Hey guys, I'm sorry it's taking me so long to update. But the patient will inherit the..uh...slash. Heh. Anyhoot, here's chapter fourteen. Sorry it took so long!
Harry awoke the next morning to soft kisses on his neck. He moaned softly, halfway still asleep. When he came a little more to life, he turned his head and saw the blurry form of his boyfriend to his left side, snuggling against his neck. "Morning love," he yawned.
"Morning, birthday boy." Draco replied.
It took Harry a few seconds to realize it was indeed his sixteenth birthday. "Ugh," he replied, "Birthdays aren't as cool as they used to be." Harry then stopped to remember his previous birthdays, and laughed out loud. "Come to think of it," he grunted as he sat up and fumbled for his glasses on the end table, "they were never cool."
"You never had a decent birthday?" Draco asked, kissing Harry's back.
"Let's see," he yawned, "Once I got TWO pairs of socks, that was a good year. Or the year Dudley and I got in a fight and I spent the whole month locked in my cupboard. That was my favorite, really. Charming."
He stood up, then suddenly felt dizzy. He let himself fall back down onto the edge of the bed, and groaned. "Dizzy," he whispered when he felt Draco crawl toward him. Harry felt him kissing on the back of his neck, and realized that had an amazing calming affect on him. He moaned softly, turning his neck to the side. Draco pulled him back toward the pillows, and Harry lay down again. Draco climbed on top of him and kissed him again and again. Harry broke their kiss. "Why're you being so good to me this morning?"
"I can't spoil my boyfriend on his birthday?" Draco asked, and kissed Harry's neck once again, moving down to his collarbone. Harry let out a soft gasp and then a deep moan as Draco moved lower and lower....
"Harry! Happy birthday, dear!"
"Happy birthday, mate!"
A cascade of 'Happy Birthday's came upon Harry as he entered the kitchen an hour later, having just gotten out of the shower. Mrs. Weasley was, yet again, cooking, and everyone was again surrounding the long wooden table. Ginny wrapped him in a close hug, and Lupin patted him on the back. Ron handed him a big package of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and Harry felt someone shove past him, out into the hallway. He turned to see Hermione, holding Crookshanks, storming up the stairs, as Draco headed down them. Harry motioned for the rest of the crowd to go back to their business, and they did - it was obvious there was going to be strong conversation.
"Hermione," Harry tried to say, but his throat was so dry he couldn't hear the word he had spoken.
"Hello, Hermione," Draco said, trying his best to force a welcoming smile onto his face for the person he'd hated for so long.
"Malfoy," she snapped, looking away.
"How has your summer been?"
"Oh, please!" she snapped again, putting Crookshanks down. "The only reason you're being pleasant to me is because of your boyfriend. It's disgusting. The both of you should be ashamed of your behavior. You've corrupted Harry. You've put a spell on him, haven't you? You're disgusting!"
"Hermione!" Harry now found his voice, seeing his best friend advance on his boyfriend, yelling in his face, Draco backing away as best he could.
Hermione spun around to face Harry. "What do YOU want?" she said coldly.
"I want to talk to you."
"I have nothing to say to you, Harry."
"I'm sure you have more than enough to say to me, Hermione."
"You're right," she said with a cold, sarcastic smile. "I do. I can't believe you would sink so low as to let Malfoy manipulate you this way."
"He hasn't manipulated me. I've made my own decision to be with him. You're supossed to be my best friend. You're supossed to support my decisions."
"This isn't your decision, Harry. It's his, he's got you under some spell, can't you see?"
"If you really thought that you wouldn't be mad at ME." Harry snapped, despite his attempt to remain calm. But, to his utter surprise, Hermione didn't yell back at him.
"All right," she said calmly after a few seconds. "You're right. I am mad at you. I'm mad at you because you've made the wrong decision."
"You're mad at me because you don't trust my judgement. You're mad because you have the opinion of Draco that I used to have, and that Ron had. We were wrong, Hermione."
"How do you know?" Hermione continued as if Draco wasn't a foot behind her, listening to every word.
