Chapter Seventeen:
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Hermione asked, concerned. Harry nodded firmly.
"I'm tired of not talking to them. And this will be the most important day of my life, I want them all to be a part of it," he explained, then paused. "Especially Ron."
Hermione smiled encouragingly at him, and he knew he was doing the right thing. These people were the closest thing to family that he had, and he wasn't going to just let this day slip by with only Hermione and Ginny there. He wanted everyone to be there, laughing and joking like they used to - and enjoying Draco's company. If they couldn't do that, he understood, but he would at least ask for their forgiveness. If they didn't accept Draco right away, he could deal with that.
"You're doing the right thing, love," Draco purred in his ear, hugging him from behind. "I really want them to be there, even if we don't get along."
Harry twisted just enough to give Draco a quick peck on the cheek.
"Ready?" Ginny asked, standing up from her comfortable spot on the couch in the study. Harry nodded and pulled out his wand.
They all apparated into the entrance hall of Grimmauld Place. To Harry's relief, the only people in the hall were Dumbledore, Tonks, and Lupin.
"Harry!" Lupin exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I. . . ." He paused, looking at Draco with a grin. "I came to give an announcement, if you don't mind."
"Oh?" Dumbledore asked, an odd twinkle in his eyes. "What about?"
"You'll find out," Draco beamed, his arm slung around Harry's shoulders.
"Is it alright?" Hermione was bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement, unable to hold it back.
Tonks looked at her curiously, before looking to Dumbledore, who nodded.
"Of course you can, Harry," Dumbledore said. "You are still a member of the Order, so that entitles you to such matters."
Harry grinned. "Thank you, Professor."
"You picked a perfect time," Tonks winked at them. "The meeting is just about to start."
"We'll go on down to the kitchens," Ginny smiled.
They all walked down to the kitchen, with Lupin, Dumbledore and Tonks right behind them.
Most of the Order was already waiting. Harry scanned the room, and sighed when he saw Ron, sitting off to the corner, alone.
"Before we begin," Dumbledore chimed, "Harry has an announcement to make to all of us."
Dumbledore winked at him as Harry came to the head of the room, dragging Draco along with him.
The room was silent as everyone stared at them, and none of them seemed shocked to see Draco.
"Hello," Harry said sheepishly. "I - I wanted to say a few things today. But I'm not quite sure of how to say them. . . . Well, first off, I'd like to say sorry about. . . well, how I told you about Draco and me. I know it was a bit of a shock, and my running out didn't help, I imagine."
The room remained silent as people contemplated this for a moment, before Harry continued.
"Second, I'd like to tell you all that I'm not mad at you. I understand that it will take a while to get used to this, and I hope that you all can get passed what's happened before and see Draco how I see him. I really hope we can all go back to the way things were before.
"And - well, I know this is a big shock, but. . . . Draco and I are getting married."
Still, no one moved or spoke, and it seemed that the entire group was holding its breath, including Harry.
"And I'd like you all to be there."
A few more moments of silence, before Mrs. Weasley stepped forward, hugging him tightly. "When's the wedding?" she asked, as if it were the only question any of them would be thinking of.
Harry sighed with relief and tightened his grip on Draco's hand. "We're not sure yet. We wanted to let you all know before we made any sure plans."
The room seemed to turn into a flurry of celebration. Harry felt considerably better - for about two minutes.
He tried not to shout when he saw Ron walk out the door, unnoticed by anyone else.
Harry tried to reach the door, but everyone was crowding him, trying to talk to him. He finally just told everyone to talk to Draco for a while, that he needed to go to the bathroom.
"Ron?" he called as he ran out into the entrance hall. There was no answer; instead, there was a loud slam to his left, and he jumped.
He turned to see Ron standing there, looking furious.
"You're marrying that bastard?!"
"He's not a bastard, Ron," Harry replied calmly. "He's better than you think. He changed. And he really cares about me."
"How do you know that?!" Ron shouted. "He's a bloody liar, and a cheat, and a bastard! He always has been, he always will be! He can't change, Harry!"
"Please, Ron, just give him a chance," Harry pleaded. "I did, and look at what I have now. I'm getting married, Ron! Do you know how great that feels, to know someone loves you that much?"
"Well how would I?" Ron muttered angrily. His temper rose again, and he shouted, "I can't believe you, you prick! He's just going to use you! I can't believe you don't see that! How could you be so blind?"
"I'm not blind, Ron!" Harry gritted out. "I've never seen things more clearly! Draco and I are supposed to be together, no matter what you think! We love each other, and I'm not going to leave him just because you think he's trying to use me! "I can't see why you won't get over this! We used to be best friends! We were always there for each other, no matter what! And no matter what happened, you accepted me." His voice softened the more he talked. "Remember what happened with Cho? You didn't care, because I was still Harry. You didn't care that I was dating someone, because I was still your best friend. I'm still trying to be your best friend, Ron. I came here to apologize to you. But you keep turning me down!"
