1Draco and Harry stood before the entrance to the Great Hall, hand in hand. Harry let out a breath he had been holding, and Draco squeezed his hand in reassurance. They both entered, and they could hear the Hall gradually becoming silent.

Harry made sure he didn't look at Ron. He knew he would feel guilty when he looked at the red-haired boy who had stuck by him for so many years.

Harry tugged Draco to the Gryffindor table. He would try, first, to see if his house would welcome Draco. Truthfully, he was a bit afraid of what the Slytherins would do to him.

Harry made his way, with Draco behind him, to the Gryffindor table, and sat down. Still no sound was heard throughout the entire Hall. Besides the pattering of their own feet making their way towards the Gryffindor table, nothing else was heard.

Harry took a seat beside Ron, but still hadn't looked at the boy. Instead, he went to the logical one, "Hi!" said Harry, smiling.

No one said anything yet. Everyone was still gawking at what was happening.

Finally, Seamus spoke, "Harry? What is he doing here?"

"Uh, well, I just wanted you all to know that he's my boyfriend; he has been since our sixth year."

Everyone's eyes went wide.

"You've been together since sixth year?" asked Seamus, who seemed to be the only one in Gryffindor to live up to its name for bravery; besides Harry, of course.

"Yes."

"Why are you telling us now?" asked Dean, finally gathering some courage.

"Because something happened earlier today, and, well, I just wanted everyone to understand."

"Well, I don't understand. Even if you are gay, Harry; why him?" asked Dean again.

"Well, I love him."

"You what?" asked Hermione

"I love him with all my heart and soul."

"How could you?" asked Hermione, who looked as if she was in tears.

"Well, you and Ron were always together, and I had no one to turn to. Draco has been there for me through a lot. I guess after all that hate, it just turned itself into love."

The tears came down Hermione's face now, and ran out of the Hall as Seamus stood up, "Go away, Harry. Go away. You're not wanted with us until you get rid of him."

Harry was taken aback. He thought that at least the Gryffindors would understand. They had been through so much, and it hurt now; it hurt that they wouldn't accept him.

Harry took a step backwards, and accidentally walked into Draco, who gently guided Harry away. They were about to leave, when Blaise came up to them.

"Come on; you're hungry, aren't you? You can tell us what happened earlier."

When Harry looked at the Slytherin table, they were all smiling at him.

Draco smiled at his friend, and dragged Harry to the Slytherin table. Pansy stood up, and stuck out her hand, "Welcome."

Harry took it, and was glad that Pansy was smiling at him. She was actually quite pretty, although things always seem better when they go the way you want them to.

Draco pulled Harry down to take a seat. Silence still prevailed, vibrating in the Great Hall.

Everyone seemed to either be in shock, or eating silently. When lunch was over, everyone left in silence. They seemed to think that life itself was over, when Harry accepted Pansy's hand.

When they got to the point where they were to separate, Pansy held on to Harry.

"I don't think it's safe for you to go back, yet. Perhaps you should stay with us for the time being; until things calm down a bit, I mean."

"Thanks," said Harry, and he changed direction to follow the Slytherin.

When they entered the Slytherin common room, the chatter started. A bunch of questions were thrown their way.

"Why didn't you tell us earlier, Draco?" asked Pansy.

"Well, we didn't want anyone to know. We didn't know you would accept it," replied Draco.

"Of course we would accept it! We've known for years you've had something for Harry," replied Pansy cheekily.

"Really?"

"Yes! Bloody hell, I'm surprised you both didn't get together earlier. It took you two six years to realize what we've all known since year one," said Pansy smugly.

Harry smiled at the girl who was so welcoming to the couple.

"But you know, sooner or later I'm going to have to return to my dorm," stated the Gryffindor.

"No you don't," Pansy said.

"Why not?" asked Harry.

"Because you should stay with us. They'll do things to you, Harry. Didn't you see Worm, and Fish-head, and that damned mudblood boy?"

"Fish-head?"

"Yeah; Finnigin."

"He doesn't look like a fish."

"He does to us. He should be called Fishiegin. But anyway, they'll tear you apart. I say you take your things and move in here."

"But am I even allowed to do that?"

"And why not?"

"Because I'm a Gryffindor, and I'm a captain. I have too many responsibilities to attend to."

"Well, I'm pretty sure you can talk to McGonagall about it."

Just then, as if on cue, the professor entered with Severus following closely behind.

"Harry, why didn't you tell me what was going on with that woman?"

Pansy turned and looked at Harry, "What woman?"

Harry didn't have time to reply to Pansy, as McGonagall ran over and gave Harry a firm hug, "That evil woman! If you'd told me, I wouldn't have agreed to it. That evil, evil, woman!"

"I'm fine, Professor, but you're hurting me."

"Oh. Sorry, Harry," apologized his head of house, as she stepped back.

"I was just about to come see you."

"About what, my dear?"

"About switching to Slytherin."

"Whatever for?"

"Well, the Gryffindors don't seem to like me anymore, since they found out about Draco."

"Well, that was quite the shock, wasn't it? And I'm so disappointed that you both went to Severus, and not to me."

"But that's because Severus found out by accident."

McGonagall's eyes shot open, "What do you mean?"

Harry blushed as Draco smiled, and the Gryffindor head of house' eyes got even larger, "Oh. Never mind, Harry," she said, nervously.

"So, can I, professor?"

"But you're our team captain."

