A/N: Please excuse me for needing so long to update but I´ve to cope as well. I´ll try to write the wedding chapter before New Year but I won´t promise too much…

9 Searching for the Wedding Rings

A few days later Draco and Harry decided to visit Diagon Alley for their last preparations for the wedding. They had to search for their rings and Draco already had a certain imagination how their rings had to look like. On their way to their destination the two boys were chatting cheerfully. They both were eagerly awaiting the grand day and Harry was in a better mood since his birthday party was such a success. The raven-haired wizard teased his lover and asked looking completely innocent, "But finally answer me one last question that is bothering me lately: Who is going to wear the white bride´s gown and the veil?"

Draco grinned and his eyes were twinkling amused as he answered as calm as possible, "Well I never thought about that problem but as you are asking...I think I´d make a good bride and I think the veil would fit my hair very well."

Harry chuckled and Draco´s grin broadened more and more. They then laughed heartily and embraced each other while they were trying hard not to laugh like maniacs.

Harry panted for air and after a short moment they both looked at one another. Emerald eyes met silver ones and they needed no words to express their feelings. Both of them were happy that they were able to laugh together simply forgetting just one single moment all the problems they had to fight with. As long as they were together they would be able to handle those problems and they would begin to cope. The other people in the train looked at them with a mixture between suspicion and curiousness because they were so busy with themselves that they seemed to not notice their surroundings anymore. Harry felt the sudden urge to kiss his partner as their eyes locked once more and he leant over giving him a gentle kiss on his still slightly grinning lips. Draco immediately opened his lips to let his lover´s tongue in and their tongues were caressing each other´s tongue tenderly. They slowly wrapped their arms around each other gently stroking over their backs and they tightened their embrace. Simply enjoying the closeness they stayed there hugging quite awhile when Harry noticed that they were nearly reaching the last station. Slowly realisation hit their minds and Draco pouted, "We went to far, my love. Now we have to change the train and go three more stations back into the other direction."

Harry now raised his eyebrows and nodded while he stated, "That´s our own fault, Drake. Maybe we should have looked out of the windows by the time instead of snogging each other."

Draco tenderly brushed one finger over Harry´s cheek and gave back playfully an amused undertone in his voice, "But I get lost in those magnetic eyes of yours every time I look at you when you are smiling so happily."

Harry couldn´t do something else than smile back at his boyfriend and he answered honestly, "Same like me, Teen Rebel. Especially because there haven´t been so much occasions we spent simply feeling lucky like yet. Let´s try to catch this moment and keep it for the following times when we have to solve the next problems that might come up."

They were holding hands while they got off the train and went to the opposite platform waiting for the next train to arrive. It took nearly 15 minutes until the couple left the little station with the train back to the correct destination. To Draco still it was a bit strange to use those Muggle Techniques and walk amongst crowds of typical Muggles. Both young men were aware that they had to watch their backs closely to prevent being stalked by Death Eaters no matter if they were in Muggle London or at Diagon Alley which means back in Wizardry World. That was the reason why they avoided apparating to Diagon Alley because they would have been easy targets and they would have given too many chances to locate their new home. As a matter of fact our famous couple had to be careful because of Voldemort and his Death Eaters ever since they left the security of Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry.

They stepped into the "Leaky Cauldron" and decided to drink a cold butterbeer before they would start their shopping tour. The two wizards sat down at a table in a calm corner and it didn´t last long until Tom came along grinning his teeth less smile and he asked, "What can I do for you, gentlemen?"

Harry smiled politely and ordered, "Two cold butterbeer for us, please."

The old wizard nodded and turned around still smiling slightly to fetch what they demanded. Draco laid his hand on Harry´s gently stroking over the back of his lover´s hand with his thumb. Tom brought the two butterbeer and they paid because they wanted to leave for Diagon Alley when they´ve finished their beer at once. Harry took one large sip and Draco wanted to know, "Harry, what do we wear at the wedding? Maybe we should buy something new as well…"

The black-haired wizard half pouted hiding his amused twinkling eyes behind a curtain of unruly black hair, "Aren´t our clothes good enough to get married?"

The silver-haired young man playfully slapped the other´s knee and gave back chuckling, "You know what I´m talking about, love. We actually can´t marry wearing black leather pants and tight net shirts, can we?"