"Because I know him, you don't. You know the Malfoy every other idiot assums they know. I know him for who he is. He's not the heir of a Dark Arts family, he's not a Slytherin goonie, he's Draco Malfoy. And you would know exactly who he really is if you ever got to know him. But no, you're too busy following assumptions you've made. I know exactly why you're mad at me, Hermione. You're mad because you're scared that perhaps, for the first time in your life, you were wrong about something."
Hermione stood on the stairs facing Harry, the angry look gone from her face, replaced with a look of pure astonishment.
"Now if you don't mind," Harry said, "It's my birthday and I'd like to do without fighting with someone I assumed to be my best friend." And he walked back into the kitchen.
Hermione turned to look at Malfoy, and for the first time, really looked at him. He didn't seem so menacing anymore. Then, suddenly, Draco smiled at Hermione for the first time, extending his right hand out to her. She looked at it, then back up at his face. To her own astonishment, Hermione reached out and shook Draco Malfoy's hand. Before she knew it, he had pulled her into a hug.
"It's okay," he whispered, "I hated you too." He heard her laugh softly, and he pulled back from her, looking her in her deep brown eyes. "I do love Harry though. I really do."
Hermione found herself smiling in spite of herself, and the two of them headed into the kitchen, hearing Mrs. Weasley's call for breakfast. Harry was sitting at the table already, Neville at his right. They were shoveling food onto their plates, chatting anxiously about this year's Quidditch Cup. Draco sat down on the other side of Harry, Hermione taking a seat next to Draco. Harry turned to him, giving him a look as if to ask what happened.Draco kissed his forehead and grabbed some bread from the basket Harry was holding. Harry noticed Hermione, smiling as she talked to Ginny, who had sat across from them. He was truly happy, and knew that this would be the best of his birthdays so far.
When they had finished eating, Draco said he wanted to go for a walk, but Harry knew the Order would never let Harry just meander around the neighborhood, so they sufficed for wandering the house. They ended up sitting on a sofa in an upstairs room, which Harry vaguely remembered, never having spent much time in there.
"Harry?" Draco said as they settled onto the sofa. "I've been thinking."
"About what?" Harry asked, laying down with his head on Draco's lap.
"You," Draco said, looking down at him. "There are some things I want to say."
"What is it?" Harry said, looking up with a questioning look on his face.
"Well..." Draco began, clearing his throat. "I love you, Harry. I want to be with you for as long as we can be together." Harry could tell Draco's words were from nervous lips - he was shaking slightly as he spoke, and he seemed to stumble on his words. Harry stood up, pulling Draco up with him, and kissed his lips.
"I love you too," he said, holding one of Draco's hands in each of his.
"I can't see my future without you. I'd do anything for you - to be with you. You are, without a doubt, the greatest thing that's ever happened to me." Draco looked away and squeezed Harry's hands, and it was obvious he was trying not to cry.
"What is it?" Harry asked softly. "Whatever it is, just tell me."
Draco looked back at Harry. "What I mean to say," he said, "is that I want to be with you - only you - until the day I die. I think...I think maybe - I mean, that is, if you want to, of course - that we should, I mean..." he looked into Harry's eyes and sighed. "I always seem to mess up important things like this." He sighed again. "I want to have a commitment ceremony."
Harry stared at Draco for a moment, a million thoughts running through his head. He realized he had no idea what was happening.
"What's that?" Harry asked, not trying to hide his inexperience on the topic.
"I read about them, Muggles have them all the time, gay ones. It's...well..." he began to cough nervously again, studdering his words and looking away. "Like a.. like a wedding." He looked back into Harry's eyes.
"You mean," Harry began, a faint smile on his face, "wait a minute....Are you asking me to marry you, Draco Malfoy?"
"Well, I mean...you know, we can't really...I mean, that's to say, if...if I could, yes, but seeing as...seeing as we can't really get married, but it's like that sort of, only different in a way, but more the same....Yes."
Harry smiled broadly. "We're sixteen."
"Well it's not legal or anything, of course, it's not supported by the Ministry or anything. It would just be...for us. To say that we want to be together for the rest of our lives." There was a short silence. "So," Draco stumbled, "will -" he coughed, "will you?"
Harry kissed him deeply. "Of course I will. You know I will. I want to be with you too."
