Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or associates; they all belong to JKR. I do not own cliché elements; they belong to fellow FF net writers. I do not own "Forever In Love"; it belongs to Kenny G and associates.
Author's notes: This chapter took a while because I've been procrastinating. And although no one pointed it out, I apologize about the part about Harry writing to Remus, when Remus should actually be the DADA professor (in the earlier chapters). I didn't check my earlier chapters. Sorry. So let's just ignore that part. :D
And this chapter goes out to angelkitty77 for giving the right answer!
Reviews:
Mz psycho: No, I'm not from HK, but Singapore. I understand Cantonese! –grin-
Thanks to Snoopy Sayles, Yana5, Lady Angelique of Mystiqu, Klikapele, angelkitty77 (you're so right!), Starrarose (I thought you were going get it right on the dot. –lol-) Sarahamanda, Incessant Darkness, shola, sarah, Makalani Astral, Princesspepper, Goldensong, D-daygirl, MionePotterU (my first spammer/flooder! Scary!)
"Why are you so busy these few days?" Draco sulked as Harry plopped onto the bed, tired.
"I've got something on my hands," Harry yawned. Not bothering to change out of his clothes, Harry crawled into the covers, only to be kicked by Draco.
"Go wash your face and brush your teeth! You're not coming to bed so dirty!" scolded Draco. This is one of the moments Harry might have commented, "your motherly instincts huh?" but today Harry was too tired to try to pick a mock fight with the veela.
"All right," drawled Harry as he lumbered towards the bathroom. Haphazardly brushing his teeth and splashing water over his face, Harry fought his dulling senses as he slipped into a nap while standing. Working on the nursery took effort, moreover trying to decorate one for twin babies.
"But it's all worth it," said Harry to himself. The golden boy took pride in the nursery; another extension to their room generously provided by Professor Dumbledore himself. Harry had taken all the decorations in his own hands, from the colour of the walls to the cribs, to every little detail of the enchanted paintings. Although he was not doing it the muggle way, but creating an enchanted babies' room was more that swishing the wand as Flitwick said.
The room was almost done; the walls were covered by the enchanted forest; unicorns galloping, the stream glistening… The room was also magically created to emulate the times of the day; in daytime light will filter through the canopy of the forest, in the night, the moon, in accordance to the actual moon phase, would hang brightly in the night sky. Harry had taken special care in arranging the furniture, the cribs specially ordered from Milan, just as Draco had spotted in the Wizarding Mother magazine.
"Harry? Someone sent you a note," shouted Draco from the bedroom. Harry dried his toothbrush and set it down, then proceeded to receive the note. Hedwig hooted as she saw him, raising her foot impatiently. Untying the note, Harry noticed the sealing wax on it, and knew exactly who it was from. Hedwig took off immediately after Harry was done, not even bothering to beg for a treat. "Who is it from?" Draco questioned.
"Eh, Remus," lied Harry. He didn't want Draco to know about the roses, did he? Draco gave a nod of understanding and went back to reading his book. Harry tore open the envelope, trying to appear casual, but deep down, he was nervous about the roses.
"Dear Mr. Potter," the letter read, "I am more than pleased and honoured to be able to bring you the roses. The package would arrive at the Halloween Ball at Hogwarts as you have requested. Thank you for your patronage. Enclosed is a statement of receipt of your sixty galleons. Regards, Madam Cibanskel. PS: Sixty galleons is really too much. I would have given them to you for free."
Harry smiled; everything would go according to his plan. "Being the boy-who-lived does have its perks," muttered Harry to himself.
Key players for the proposal were in place; the flowers ordered, the music scores for the famous muggle love songs received and forwarded to the musicians, the nursery almost done, and all Harry needed now, was a promise ring. A ring that would pledge his love and vouch his life for it, a ring that would promise his undying love for Draco, till death did them part. Harry had told Hermione about the plan, and the girl had thought it was "so sweet". Little did she know, Ron was going to take likewise action along with Harry. "No point wasting such romantic setting for just the two of us", Harry had said. The two Gryffindor males would invite their partners out for a dance when Dean, the guest saxophone player starts playing "Forever in Love" by Kenny G, and then they would administer the kneel, and the owl would fly in with the enchanted rose; Harry had ordered a stalk on Ron's behalf too. The plan sounded flawless, the only thing lacking was for the partners to say "yes".