"But they wouldn't listen to me, even if I were still allowed to stay. They don't like me anymore."

"Actually, I don't know. Maybe you should speak with them again. Not all of the members of Gryffindor got a chance to voice their opinion to, or about, you two."

"There's no way we're letting Harry go there by himself!" protested Pansy.

Both the professors were quite taken aback by the protectiveness Pansy was showing over Harry.

"Alright, well, I'll go with him. Slytherins are not allowed in the Gryffindor common room."

"But Harry's here," protested Pansy.

"But he shouldn't be."

"But still, can't we just go to back him up? I promise - no mischief!" said Pansy.

"I'm afraid not, Ms. Parkinson. It's just not allowed."

"Fine, but if he doesn't return or give us word, we're coming after him," added Blaise.

The Gryffindor head of house rolled her eyes, "Fine. Now, Mr. Potter, if you will?"

Harry smiled, and followed his transfigurations professor out of the safety of the Slytherin common room.

When Harry entered the Gryffindor common room, silence filled the air, and then shocked expressions came when they saw their head of house enter the common room as well.

"It has come to my notice that certain recent developments have resulted in such poor behavior, that I have become extremely disappointed with many members from my own house. That you would turn your back on your own house mate! You should be happy, because he is happy."

"But Malfoy's going to hurt him!" protested Seamus

"I've been with Draco since our sixth year, and I have been nothing but happy with him. When my godfather passed away, I had no one left. Then, during the summer, I got an unexpected owl from him. We worked out our problems and differences, and we realized that we are quite similar. We have been together since sixth year began, and I don't think I have ever been happier in my life."

"How could you say that? He's going to kill you; he will!" said Dean.

"If he had wanted to, he has had plenty of chances before, and he hasn't. I trust him with everything that I am."

Ginny stepped forward, "Harry, I'm happy for you," and gave Harry a hug. But Harry felt the tears seeping into his shirt, and he heard the sobs from the little red head.

"Ginny? Are you alright?"

"I'm just happy that you're happy, even if it's not with me. I'm glad you've found someone to help you through the whole godfather incident. I tried, but I couldn't get to you, and I guess I'm just trying to tell you that I'm glad someone was able to. I was going to really miss having the old Harry; the one that was always happy. I'm glad he didn't give you a chance to leave."

Aliana and Marsico stepped up as well. Aliana gave Harry a hug, and Marsico shook Harry's hand, and smiled. Lavender took Harry into a tight hug, and was sobbing into Harry's shoulder as well, "I'm so happy for you, Harry. I've always fancied you, but I'm glad you've found someone."

"Er... Thanks, Lavender."

A bunch of Gryffindor's then stepped up and showed that they were happy for Harry. There were still the occasional ones who stayed behind to show their disapproval, but Harry was hoping that the ones that did approve would change the minds of those who didn't.

"There is another message I need to bring forth. It has come to my attention that Mr. Potter has requested to leave Gryffindor, and join Slytherin if he is not wanted here. Please inform Mr. Potter just how wrong he is," McGonagall requested, smiling at her house.

"Does that mean you won't be our captain if you leave?" asked Ginny

Harry nodded, not meeting her eye, and Ginny's eyes popped wide open, "NO! You're not allowed to! Who are we going to get as a captain, if you're gone?"

"Uh, maybe Ron would..."

"Maybe Ron would nothing! You're not leaving, mate!" said Ron, who had remained quiet the entire time until now.

"But Ron..."

"No, now, listen, Harry. Our team needs you. We need you on our team. If you're gone, it would just cause a big mess, and there's DA, as well."

Everyone knew about DA. The reason why not everyone was in it, was because they had decided to have a quota. They couldn't let everyone join, because the room of requirement wasn't big enough, and it would kill Harry if he were teaching the entire school.

"Yes; I didn't want to give that up," Harry replied.

"Well then, it's settled; you're not allowed to leave."

Hermione looked red in the face. Her own boyfriend hadn't stood with her. She stormed off, and Ron shrugged, "She'll get over it."

After the whole welcoming fiasco, Harry left the Gryffindor common room, followed by a few lions that wanted to come and meet the Slytherins Harry was talking about; not the rumored evil ones.

The Gryffindors ended up meeting the Slytherins half way.

"So?" asked Pansy, eying the other Gryffindors with accusation.

"They don't want me to leave. Some of them have accepted it; the others I'm not too sure about."

Pansy smiled, and pulled Harry into a hug which was quickly broken off by a tap on Pansy's shoulder.

"Excuse me, but he's mine," said Draco, glaring at Pansy jokingly.

"Really? Well, what if I find him a bit too adorable?" asked Pansy, running a finger down Harry's cheek.

"Get your own Gryffindor! I've got dibs on that cutie!"

Pansy chuckled, and released Harry. Draco took his Gryffindor immediately.

"I missed you!"

"Draco, that was only like an hour ago?"

"I know, but I still missed you, and you won't be coming to Slytherin. I was kind of looking forward to you coming to live with us," Draco pouted.

"We're out in the open now, so it won't be as difficult as it was before."

"I'm not too sure about that, Harry. Your dorm mates might still..."

"They won't do anything! I'll make sure!" Ron declared, stepping up.

Draco had to smile at the loyalty the Gryffindor was showing to his green-eyed lion.

"Yeah, we'll kick their ass if they try to lay a hand on Harry," Ginny said.