Harry sighed but grinned inwardly and then he smiled and said now more sincere, "You´re right, Drake and today we could visit Mme Malkin´s store and buy some wedding suits as well after we´re done with searching for some rings."

They then drank their cold butterbeer and stood up leaving the "Leaky Cauldron" for their following task. Since Draco had a pretty good idea how their rings had to look like and Harry was really pleased with his lover´s idea to search for some rings which would fit to their necklaces they had to search quite a bit of time. About an hour later they finally found a little store in a quiet corner of Diagon Alley with the promising slogan: Jewellery for every occasion to fit your standards. They looked at one another and nodding contently they stepped into the small store. Inside it was very bright because of all the glittering and glimmering jewels laying side by side on royal blue satin cushions. A young witch came out of a little room behind the counter and greeted them politely asking, "What are you searching for, gentlemen?"

Draco greeted back and he began to explain what they were looking for. The red-haired witch fixed the couple with her sincere dark green eyes and nodded every now and then. As the silver-haired young man finished his explanation she began to bustle around and after awhile she came back with several rings. The two young men looked the rings and both of them grabbed one ring to take a closer look. When they showed each other the rings they started to laugh heartily because they finally happened to have exactly the same ring in their hands except one difference. Draco did choose a ring with a snake that bites her own end and eyes that were shining bright green and Harry chose the fitting equivalent but the eyes of his snake were shimmering blue silver. They both were happy and decided to buy the rings which by the way fitted perfectly on their ring fingers. The ring search had been a perfect success by now.

They shortly visited Vince and Greg who were very pleased to see their friends and the former Hogwarts students were chatting together quite awhile. They didn´t notice how time ran by and as they looked up there were a few customers waiting for Vince and Greg to ask some questions. Draco grinned and dragged his lover out of the store breathing into his ear seductively, "I´m glad if we are back at home because I want to feel you as close as possible, my love."

Harry wiggled his eyebrows playfully and murmured under his breath, "I can´t wait to be close to you as well and maybe we could take a little bath together…"

They said farewell and winked to Vince and Greg who were winking back grinning happily. Harry allowed himself to be dragged away smiling slightly because he knew that they now had to buy some suits for the wedding and Draco wanted to get over with that task quickly to return to their home for some snogging sessions before Terry and Blaise would drop in later that day. Imagining how nice a hot bath together would be both boys were eagerly awaiting that they were ready with their shopping tour and on their way home through the strange Muggle London.

They went over to Mme Malkins Store and entered still smiling slightly. They looked around while they were waiting for someone who would help them out with their clothing question. Suddenly the door bell rang again and someone else entered the store rushing in gracefully. The woman came nearer and suddenly the two young men were aware that she stood still rooted to the spot staring at them and they turned around to look who was looking at them that obvious. Draco´s gaze froze and Harry stepped closer to his boyfriend grabbing for his hand. Draco took a hold of Harry´s hand with a death grip and his skin was ice cold but sweaty. The woman who was staring at the couple was no one else than Narcissa Malfoy. The look on her face was unreadable and her blue eyes were wandering around between both boys. It was absolutely silent but the tension was building up more and more. Not yet ready to face his parents Draco started to fumble with his black silk button up shirt and he opened the first button with slightly trembling fingers avoiding eye contact. Narcissa Malfoy finally broke the silence and she spoke sounding completely calm, "Draco, my son…you are looking skinny, dear…"

Draco opened his mouth but no words came out. He had to clear his throat first and then he said hoarsely, "My, that´s not the point…" and his voice trailed off.

Draco felt ice cold anger growing up inside and on the other hand he felt despair and helplessness. There she was, his own mother and she seemed to be a stranger to him. She must have known what his father did and now she had to say nothing else than that he was looking skinny. Was that a short glimpse of emotion in her ocean blue eyes? No, he must have been imagining things. Mrs Malfoy took a closer look at her son and his fiancé. Harry stood beside Draco still holding his hand and squeezing it reassuringly but he felt utterly helpless too because he couldn´t think of a proper solution to lead that conversation to safer grounds. The tension still was growing stronger and nobody dared to disturb the crowd. Draco breathed shallowly and for a moment he held his breath. He then straightened his shoulders and simply asked, "Did you know what father did to me last holidays?"

Narcissa seemed to pale slightly and she swallowed before she answered still sounding calmly, "Draco, my boy…I didn´t know exactly but I´m sorry…I´m honestly sorry because I should have done something for you…maybe I could have protected you…I never will know because I didn´t…I was afraid."

