Hi everyone :)

Final chapter here folks; told you it was going to be a short story :D Thank you everyone who reviewed last chapter, they're all very much appreciated. However, I did get one review from someone and it was my first ever flame! Well, it was kind of a weak flame, not really a flame at all more like needless critism...Anyways, no matter what exactly it was, it's the focus of this chapter's little ramble.

Why, oh why, do people read stories labeled SLASH and then write a review complaining about the SLASH? It just really doesn't make any sense. Basically what this review said was that Harry couldn't be gay because he's a hero and heroes aren't gay. Am I the only one who finds that totally offensive? Why can't a hero be gay? There's absolutely no reason at all! Also, they said that Harry couldn't be gay 'cause he has a girlfriend. Erm, fanfiction, hello? I know that Harry isn't gay in the books but I really don't care.

And that's my ramble/rant for the chapter. Now on with the reason you've probably all skipped what I just said :D

Draco released a slightly bored sigh and flopped back in his chair lazily. Harry had been out for a good few hours now and he was starting to get just a little bored. Plus his legs were starting to go numb and he hated that feeling.

During the first hour, Dumbledore had come to check up on Harry. He had also spoken to Draco at great length about his relationship to the Gryffindor and what his plans were exactly. Draco had answered with as much patience as he could muster and remained civil throughout, though when the Headmaster had left and the door was shut behind him, the Slytherin hadn't hesitated to give the finger in the direction the old man had left in.

During the second hour, Draco had nodded off, the late nights with Harry effecting him just as much as they had the other boy. However, he had been woken after only a few minutes by the sounds of Granger's and Weasley's raised voices. It appeared that Madame Pomfrey had decided that it would be for the best if Harry didn't have any visitors until she was sure that whatever he had wasn't too serious or highly contageous. Draco couldn't care less about her reasoning; he was just glad she was keeping people away. He was in no mood to defend/argue/fight/hex.

That had been the last mildly interesting thing which had happened and Draco had been sitting still, doing nothing, for the last hour and a half. He still held Harry's hand in his own and he had no intension of releasing it but he shifted uncomfortably, trying to get into a position which would relieve the awkward position his leg was in which was causing it to go numb.

Settling down again, Draco huffed and leaned back in his chair so that his head hung over the back of it. He was so incrediably bored! Maybe he could dash to his room quickly and grab a book or some homework or something, anything, to keep himself occupied until Harry woke up...

"Urgh..."

...Or maybe not.

"Harry?" Draco reacted to the small groan from the other boy quickly, lowering his head to look at him and sitting forward earnestly. Harry's eyes were still shut but his forehead was creased in a slight frown.

"Am I dying?" Harry groaned.

"No, you're not dying." Draco reassured with a small laugh.

"Can you kill me then?" The dark haired boy sighed, his face relaxing as his head lulled to the side so he was facing Draco. Slowly, his eyelids lifted to reveal the slightly dulled green beneath. "Hi." He greeted with a weak smile.

"Hey." Draco returned with a weak smile of his own.

Harry's eyes looked around for a second and his frown once again returned. "It's still light outside..." He murmured, confusion evident in his tone. Then, slowly, realisation and dread seeped into his features. "I, you...Did you...Was there a huge scene?"

"Kind of, yeah." Draco sighed reluctantly.

"How many know?"

"It's probably common knowledge by now."

"Wonderful." Harry grunted sarcastically. "Have Ron and Hermione been in to see me?"

"No, Madame Pomfrey's keeping everyone out until she's sure you haven't got something dangerous and contagious."

"You're here though."

"I brought you in; if I'm gonna catch something I'd have caught it by now. Besides, I also get special I-love-Harry-Potter privilidges." Draco grinned

That caused Harry to groan again, though this one was in good nature. "Madame Pomfrey knows about us?"

"I should think all the teachers do by now." Draco revealed with a nod. "Dumbledore's already been in here talking to me about it."

"That is so unbelievably embarrassing." Harry croaked, his voice cracking halfway through the sentence.

"Why?" The blonde inquired, amused with Harry's sudden bashfulness.

"I don't want them thinking about us in that way!" He insisted, his voiced turning into a strained whisper towards the end.

Draco laughed at the explanation but once the laughter died away, he felt the need to clarify a point which seemed to have been by-passed. "Harry, everyone knows about us now."

"I know." He sighed, sounding suddenly tired, his eyes fluttering shut again. "It doesn't matter though. Yes, it hasn't been the ideal way for everyone to find out but there's nothing we can do about it now. We'll just have to see what happens."

"Yeah." Draco agreed, his eyes falling to look down at his shoes. "You know, whatever happens now, you'll always have me, right?" He continued, looking back up and giving Harry's hand a light squeeze.

"I know." The dark haired boy confirmed, smiling gently.