"Don't say that!" Ron screamed. "I didn't turn you down! You turned me down! You could've been there for me, but instead, you go crawling off with Malfoy!"
The room was silent for a moment, as they both regained their breath, and their common sense. Harry sighed, miserable.
"Look, Ron. I'm sorry. I know I should have told you when it happened, but I was scared. And I know this doesn't make it better, but this is the best I can do.
"As I said, I'm not going to brake it off with Draco just because you don't think we're supposed to be together. All I want is for you to accept me. I don't even care if you get along with Draco, I just want my best friend back. Please."
He took a step forward, and Ron turned away. "It isn't that easy, Harry. You lied to me! For a year and a half! And now. . . . I don't know what you see in him. He's scum. You used to know that."
Harry shook his head. "Ron, please don't call him that. I love him so much, and I don't want you two fighting anymore."
Ron didn't comment.
"I was going to ask you to be my best man," Harry mumbled, staring at his shoes. Ron turned. "I guess that won't happen. But please, if you change your mind, could at least be there? For me?"
Still, Ron didn't say anything. He was confused, Harry understood, and didn't want to talk.
"Alright," Harry whispered. "Fine. Don't talk to me. I get it - I would be pretty upset if you started shagging Parkinson, but I would understand if she really changed."
He pulled out his wand as the kitchen door creaked open. He disapparated before he could see who it was.
#%#%
"Weasley?"
Ron turned, a look of confusion on his face.
"What's going on?" Draco asked, concerned. "What just happened? Where did he go?"
"He apologized, Malfoy," Ron sighed. "And I'm not sure where he went. He didn't tell me."
Draco frowned as he came farther into the room. "Please don't tell me you turned him down?"
Ron nodded. "What else am I supposed to say, Malfoy? It's perfectly fine that you lied to me for a year and a bloody half?"
"He had his heart set on getting you to come to our wedding," Draco sighed hopelessly, shaking his head. "I'm guessing, you just crushed his heart, Weasley. He really wanted you to be there."
Ron snorted. "Yeah, right. He doesn't care what I do. Not anymore, anyway. Now that he's got you."
"He cares," Draco protested, taken aback. "He loves you like a brother! Even when he was mad at you, he wished you would forgive him!"
"And why should I listen to a back-stabbing little thief like yourself?"
Draco knew exactly what he was talking about. He was jealous.
"You have no reason to trust me," Draco said flatly. "But you have reason to trust Harry, and he trusts me with all his heart. I know I don't deserve him, but I'm not going to brake him, like you're expecting me to. I'll do everything I can to keep him happy, no matter what I have to do."
He pulled out his own wand and was about to apparate when Ron asked quietly, "You really love him, don't you?"
Draco nodded. "I love him with all I have." Then he disappeared.
Ron closed his eyes. Could someone as cold as Draco used to be, actually change to the person Harry fell in love with?
*_*_*_*_*
A/N: How's it? I wrote it in about thirty minutes, so sorry if it's kinda. . . weird, to say the least. I know I didn't really do a good job on Harry's speech to the Order, but I couldn't think of anything else to say to make it better.
I have bad news, and good news. Bad news first, because otherwise the good news wouldn't make sense.
I broke my wrist. Yes, you read it right. Or, more like fractured, but it's still bloody painful. It's a hairline fracture on my growth plait.
My good news: I already have the next few chapters typed up, and since I am sister-less for the next three weeks, I'll be updating like crazy (if I can write as fast I can I can click..). And I'll be getting my splint off in a week, so in a week and a half I should be typing a lot faster than I am now.
Okay, about my wrist. I was at my friend's birthday party, which was at a skate rink. I was skating with my friends, and my boyfriend skated up behind me and tapped me on the head, supposedly playing tag (but we all know he was flirting). So I was trying to skate after him, and I almost caught him about two seconds because he's a sucky skater and I practically grew up at the skate rink, but someone had dropped a Skittle on the floor, and it got stuck in the axle of my skate. So, I fell flat on my ass, (which REALLY hurts) and my wrist bent backwards. So, I'm basically screwed for a week, and I'm blaming it all on my boyfriend. Mwahahahahaha *cough, cough*. Okay, so I'm not every good at the evil laugh. That's my sister's job.
About my sister. She's in Ukraine for three weeks for a school thing. Simple. Next?
TTFN, deathdragon4 (a.k.a. Sie ((I'm very proud of my nickname..)) )
P.S. Wow, that was a lot of author's notes...