Eventually, after a few hours, the two of them wandered back downstairs and into their room. "So what will it be like?" Harry asked as they plopped down onto the bed, laying sideways, side by side and holding hands.
"Well, it's up to you mostly. Do you want to invite people?"
"I'd like to, yes," Harry replied, smiling. "Ron and the rest of the Weasleys, Hermione, Neville, Lupin...I wonder if my Aunt Petunia would come." Harry was suddenly very saddened, and it was obvious.
"What is it, love?" Draco asked.
"I just... I wish Sirius could be there.My parents."
"I know, love," Draco said, and kissed Harry's arm. "I wish my family weren't the way they are. I probably won't have anyone to invite. Perhaps a few friends from school - the more nonjudgemental ones."
"Like who?"
Draco thought for a moment, then sighed and laughed slightly. "No one I suposse. Oh, perhaps Pansy. Blaise, maybe."
"Can we tell people?" Harry asked, beginning to get excited.
"If you'd like," Draco replied.
"Yes," Harry smiled, "very much. When though?"
"I suposse when you see them, unless you'd like to call Longbottom and his redheaded girlfriend in now."
Harry laughed. "I meant, when should we have it?"
"Oh," Draco laughed. "How about Halloween? I've always loved Halloween."
Harry's mind raced, and he heard screaming in his head - his mother's voice - and that laugh.
"Harry?" Draco asked, seeing the look on Harry's face as it went pale.
"October 31st?" Harry asked, knowing very well when Halloween was, but checking to make sure he had heard him right.
"Maybe, or sooner." He saw Harry's face go ghost white, and his eyes shut tightly. "Harry? Harry?"
Harry's eyes shot open, and he fought the noises from his imagination. "I'm okay," he said, turning his head to face Draco. "It's just...not Hall...Halloween..please, if you don't mind. My..." he swallowed."My parents..."
Draco realized why Harry was so upset. "Oh Harry, love, I'm sorry." He fought to change the subject. "August? Is August okay? September?" Harry's face had returned to its normal color, and he smiled slightly.
"August is good," he said, "before we go back to school."
"It's done," Draco said, reaching over to kiss Harry's lips. "I love you Harry Potter."
"I love you, Draco Malfoy." Harry smiled. "I really do. But my arm's asleep."
Harry awoke the next morning to soft kisses on his neck. He moaned softly, halfway still asleep. When he came a little more to life, he turned his head and saw the blurry form of his boyfriend to his left side, snuggling against his neck. "Morning love," he yawned.
"Morning, birthday boy." Draco replied.
It took Harry a few seconds to realize it was indeed his sixteenth birthday. "Ugh," he replied, "Birthdays aren't as cool as they used to be." Harry then stopped to remember his previous birthdays, and laughed out loud. "Come to think of it," he grunted as he sat up and fumbled for his glasses on the end table, "they were never cool."
"You never had a decent birthday?" Draco asked, kissing Harry's back.
"Let's see," he yawned, "Once I got TWO pairs of socks, that was a good year. Or the year Dudley and I got in a fight and I spent the whole month locked in my cupboard. That was my favorite, really. Charming."
He stood up, then suddenly felt dizzy. He let himself fall back down onto the edge of the bed, and groaned. "Dizzy," he whispered when he felt Draco crawl toward him. Harry felt him kissing on the back of his neck, and realized that had an amazing calming affect on him. He moaned softly, turning his neck to the side. Draco pulled him back toward the pillows, and Harry lay down again. Draco climbed on top of him and kissed him again and again. Harry broke their kiss. "Why're you being so good to me this morning?"
"I can't spoil my boyfriend on his birthday?" Draco asked, and kissed Harry's neck once again, moving down to his collarbone. Harry let out a soft gasp and then a deep moan as Draco moved lower and lower....
"Harry! Happy birthday, dear!"
"Happy birthday, mate!"
A cascade of 'Happy Birthday's came upon Harry as he entered the kitchen an hour later, having just gotten out of the shower. Mrs. Weasley was, yet again, cooking, and everyone was again surrounding the long wooden table. Ginny wrapped him in a close hug, and Lupin patted him on the back. Ron handed him a big package of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and Harry felt someone shove past him, out into the hallway. He turned to see Hermione, holding Crookshanks, storming up the stairs, as Draco headed down them. Harry motioned for the rest of the crowd to go back to their business, and they did - it was obvious there was going to be strong conversation.