Draco returned the smile and lifted Harry's slightly warmer hand to his lips and kissed his knuckles gently. It was going to be all right, they'd both make sure it was. If they stayed together and didn't let other people get to them then they could get through this. Draco didn't doubt that this was going to be harder for Harry than it would be for himself. Whereas Draco didn't really care for any of his "friends", Harry loved Ron and Hermione dearly. If they didn't accept their relationship easily it would effect Harry greatly. He was pretty confident that Harry wouldn't break their relationship if his friends were against them but he knew for a fact that Harry would react badly.

"Draco? Can I have a cuddle?" Harry asked suddenly in a soft, pleading voice which made the Slytherin's heart melt.

"Of course you can love." Draco smiled gently. Harry shifted away from Draco to give him enough space to lay on the bed beside him. The blonde sat on the edge of the bed first before he swung his legs up and shifted himself so Harry was nestled snuggly against his side. He wrapped an arm protectively around the Boy-Who-Lived and dropped a caring kiss in his hair. "What am I going to do with you, you silly stubborn Gryffindor."

"Well, you could scratch my back since you're offering." Harry answered, his tone innocent and playful.

"I never said anything about scratching your back." Draco contested, looking down at the top of her dark haired lover's head.

"But Draco," Harry whined pathetically, snuggling closer into the blonde's side. "I'm ill."

Draco sighed in exasperation. "I know and it's making you whiney." He grumbled even as he snaked his hand up Harry's school shirt and began to lightly run his long nails across the skin of his back. Harry melted into him instantly and Draco couldn't stop the grin which formed on his lips at the reaction.

One of the first things which Draco had found out about Harry when they had started their relationship was that the dark haired Gryffindor loved being massaged/rubbed/scratched gently etc, etc. His back, shoulders, neck, stomach, arms, hands, legs, feet; you name a body part and Harry would love being rubbed there. Draco often thought that he was a lot like a dog and not just because of his enjoyment of "tummy rubs". Harry was loyal, he was cuddly, he was loving and he could get pretty vicious in a fight. Plus, his hair was so scruffy and untamable but in such wonderful condition that it resembled the healthy coat of a sheep dog.

Although Draco would never admit it out loud, he now really only kept his nails long, (long for a boy anyway) for the benefit of Harry. Long nails were hard to keep looking nice especially with subjects like Potions which were very hands on work. It was worth it for the pleasure he could give Harry though. And he was always well rewarded for his massaging duties.

Draco rested his cheek on top of Harry's head and he gently ran his nails up and down the length of his back. A small noise of contentment came from the dark haired boy just as one of the doors at the other end of the room cracked open. The blonde raised his head and turned to see Madame Pomfrey enter quietly. With a resigned sigh, Draco stopped the motion of his hand and gently slipped it out from underneath Harry's shirt.

"Why did you stop?" Harry murmured drowsily and Draco reckoned the boy had most likely been dozing lightly.

"Madame Pomfey's coming over." The Slytherin revealed as he smoothed down Harry's shirt and kissed the top of his head. Harry made a small noise which was probably something like "oh" but it wasn't clear enough to be a definate thing. He shifted slightly next to Draco and lifted his head to look across the room at the approaching witch.

"Oh good, you've finally woken up Mr Potter." She greeted him briskly. She noted the position the two boys were in and she raised an eyebrow slightly. "Comfortable?"

"Very, thank you." Draco answered for the both of them and tightened his arm around Harry as the Gryffindor tried to edge away, a light blush heating his cheeks.

"Mr Malfoy, you're going to have to move away so that I can carry out the necessary examinations on Mr Potter." Madame Pomfrey told the blonde patiently.

Draco muttered something under his breath about having just got comfortable but moved off of the bed without any fuss, smoothing down his robes a little as he swept around behind Madame Pomfrey and observed as she began to check Harry over. She mumbled several quick spells as she flicked her wand around Harry

"You're fine Mr Potter." The school nurse assured primly when she had finished the check-up. "A bad case of the flu but the symptoms can be eased with a few select potions. I'll go and get them from Professor Snape now." Without further ado, she turned and left again, the open door swinging shut heavily behind her.

Harry pulled a face and gave a small groan of dread. "You should've just let me fall down the stairs."

Lessons were over for the day, not that Harry or Draco had attended any more of them. About two hours ago, Harry had been fed to the eyeballs with potions and he was feeling much better: he could breathe through his nose again; he felt much more alert and his muscles no longer felt like stones. Draco had then been checked-up soon after that and was given the all clear. Then, just as that had been done and Madame Pomfrey was arguing with the Slytherin that he should go back to lessons, Dumbledore arrived to see them both. He had been his usual cheery self, had given the boys his blessings and then granted Draco permission to take the afternoon off to keep Harry company. Neither Harry or Draco were under any illusions that that was the real reason for the instruction; there was no doubt that there would be several students who wouldn't hesitate to try and hex Draco whether they got him alone or not.