Narcissa really looked sincere and her expression lost the usual arrogance for a single moment. The silver-haired woman smiled feebly but then again her eyes looked sad for a moment. That smile seemed to be the only possibility to prevent herself from crying. That was something which either boys knew all too well and the atmosphere was changing from growing anger to unexpressed mourn about lost confidence, a lost son and a lost family. Even if Draco ever was sure that he hated his parents there was still that little feeling of loss and the hidden wish to have some people who care for him and roots where he belongs to.

Mrs Malfoy murmured to both of them, "Good luck for your wedding and look after one another…"

She then turned around still smiling that little smile which woke up so much feelings in both boys. Draco was aware of the similarity but that only made him smile more to prevent himself from crying. That encounter was unexpected, caught him completely off guard and now he had to deal with something new. Instead of hating both his parents he suddenly felt pity for his mother. She was depressed, much like he himself and now he knew that she had to deal with similar treatments through his father. He was sure that she was as frightened and helpless as he felt after his punishment. That was something he never dared to think about but this meeting made him recall some things and he now saw everything clearer. Watched from another point of view, in another ankle or light, Draco now changed his opinion and he pitied his mother but only more hated his father who seemed to be crueller as he acknowledged him to be. Their lucky mood was gone, faded away like a bubble caused by one more accident in a long chain that seemed to be their fate lately. Slowly they felt like return to reality and to their cause which led them to that place earlier. They turned around to face Mme Malkin, the owner of that store and asked for her advice what suit they should choose for the wedding.

Soon their thoughts were distracted from that unhappy earlier event and they were testing pants and tails with fitting silk shirts and ties. At last they decided to wear a similar combination, yet again their taste seemed to fit together perfectly especially their choice of colour. They paid after Mme Malkin who wanted to help her famous customers herself bewitched their clothing to fit them as well as possible. Even the only for Harry and Draco fetched shoes were now fitting perfectly and they were shimmering under a special Glance Charm. Now our famous couple was done with their shopping tour and they tiredly headed back to Greenwich Village by train again. They didn´t talk much but they exchanged some knowing glances sensing the rest of tension which was still left after that unplanned meeting with Draco´s mother at Mme Malkin´s. Back at home they put the bought clothes into their wardrobe and the rings on their nightstands. After that they went down to the living room and Draco sat down in front of their fireplace while Harry was rummaging something in the kitchen to magically prepare a meal after their exhausting shopping tour.

Draco kneeled down beside the fire place and magically lit the fire with his wand. Now finally alone his thoughts started to wander around and he was completely absent-minded. That unwanted encounter earlier brought back his sinister thoughts and he felt his former depression crawling back into his consciousness. His energy seemed to be drawn away and he felt tired unable to do something against that change of mind even not aware that he still was kneeling beside the sofa. Maybe he would have cried if there had been any tears in his ice-blue eyes but there weren´t. Draco felt sad but he wasn´t able to remember exactly why. If somebody would ask him now he wouldn´t be able to explain. The only thing he could have described was that sudden breathtaking grief that came up to grip his heart hard. And exactly that was the worst thing to him, his inability to explain his feelings. People who were sad always had to explain the causes but what if there was no real cause which could be understand. Sure nobody would really blame him because it was hard to meet his mother again even after that long time since he had suffered so much. But to him that all seemed to be so far away and that darkness he felt was so much more than only being sad because he talked to his mother realizing that she was depressed too and suffering under his father as well.

Ever since he suffered under that deep depression he always thought that he wasn´t worth any consolation. Every time his friends or Harry started to comfort him he thought that he needed a good reason to cry at first. Just feeling sad was no real cause and he didn´t want to start a waterfall without any understandable trigger. Indeed he felt so much insecurity that he wasn´t able to extract his thoughts. Confusion only made it worse and he had to fight away the sudden urge to destroy something, to flee his own thoughts and leave his body alone. If he wouldn´t be able to calm down he would be back in his old self-destructive patterns again. Draco breathed deeply and tried to focus his mind on something else. He thought back to the morning when Harry and he felt so lucky together and in spite of his despair that their luck never did last long enough he started to feel more aware of himself, not any longer lost in his thoughts.

