand.

"Love?"

The Slytherin nodded, and launched himself at the eldest twin. He latched his arms around Fred's neck and hugged with all his might. George smiled as he watched the two. Fred took the ring from the box and placed it on Draco's finger. The older redhead kissed the blonde and then turned to his brother.

"George?"

"Do you have to ask, you silly twat?" George grinned and stuck out his hand. Fred grinned back and opened the crimson box. A yellow gold ring with a ruby sat inside. "Wow."

His brother smirked at him and put it on his hand before kissing him.

"Did you know about his, George?" Draco whispered childishly.

George shook his head as Fred put away the ring boxes. "I was just as surprised as you."

Draco smiled at them, and kissed the two of them. FrednGeorge looked slightly shocked.

"What?" Draco asked.

"You smiled," the twins spoke, with George petting Draco's hair, and Fred holding his hand. "You haven't smiled since…"

The happy look faltered, and the twins instantly wished they hadn't said anything.

"I wish he were here. He would have been my best man," Draco whispered, burying his face in Fred's neck. Fred and George closed their eyes sadly and held on to Draco as he wept.

***

Severus sat down on his couch and sighed wearily. He picked up a potions book and looked at the roaring fire.

"I started a fire. I hope you don't mind, Sev," Harry spoke, crawling on the couch to him. Severus stared in shock and blinked.

When his eyes opened again, the image was gone. No book, no fire, no Harry.

Severus drew in a shuddering sigh and got up. He limped over to his potion cabinet. The Potion Master would always have the limp; he had been under the Cruciatus for a half-minute, and it cause a nerve to sever in his leg, therefore the limp.

The Slytherin opened his cabinet and took out a phial of Dreamless Sleep Potion and threw it back. He put the empty glass phial down and went to his room. He couldn't sleep in the bed, or at all with his lover gone…He lowered himself onto the bed, and curled up on top of the duvet. The pillows still smelled like Harry, he noticed as he was falling asleep.

***

Hermione, Ron, and Draco sat silently at the Gryffindor table, picking at their food. Draco started at his ring, Ron read, and Hermione stirred her food around until it resembled pig slop. That was, until she noticed Draco's ring.

"Draco, are you engaged?"

Draco blushed and nodded.

"To FrednGeorge?" Ron asked, looking up from Hogwarts, A History.

Draco nodded again and proudly displayed the ring. He never talked, but he would nod, shrug, or shake his head in reply to the questions that were asked. There was sadness in his eyes, though, Hermione perceived. He wanted Harry to be the first to know. He wanted to ask Harry to be his best man. He wanted Harry there. And Hermione knew that out of the three of them, Draco needed him the most.

"Congratulations, Draco," She whispered.

***

Draco sat down on the red couch beside Seamus as he and Dean snuggled. Dean looked up at the blonde.

"Hey, I heard you and the Weasley twins got engaged," Dean spoke.

Draco nodded politely, but still didn't speak.

"Congrats, mate," Seamus grinned at him and slapped the blonde on the back. Draco winced slightly. Hermione gave him a sympathetic look as she and Ron sat down in front of the fire.

"Who's going to be you best man?" Seamus asked. Dean elbowed him sharply as Draco looked down at his hands. "Oh, sorry!"

Draco shook his head and stood up. He sat down next to Ron in front of the fireplace.

"Look what you did, you ponce!" Dean hissed at his boyfriend.

"Sorry, I wasn't thinking!"

"Damn right you weren't thinking!"

Draco shook his head in amusement but did not smile.

"Draco, are you all right?" Ron asked his friend as the blonde stared into the fire. Draco nodded and kept staring into the flames.

"You don't look to well. Maybe you should go outside and get some fresh air," Hermione suggested. Draco shook his head no. Hermione glared at him, but he crossed his arms childishly and looked away. "You can't hide from the world, Draco."

The Slytherin gave her a look that said that he could, and he started fiddling with his jade dragon necklace, a birthday present from the twins.

"I'M SICK OF THIS!" Neville yelled. Since Ginny had broken up with him, he seemed to have grown a backbone. "You're sitting around moping! You don't do anything! We've lost more points these past weeks from Hermione than ever! He didn't DIE! He isn't dead; so quit acting like he is! HE'S JUST IN A COMA!"

Draco glared at him, but Hermione and Ron looked down.

"He's going to wake up! But you have to believe he will! Harry will never get better unless you help him get better! You three haven't even been to see him since break ended!"

"Neville, he's too sick. He's not going to wake up," Hermione told him.

"When my grandfather was comatose, my gran sat beside him every day, talking to him, reading to him. He was almost dead. He woke up a week and a half later," Neville glared right back at Draco.

"You're right Neville," Ron nodded, standing up. "I've heard about that happening. I'm going to make Harry get better!"

"It would help if his boyfriend would help too," Nev spoke, feeling proud.

"Draco, will you help us?" Hermione asked the blonde, standing beside Ron.

Draco looked at his hand. Finally, he nodded and took Hermione's outstretched hand.

"Let's go make Harry wake up," Draco spoke.

End Chapter Thirty-Five

MWHAHAHAHA! I had you guys hooked right up until the last minute, didn't I? Hey, a longer than normal chapter!!!

I decided that I wasn't going to end ATT at Chapter Thirty-Four. All the wonderful reviews changed my mind! ^_____^

I'm sorry, but I can only reply to a few reviews this chapter, but I love each and every one of you! I have to practice conjugating my French verbs. I'M SOOOOOORRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How many of you want to know more about Ollie and Perce? And of course, the baby.

Hey, a chapter in just a day!!!!!! Isn't that cool!!!!!! NOT EVEN 24 HOURS!!!!!!!!!!

You can thank Emilea for having Harry alive, cause she said that she'd kill me if I killed off Harry.

Thanks again, you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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