So, there Harry and Draco sat on the bed together playing a game of chess. They sat opposite each other now, mostly only because it was necessary to play the game though. Both boys had around the same number of pieces left on the board but Draco's remaining black pieces were significantly more valuable than Harry's white pieces. Whereas Harry had a handful of Pawns, a Knight, both his Bishops and his King, Draco had both his Knights, one Bishop, one Castle, two Pawns, his Queen and his King.

"You are aware it's your move right?" Draco inquired easily, lifting an eyebrow at the Gryffindor opposite him.

"Yes, now hush, I'm thinking." Harry grunted in reply, his eyes now straying from the board. His voice was still a little raspy but it wasn't as bad as it had been before.

"Don't know why you're bothering; there's no way you're gonna beat me now." The Slytherin pointed out, an arrogant tinge in his tone.

"I told you to hush." Harry mumbled.

Draco sighed and lay back on the bed carefully, making sure not to jog the chess board as he did. He stretched gracefully, his back arching off the bed and his arms held out over the edge of the bed. Once a sufficiant number of bones had cracked pleasantly, he relaxed with a sigh, his arms remaining dangling over the edges of the bed.

Just then, the door to the Infimary opened, calling the attention of both boys. They both looked over to see the dark, imposing figure of Professor Snape walking swiftly over to them. Seeing that it was no one to be particularly concerned about, Harry returned his gaze to the chess board while Draco allowed a small smirk, which passed for a smile in his case, to grace his lips.

"Sev." Draco greeted the sour man easily, not bothering to sit up now that he had just got comfortable.

"Draco." Professor Snape nodded to the blonde Slytherin. "Potter." He greeted Harry neutraly with a stiff nod.

"Professor." Harry replied absently, eyes still focused on the chess pieces.

"What can we do for you Sev?" The blonde Slytherin inquired lazily.

"You can tell me just exactly what you both think you're playing at." Snape replied tightly.

"Well, if Harry would hurry up, we could go back to playing chess..."

"Don't get smart with me Draco." The older man scolded sharply. "You know what I mean. This...Relationship, between the two of you, you can't possibly think that it's a good idea..."

"I personally think it's one of our better ideas, don't you Draco?" Harry spoke up suddenly, sending a glance at the boy he loved.

"I think it's the only good idea I've ever had." Draco agreed, still laying on his back though he moved his head so he was staring up at the ceiling rather than his Godfather.

"Be that as it may, other people will not share your sentiments." Snape pointed out seriously. "Your father isn't going to..."

"My father," Draco interrupted quickly, his voice hard and determined, "can go and kiss the arse of his precious Dark Lord. I have no interest in bowing to anyone but Harry."

"Kinky." Harry grinned, finally looking up.

"I didn't mean it like that and you know it!" The blonde boy protested, his face heating in a slight blush.

"Draco," Professor Snape began, calling the attention of the boys' back to him. "Your father isn't going to take this lightly." He finished his previous sentence.

"No one is." Harry pointed out.

"But we don't care." Draco continued.

"We were planning on going public soon anyway,"

"It just happened a little sooner than planned."

"It doesn't matter what other people think of us,"

"As long as we stick together,"

"We'll be all right."

Snape gave them both a disbelieving look. "You have both been spending far too much time together." The two boys gave simultaneous, identical shrugs and the professor shook his head. "Such eloquent answers; you've picked up too many Gruffindor habits Draco."

"Oh well." The blonde shrugged again.

"Is there no chance of talking you out of this?" Snape sighed. Both boys shook their heads. "Very well. Since you'll both need all the support you can get and although I find much to be desired your choice in love-interest Draco, you have my blessing on the matter."

"Thanks Sev." Draco said with a genuine smile.

"Yes, well, I'll leave you two gentlemen to yourselves now." Professor Snape told them. "I will see you in the Great Hall at dinner no doubt?"

Draco nodded. "I do believe Madame Pomfrey intends to release Harry by then."

Snape simply nodded at that; a nod which doubled as a farewell because he then turned and left the two boys alone once again. Draco watched him go until the door had shut behind him completely before then turning back to look at the dark haired Gryffindor. He found Harry looking back at him with an impish grin on his face. The smile confused the blonde Slytherin at first until his gaze flickered down to the chess board where his King now lay shattered in several pieces. His eyes returned to Harry who wiggled his eyebrows playfully.

"Checkmate."

Dinner came far too in Harry's opinion and before he knew it, he and Draco were standing in front of the closed doors to the Great Hall, getting ready to go in and face the rest of the school. Unable to tell exactly how the blonde Slytherin was feeling, Harry couldn't draw comfort from knowing the other boy felt that same. He desperately wished to know whether Draco's heart was beating a mile a minute like his own was, he wanted to know that the other boy was as petrified as he was.