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Hermione asked, concerned. Harry nodded firmly.
"I'm tired of not talking to them. And this will be the most important day of my life, I want them all to be a part of it," he explained, then paused. "Especially Ron."
Hermione smiled encouragingly at him, and he knew he was doing the right thing. These people were the closest thing to family that he had, and he wasn't going to just let this day slip by with only Hermione and Ginny there. He wanted everyone to be there, laughing and joking like they used to - and enjoying Draco's company. If they couldn't do that, he understood, but he would at least ask for their forgiveness. If they didn't accept Draco right away, he could deal with that.
"You're doing the right thing, love," Draco purred in his ear, hugging him from behind. "I really want them to be there, even if we don't get along."
Harry twisted just enough to give Draco a quick peck on the cheek.
"Ready?" Ginny asked, standing up from her comfortable spot on the couch in the study. Harry nodded and pulled out his wand.
They all apparated into the entrance hall of Grimmauld Place. To Harry's relief, the only people in the hall were Dumbledore, Tonks, and Lupin.
"Harry!" Lupin exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I. . . ." He paused, looking at Draco with a grin. "I came to give an announcement, if you don't mind."
"Oh?" Dumbledore asked, an odd twinkle in his eyes. "What about?"
"You'll find out," Draco beamed, his arm slung around Harry's shoulders.
"Is it alright?" Hermione was bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement, unable to hold it back.
Tonks looked at her curiously, before looking to Dumbledore, who nodded.
"Of course you can, Harry," Dumbledore said. "You are still a member of the Order, so that entitles you to such matters."
Harry grinned. "Thank you, Professor."
"You picked a perfect time," Tonks winked at them. "The meeting is just about to start."
"We'll go on down to the kitchens," Ginny smiled.
They all walked down to the kitchen, with Lupin, Dumbledore and Tonks right behind them.
Most of the Order was already waiting. Harry scanned the room, and sighed when he saw Ron, sitting off to the corner, alone.
"Before we begin," Dumbledore chimed, "Harry has an announcement to make to all of us."
Dumbledore winked at him as Harry came to the head of the room, dragging Draco along with him.
The room was silent as everyone stared at them, and none of them seemed shocked to see Draco.
"Hello," Harry said sheepishly. "I - I wanted to say a few things today. But I'm not quite sure of how to say them. . . . Well, first off, I'd like to say sorry about. . . well, how I told you about Draco and me. I know it was a bit of a shock, and my running out didn't help, I imagine."
The room remained silent as people contemplated this for a moment, before Harry continued.
"Second, I'd like to tell you all that I'm not mad at you. I understand that it will take a while to get used to this, and I hope that you all can get passed what's happened before and see Draco how I see him. I really hope we can all go back to the way things were before.
"And - well, I know this is a big shock, but. . . . Draco and I are getting married."
Still, no one moved or spoke, and it seemed that the entire group was holding its breath, including Harry.
"And I'd like you all to be there."
A few more moments of silence, before Mrs. Weasley stepped forward, hugging him tightly. "When's the wedding?" she asked, as if it were the only question any of them would be thinking of.
Harry sighed with relief and tightened his grip on Draco's hand. "We're not sure yet. We wanted to let you all know before we made any sure plans."
The room seemed to turn into a flurry of celebration. Harry felt considerably better - for about two minutes.
He tried not to shout when he saw Ron walk out the door, unnoticed by anyone else.
Harry tried to reach the door, but everyone was crowding him, trying to talk to him. He finally just told everyone to talk to Draco for a while, that he needed to go to the bathroom.
"Ron?" he called as he ran out into the entrance hall. There was no answer; instead, there was a loud slam to his left, and he jumped.
He turned to see Ron standing there, looking furious.
"You're marrying that bastard?!"
"He's not a bastard, Ron," Harry replied calmly. "He's better than you think. He changed. And he really cares about me."
"How do you know that?!" Ron shouted. "He's a bloody liar, and a cheat, and a bastard! He always has been, he always will be! He can't change, Harry!"
"Please, Ron, just give him a chance," Harry pleaded. "I did, and look at what I have now. I'm getting married, Ron! Do you know how great that feels, to know someone loves you that much?"
"Well how would I?" Ron muttered angrily. His temper rose again, and he shouted, "I can't believe you, you prick! He's just going to use you! I can't believe you don't see that! How could you be so blind?"
"I'm not blind, Ron!" Harry gritted out. "I've never seen things more clearly! Draco and I are supposed to be together, no matter what you think! We love each other, and I'm not going to leave him just because you think he's trying to use me! "I can't see why you won't get over this! We used to be best friends! We were always there for each other, no matter what! And no matter what happened, you accepted me." His voice softened the more he talked. "Remember what happened with Cho? You didn't care, because I was still Harry. You didn't care that I was dating someone, because I was still your best friend. I'm still trying to be your best friend, Ron. I came here to apologize to you. But you keep turning me down!"