Draco stood up and decided to follow his lover into the kitchen before there would be the next memory that disturbed his train of thoughts making him all too confused all of a sudden. As the silver-haired Slytherin entered the kitchen he found Harry preparing their self-cleaning dishes, Cho´s birthday present, for their meal and it smelled tasty in the whole room.  They both sat down and with a little bit help of their wands soon the table was ready for meal and the food flew through the air on silver plates which were placed on the table in front of them. Dracos stomach made a growling noise and he noticed that he must be rather hungry by now. Harry smiled at his lover wishing him a good appetite and sure he would have. They ate slowly and somehow Harry sensed his boyfriend´s distress. When they were done with their tasteful meal their dishes began to clean themselves and the two young men went into the living room together. Soon Blaise and Terry would drop in like nearly every day and it was quite their time.

Harry asked quietly, "Draco, what is bothering you. I can feel your distress and I know for sure it´s better to talk about things that haunt your mind."

Draco was glooming into the fire and avoided eye contact while he answered, "Well, I was thinking about my mother and that brought some less nice thoughts into my mind."

The black-haired young man glanced at his lover suspiciously and gave back, "Knowing you some less nice thoughts means your depression haunts you again, Draco. I know how difficult it can be if you feel like you can´t explain what is going on. Please do try not to bottle up…that´s our dearest fault I think. Did you ever think about writing it down, something like a poem or another sort of text. Writing can be useful sometimes because you are able to sort your confused thoughts a bit, well kind of…"

Draco hesitated one moment and then he spoke hoarsely, "I don´t think that I can do this."

"Why?", Harry asked softly and reassured his boyfriend, "It´s no big deal to write and it´s not important that somebody likes your poems or that it could be considered art. It´s more like forming your thoughts into pictures that express your own feelings. That´s a way to express feelings more easy than describing and analysing them face to face."

Draco was speechless because once again his lover hit a nerve and expressed exactly what he felt that moment. That was one of his problems that he never felt able to explain himself but he never tried to write a poem or draw a picture.

Draco nodded silently and then he added, "Maybe I should try and you are right, kitten. If I don´t try I´ll never know if it could be my way too."

They cuddled up together and Harry enveloped his lover into his arms giving him some silent comfort without to further ask about his feelings. The silver-haired young man soon felt better gently leaning into Harry´s arms. They kissed each other their eyes shut and their tongues caressing each other´s tongue tenderly. But before their kiss could grow more passionately and make their bodies react more lustfully the warning bell in their fireplace began to ring. A secure sign that within the next few minutes Blaise and Terry would arrive via floo network. They both sighed softly into the kiss but continued kissing gently and hugging each other tenderly.

Blaise popped in and one single moment later Terry came out of the fireplace staggering slightly and Blaise put his arms around his boyfriend holding him tight and stopping his nearly fall. The two boys greeted cheerfully and our famous couple let go off each other to greet back. The four friends sat down together on the sofa in front of the fireplace and talked about the latest happenings. Terry and Blaise were exited as they heard about the meeting between Draco, Harry and Narcissa Malfoy. Both boys sensed that it distressed their silver-haired friend more than he admitted and Blaise exchanged some knowing glances with Harry. Draco who didn´t want to talk about the encounter more than necessary drew their attention to another topic as fast as possible. The four former Hogwarts students were chatting about the wedding and the last unknown variable due to the marriage. Everything was prepared now except one single thing: Who would be the one to hold the ceremony?

That was very difficult to decide because it had to be someone with an official permission for wedding ceremonies and they didn´t know much people who had one.

Finally they were sure that Professor Dumbledore had an official permission for weddings and they decided to send an owl to Hogwarts to ask him if he would agree. Draco warned carefully, "We should send an unknown owl because Hedwig and Niger are too obvious and the wedding date is official. The death Eaters might observe Hogwarts if they have the suspicion that Dumbledore´ll be the one who is our wedding ceremonial master."

Harry nodded slowly and then he cocked his head to Terry and asked, "What about your new Barn Owl Cassiopeia? Maybe you could send her…"

Terry grinned broadly and agreed luckily to help them out and they sent the young owl which was well trained by no one else than Millicent to deliver that important letter to Dumbledore and wait for an answer. Now everything was prepared and all they had to do was waiting for an answer and be ready for the grand day and the wedding ceremony.

A/N: Hopefully you enjoyed that chapter and you are interested in the next chapter…