Harry grinned at their ingenuity, even in his sleep.
Xxx
It was soon Halloween ball, and everyone in Hogwarts was in festive mood. Excited year one students running around in the common rooms and the castle in their costumes; abashed year threes at their awkward age, stuck to their dress robes and lingering around their "cute little crushes"; year sixes like Ron and Harry, who had something big in mind, were primping themselves to look their best. Administering a good hair charm on his impossible mop, Harry found it amusing that his hair could look remotely obedient and good. Buttoning the last buttons of Count Dracula outfit, Harry grinned into the mirror as he put the promise ring in one of the hidden compartments of the cloak. Ron had decided to dress up as a knight; for he knew Hermione would be a beautiful princess. Taking one last look at the mirror in Prefect's bathroom, Harry and Ron chuckled and promptly went to their respective dormitory to meet their dates.
"Harry, who are you supposed to be?" Draco asked. Draco was in a silver grey dress robe, altered to accommodate his now massive stomach. He topped the robe with a cloak one would think was fit for a king, and he even wore a crown. Draco was an emperor of some sort.
"Count Dracula," Harry replied, "a muggle's view of a vampire."
"Muggle," snorted Draco. Draco paused before continuing. "Do all of them Count Drac-what-is-it look so hot?"
Harry chuckled. "I don't know. But I know one Count Draco in front of me looks hot."
"I'm supposed to be a King, dear Harry," Draco smiled as he walked out of their dormitories with Harry, hand-in-hand.
Xxx
"Ron," called out Hermione as she descended the staircase leading to the Gryffindor prefects' dormitories. Ron, who was waiting for her at the foot at the stairs, gapped. Hermione cast a hair charm to straighten her usual frizzy hair, resulting in the hair tumbling down her shoulders nicely. Her pale pink Princess gown made her look exceptionally beautiful, and for a moment Ron realized he was the luckiest guy in the world.
"'Mione, you look gorgeous," complimented the boyfriend as he took her hand.
"Thank you. And you look not bad too." Hermione smiled sweetly at the knight. Her knight.
"Sir Ronald Weaseley at your service, your royal Highness," the boy joked as he bowed.
So far, their plans were in good order.
Xxx
"And I would say, tuck in." The headmaster paved way for the Halloween feast, the menu well-thought of by the Gryffindor representatives. Harry made Draco come sit with him with the Gryffindors, who paid little attention to them. As Draco stabbed into the meatball made to look like an eyeball, he squirmed in his seat as he tried to get comfortable.
"Draco, you all right there?" Harry enquired.
"Yeah, maybe it's this whole idea of sitting at the Gryffindor table," Draco replied, ignoring the dull ache he felt in his lower back. Carrying twins were too taxing for him frail body, the extra weight posed a strain on his back. Harry reached across and kneaded the lover's hand, reassuring him that everything was perfect.
Contrary to what Draco believed to be a boring game, guessing the age of the Whomping Willow, Seamus had a great way to make it more interesting- they wanted the answer to be correct to the very minute. And it was so tough none of the students got it right. Everyone knows the day, but no one knew the exact time the tree was born out of its parents. Yes, the Whomping Willow was created from its parents, not borne of a seed like other trees. The money collected was thus handed to the Headmaster, who would later decide how to deal with it.
"I think he should set up a needy students' fund. You know, so that they can get books and robes…" Hermione suggested, causing Ron to squirm in his seat. Now that Fred and George were successful entrepreneurs in their joke shop, and that the older brothers were working, the family hardly had to worry about finances anymore. However, Ron never really got past being labelled as poor.
"I don't mean you, Ron. I mean…" Hermione obviously noticed Ron's reactions.
"I understand," Ron stopped her. He smiled meekly, determined not to foil up his plan for later.
"Now, let's bring on the music, and we'll dance through the night!" Seamus announced to the students, as the benches and table were magically stored away, such that the Great Hall turned into a massive dance pool. Harry and Draco tapped their feet to a few of the fast-paced music; Draco could not dance to them in his condition.