"Hermione," Harry tried to say, but his throat was so dry he couldn't hear the word he had spoken.
"Hello, Hermione," Draco said, trying his best to force a welcoming smile onto his face for the person he'd hated for so long.
"Malfoy," she snapped, looking away.
"How has your summer been?"
"Oh, please!" she snapped again, putting Crookshanks down. "The only reason you're being pleasant to me is because of your boyfriend. It's disgusting. The both of you should be ashamed of your behavior. You've corrupted Harry. You've put a spell on him, haven't you? You're disgusting!"
"Hermione!" Harry now found his voice, seeing his best friend advance on his boyfriend, yelling in his face, Draco backing away as best he could.
Hermione spun around to face Harry. "What do YOU want?" she said coldly.
"I want to talk to you."
"I have nothing to say to you, Harry."
"I'm sure you have more than enough to say to me, Hermione."
"You're right," she said with a cold, sarcastic smile. "I do. I can't believe you would sink so low as to let Malfoy manipulate you this way."
"He hasn't manipulated me. I've made my own decision to be with him. You're supossed to be my best friend. You're supossed to support my decisions."
"This isn't your decision, Harry. It's his, he's got you under some spell, can't you see?"
"If you really thought that you wouldn't be mad at ME." Harry snapped, despite his attempt to remain calm. But, to his utter surprise, Hermione didn't yell back at him.
"All right," she said calmly after a few seconds. "You're right. I am mad at you. I'm mad at you because you've made the wrong decision."
"You're mad at me because you don't trust my judgement. You're mad because you have the opinion of Draco that I used to have, and that Ron had. We were wrong, Hermione."
"How do you know?" Hermione continued as if Draco wasn't a foot behind her, listening to every word.
"Because I know him, you don't. You know the Malfoy every other idiot assums they know. I know him for who he is. He's not the heir of a Dark Arts family, he's not a Slytherin goonie, he's Draco Malfoy. And you would know exactly who he really is if you ever got to know him. But no, you're too busy following assumptions you've made. I know exactly why you're mad at me, Hermione. You're mad because you're scared that perhaps, for the first time in your life, you were wrong about something."
Hermione stood on the stairs facing Harry, the angry look gone from her face, replaced with a look of pure astonishment.
"Now if you don't mind," Harry said, "It's my birthday and I'd like to do without fighting with someone I assumed to be my best friend." And he walked back into the kitchen.
Hermione turned to look at Malfoy, and for the first time, really looked at him. He didn't seem so menacing anymore. Then, suddenly, Draco smiled at Hermione for the first time, extending his right hand out to her. She looked at it, then back up at his face. To her own astonishment, Hermione reached out and shook Draco Malfoy's hand. Before she knew it, he had pulled her into a hug.
"It's okay," he whispered, "I hated you too." He heard her laugh softly, and he pulled back from her, looking her in her deep brown eyes. "I do love Harry though. I really do."
Hermione found herself smiling in spite of herself, and the two of them headed into the kitchen, hearing Mrs. Weasley's call for breakfast. Harry was sitting at the table already, Neville at his right. They were shoveling food onto their plates, chatting anxiously about this year's Quidditch Cup. Draco sat down on the other side of Harry, Hermione taking a seat next to Draco. Harry turned to him, giving him a look as if to ask what happened.Draco kissed his forehead and grabbed some bread from the basket Harry was holding. Harry noticed Hermione, smiling as she talked to Ginny, who had sat across from them. He was truly happy, and knew that this would be the best of his birthdays so far.
When they had finished eating, Draco said he wanted to go for a walk, but Harry knew the Order would never let Harry just meander around the neighborhood, so they sufficed for wandering the house. They ended up sitting on a sofa in an upstairs room, which Harry vaguely remembered, never having spent much time in there.
"Harry?" Draco said as they settled onto the sofa. "I've been thinking."
"About what?" Harry asked, laying down with his head on Draco's lap.
"You," Draco said, looking down at him. "There are some things I want to say."
"What is it?" Harry said, looking up with a questioning look on his face.