"Don't say that!" Ron screamed. "I didn't turn you down! You turned me down! You could've been there for me, but instead, you go crawling off with Malfoy!"
The room was silent for a moment, as they both regained their breath, and their common sense. Harry sighed, miserable.
"Look, Ron. I'm sorry. I know I should have told you when it happened, but I was scared. And I know this doesn't make it better, but this is the best I can do.
"As I said, I'm not going to brake it off with Draco just because you don't think we're supposed to be together. All I want is for you to accept me. I don't even care if you get along with Draco, I just want my best friend back. Please."
He took a step forward, and Ron turned away. "It isn't that easy, Harry. You lied to me! For a year and a half! And now. . . . I don't know what you see in him. He's scum. You used to know that."
Harry shook his head. "Ron, please don't call him that. I love him so much, and I don't want you two fighting anymore."
Ron didn't comment.
"I was going to ask you to be my best man," Harry mumbled, staring at his shoes. Ron turned. "I guess that won't happen. But please, if you change your mind, could at least be there? For me?"
Still, Ron didn't say anything. He was confused, Harry understood, and didn't want to talk.
"Alright," Harry whispered. "Fine. Don't talk to me. I get it - I would be pretty upset if you started shagging Parkinson, but I would understand if she really changed."
He pulled out his wand as the kitchen door creaked open. He disapparated before he could see who it was.
#%#%
"Weasley?"
Ron turned, a look of confusion on his face.
"What's going on?" Draco asked, concerned. "What just happened? Where did he go?"
"He apologized, Malfoy," Ron sighed. "And I'm not sure where he went. He didn't tell me."
Draco frowned as he came farther into the room. "Please don't tell me you turned him down?"
Ron nodded. "What else am I supposed to say, Malfoy? It's perfectly fine that you lied to me for a year and a bloody half?"
"He had his heart set on getting you to come to our wedding," Draco sighed hopelessly, shaking his head. "I'm guessing, you just crushed his heart, Weasley. He really wanted you to be there."
Ron snorted. "Yeah, right. He doesn't care what I do. Not anymore, anyway. Now that he's got you."
"He cares," Draco protested, taken aback. "He loves you like a brother! Even when he was mad at you, he wished you would forgive him!"
"And why should I listen to a back-stabbing little thief like yourself?"
Draco knew exactly what he was talking about. He was jealous.
"You have no reason to trust me," Draco said flatly. "But you have reason to trust Harry, and he trusts me with all his heart. I know I don't deserve him, but I'm not going to brake him, like you're expecting me to. I'll do everything I can to keep him happy, no matter what I have to do."
He pulled out his own wand and was about to apparate when Ron asked quietly, "You really love him, don't you?"
Draco nodded. "I love him with all I have." Then he disappeared.
Ron closed his eyes. Could someone as cold as Draco used to be, actually change to the person Harry fell in love with?
*_*_*_*_*
A/N: How's it? I wrote it in about thirty minutes, so sorry if it's kinda. . . weird, to say the least. I know I didn't really do a good job on Harry's speech to the Order, but I couldn't think of anything else to say to make it better.
I have bad news, and good news. Bad news first, because otherwise the good news wouldn't make sense.
I broke my wrist. Yes, you read it right. Or, more like fractured, but it's still bloody painful. It's a hairline fracture on my growth plait.
My good news: I already have the next few chapters typed up, and since I am sister-less for the next three weeks, I'll be updating like crazy (if I can write as fast I can I can click..). And I'll be getting my splint off in a week, so in a week and a half I should be typing a lot faster than I am now.
Okay, about my wrist. I was at my friend's birthday party, which was at a skate rink. I was skating with my friends, and my boyfriend skated up behind me and tapped me on the head, supposedly playing tag (but we all know he was flirting). So I was trying to skate after him, and I almost caught him about two seconds because he's a sucky skater and I practically grew up at the skate rink, but someone had dropped a Skittle on the floor, and it got stuck in the axle of my skate. So, I fell flat on my ass, (which REALLY hurts) and my wrist bent backwards. So, I'm basically screwed for a week, and I'm blaming it all on my boyfriend. Mwahahahahaha *cough, cough*. Okay, so I'm not every good at the evil laugh. That's my sister's job.
About my sister. She's in Ukraine for three weeks for a school thing. Simple. Next?
TTFN, deathdragon4 (a.k.a. Sie ((I'm very proud of my nickname..)) )
P.S. Wow, that was a lot of author's notes...