"Ready?" Draco suddenly asked quietly, lifting Harry's right hand to his lips and placing a swift kiss on the knuckles.

"Not really." Harry answered, his rough voice wavering slightly half way through the short sentence.

"It's gonna be okay." The blonde assured him gently, bringing his other hand up to rub his thumb across the dark haired boy's cheek. "We'll go in there together and everything will be fine. I'll be right by your side the entire time."

Harry studied Draco for several moments in silence before speaking: "Are you scared?"

"Petrified." Draco admitted through a shuddered sigh before offering a weak smile which Harry returned.

With a silent agreement, they leaned closer together and their lips met gently, Draco tilting Harry's head back a little with the hand which still cupped the still slightly pale cheek. It wasn't a particularly deep kiss and it didn't last that long as Harry was getting a bit snuffed up again, but it seemed to give both boys the reassurment they needed. They parted slowly, softly bumping noses as they did. Much more confident smiles were then exchanged before they moved back to each others' sides, their hands remaining clasped.

"Ready now?" Draco grinned lightly.

Harry took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, now I'm ready."

Draco nodded in return and they stepped forward together. They reached out with their free hands and pushed a door each. Said doors hadn't even fully opened before they were obviously seen as silence filled the Great Hall. Harry fought the desire to run and drag Draco along with him and, instead, moved stiffly in the hall beside the blonde Slytherin.

All eyes were on them as they headed towards the Gryffindor table as they'd both agreed earlier that it was probably the safer option. However, when Ron stood suddenly from the table and stalked over to them, Harry wondered just how safe they really would be at his House table. He tightened his grip on Draco's hand and pulled him back discreetly as they came to a stop, putting himself in front of the blonde a little. Surely Ron wasn't going to start something in the middle of the Great Hall in front of the entire school. The youngest male Weasley's face was unreadable though and he had no real idea how his best friend was currently feeling.

Ron stopped a foot or so in front of the couple and for several minutes, no one moved or spoke. Then, eventually, the red head spoke in a strangely neutral tone: "Malfoy."

"Weasley." Draco returned, matching the red-head's tone exactly.

"Do you love him?" Ron asked simply, his eyes not straying from the blonde Slytherin.

"Very much so." He assured.

"Do you plan on staying with him?"

"Of course."

Ron took a few more moments to look Draco over with a hard stare. Harry watched the exchange between the two most important boys in his life nervously, not completely sure what to expect from either of them. His eyes flickered from the Gryffindor to the Slytherin and then back again continuously until Ron suddenly held out his right hand.

"Welcome to the family." He said, a slight grin gracing his face.

Harry's jaw dropped at the immediate acceptence from his best friend and the ease at which Draco accepted the offered hand and shook it. The rest of the Great Hall appeared to be stunned as well as Harry noticed that several other jaws literally dropped at the sight of the two enemies shaking hands.

Draco and Ron dropped each others hands and then Ron turned. Taking the hint and silent invitation, Draco gave Harry's arm a small pull seeing as the Gryffindor was still in a state of shock. Harry followed along without fuss and the three boys made their way over to where Hermione was sitting at the Gryffindor table.

Upon reaching the table, Hermione gave a pointed look to Neville and Seamus who were sitting beside each other to her left. They both shifted up without comment and Hermione followed them. When there was enough room on the bench to sit three more people, Ron claimed his seat next to the brown haired girl, Harry sat beside Ron and Draco sat beside Harry, their hands unclasping as they arranged themselves in their seats. Plates and cutlery were shifted until the newly seated couple had a plate each and a set of knives and forks.

Once they were settled and everyone was still looking at them, Draco turned to the majority of the Hall and glared at them all darkly. Harry, for his part, was trying to be as invisible as possible. However, it wasn't long before Dumbledore had enough and spoke up: "Please everyone, return to your meals."

Noise returned to the Great Hall instantly at the Headmaster's request and Harry allowed himself to settle completely. He gave Ron and Hermione a bright smile which they returned with equal enthusiasm. Turning, Harry then directed the smile to Draco, taking his hand under the table again. Their fingers laced together and the blonde gave a light sqeeze as he returned the smile.

On the whole, that could've turned out worse.

And that, my friends, is that. My fluffly little piece of fluff is complete. Everyone always makes Ron out to be a jerk in these situations so I thought I'd make him more understanding :)
Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed it, I must say I had fun writing it. You'll probably see me again, I know I'll continue to be floating around reading happy stories and submitting my weird but nice reviews. And I'll write again if I come up with a suitable idea for a my next piece of Harry and Draco fluff.
Catch ya'll again soon. Take care 'til next time :)

Hugs
Dream