Just as Harry expected, Dean came onstage with the saxophone, polished to glimmer and shine. He started off playing some wizarding tunes; couples swaying to the music in the dance pool, the light dimmed to a soft glow. As Dean signalled to Harry and Ron, he started to play the Kenny G song.
"Come, let's go dance," Harry urged Draco. Placing his hands at what seemed like Draco's waist, Draco circling his hand around Harry's neck; they sway and rocked to the romantic song.
"Nice music…" Draco whispered as they circled the dance floor. Harry grinned, his choice was right.
As Dean continued playing the song, Harry and Ron manoeuvred themselves near the centre of the dance floor, where it was considerably empty. As though synchronised, the two Gryffindor boys got down on one knee in front of their partners. A cry of an owl was heard, two stalks of enchanted rose tied to its feet. Handing one to Ron, Harry grinned and whispered, "Good luck."
"Harry?" Draco mouthed, his eyes wide open.
"Ron?" Hermione did the same as she noticed the gesture.
The two boys whipped the rings from their pockets and opened the box.
"Will you marry me?" They chorused, inviting gasps from Draco and Hermione. Some of the crowd cheered on, murmurs were exchanged among the students.
Tears welled up in Draco's eyes as he looked at Harry. "He's proposing for real!" Nothing could hide his elation, as well as how touched he was at Harry's gestures. The Gryffindor golden boy was prepared to go down on his knees, in front of his peers in school.
Hermione could feel herself shaking. "Am I ready to say 'yes' to Ron?" She hesitated. Ron looked up at her hopefully; he was never more proud of himself.
"Yes," the two answered simultaneously. Cheers and claps were heard from the rest of Hogwarts; they were in jubilation. The two boys hastily put the ring on for their love, and shot up for a hug. The four of them were never happier.
Xxx
"Ron Weaseley. I really don't know why I said yes," Hermione cooed as she cuddled with Ron in a giant pumpkin facing the lake.
"Because you love me," Ron replied smugly.
"Aren't we too young to speak of marriage?" Hermione questioned, typically rationale of her.
"We could always get engaged first, you know? I won't want to lose you. Ever." Ron whispered, serious this time. Hermione looked up at him and smiled. They met for a kiss, a kiss to mark their love.
Xxx
"Harry. I'm so happy. I'm so afraid I'm going to wake up to find these all a dream," Draco sobbed; his emotions going haywire.
"Draco love, the thing you're going to find when you wake up," Harry paused. "Is to find yourself in my arms."
Draco smiled and dried his tears as Harry led them back to their dormitory.
"You know, this is not the end of it," Harry boasted as he kept his back to the portrait, momentarily blocking the entrance.
"Really?" Draco asked, excited.
"Come, I have another surprise for you," Harry took out a blindfold and blindfolded Draco. He was going to bring Draco to the nursery. The nursery he took much pride in.
"Ooh, kinky," Draco commented, most probably getting the wrong idea about what Harry was about to do.
"Not that, my dear." Harry chuckled as he brought Draco slowly to the nursery. "Welcome, to our children's room." Harry announced as he took the blindfold off Draco.
"Oh my!" The blonde gasped, shocked at what he saw. The moon was bright in the sky, the stream reflecting its pale whiteness. Draco went over to the crib, and marvelled at it. It was exactly what he wanted from the magazine. Tears began to well in his eyes again, he was evidently very touched by all these.
"Oh Harry, I don't know what to say…" Draco sobbed.
"Then don't say anything," Harry whispered as he took the blonde in his arms. He rocked Draco for a while, taking comfort in their embrace.
"Harry. Thanks for all these. You've made it all so perfect for me," Draco mumbled into Harry's shoulder.
"Because you gave me the chance to," Harry replied. Everything was perfect.
"Wait, I don't mean to break the moment, but I really need to go to the toilet," Draco said as he broke the hug. Waddling hurriedly to the adjacent bathroom in the nursery, Draco rushed to relieve himself.
As he took off his pants, Draco's eyes widened. "Oh no," he said to himself.
Author's notes: I just had to put in the Kenny G song. It is a highly cliché instrumental love music (I think). And I like it. –hee-
And please don't tell me you don't know what's happening next. It's so –duh-. Please review! I love reviews!