"Well..." Draco began, clearing his throat. "I love you, Harry. I want to be with you for as long as we can be together." Harry could tell Draco's words were from nervous lips - he was shaking slightly as he spoke, and he seemed to stumble on his words. Harry stood up, pulling Draco up with him, and kissed his lips.
"I love you too," he said, holding one of Draco's hands in each of his.
"I can't see my future without you. I'd do anything for you - to be with you. You are, without a doubt, the greatest thing that's ever happened to me." Draco looked away and squeezed Harry's hands, and it was obvious he was trying not to cry.
"What is it?" Harry asked softly. "Whatever it is, just tell me."
Draco looked back at Harry. "What I mean to say," he said, "is that I want to be with you - only you - until the day I die. I think...I think maybe - I mean, that is, if you want to, of course - that we should, I mean..." he looked into Harry's eyes and sighed. "I always seem to mess up important things like this." He sighed again. "I want to have a commitment ceremony."
Harry stared at Draco for a moment, a million thoughts running through his head. He realized he had no idea what was happening.
"What's that?" Harry asked, not trying to hide his inexperience on the topic.
"I read about them, Muggles have them all the time, gay ones. It's...well..." he began to cough nervously again, studdering his words and looking away. "Like a.. like a wedding." He looked back into Harry's eyes.
"You mean," Harry began, a faint smile on his face, "wait a minute....Are you asking me to marry you, Draco Malfoy?"
"Well, I mean...you know, we can't really...I mean, that's to say, if...if I could, yes, but seeing as...seeing as we can't really get married, but it's like that sort of, only different in a way, but more the same....Yes."
Harry smiled broadly. "We're sixteen."
"Well it's not legal or anything, of course, it's not supported by the Ministry or anything. It would just be...for us. To say that we want to be together for the rest of our lives." There was a short silence. "So," Draco stumbled, "will -" he coughed, "will you?"
Harry kissed him deeply. "Of course I will. You know I will. I want to be with you too."
Eventually, after a few hours, the two of them wandered back downstairs and into their room. "So what will it be like?" Harry asked as they plopped down onto the bed, laying sideways, side by side and holding hands.
"Well, it's up to you mostly. Do you want to invite people?"
"I'd like to, yes," Harry replied, smiling. "Ron and the rest of the Weasleys, Hermione, Neville, Lupin...I wonder if my Aunt Petunia would come." Harry was suddenly very saddened, and it was obvious.
"What is it, love?" Draco asked.
"I just... I wish Sirius could be there.My parents."
"I know, love," Draco said, and kissed Harry's arm. "I wish my family weren't the way they are. I probably won't have anyone to invite. Perhaps a few friends from school - the more nonjudgemental ones."
"Like who?"
Draco thought for a moment, then sighed and laughed slightly. "No one I suposse. Oh, perhaps Pansy. Blaise, maybe."
"Can we tell people?" Harry asked, beginning to get excited.
"If you'd like," Draco replied.
"Yes," Harry smiled, "very much. When though?"
"I suposse when you see them, unless you'd like to call Longbottom and his redheaded girlfriend in now."
Harry laughed. "I meant, when should we have it?"
"Oh," Draco laughed. "How about Halloween? I've always loved Halloween."
Harry's mind raced, and he heard screaming in his head - his mother's voice - and that laugh.
"Harry?" Draco asked, seeing the look on Harry's face as it went pale.
"October 31st?" Harry asked, knowing very well when Halloween was, but checking to make sure he had heard him right.
"Maybe, or sooner." He saw Harry's face go ghost white, and his eyes shut tightly. "Harry? Harry?"
Harry's eyes shot open, and he fought the noises from his imagination. "I'm okay," he said, turning his head to face Draco. "It's just...not Hall...Halloween..please, if you don't mind. My..." he swallowed."My parents..."
Draco realized why Harry was so upset. "Oh Harry, love, I'm sorry." He fought to change the subject. "August? Is August okay? September?" Harry's face had returned to its normal color, and he smiled slightly.
"August is good," he said, "before we go back to school."
"It's done," Draco said, reaching over to kiss Harry's lips. "I love you Harry Potter."
"I love you, Draco Malfoy." Harry smiled. "I really do. But my arm's asleep."
