Chapter 20: Valentine's Day Part III

After leaving Hermione at Hogwarts to help McGonagall with last minute preparations, Draco headed home to get ready.

Harry was sitting at the kitchen table, eating a muffin and reading the paper when he got in.

"Harry! What are you doing here?" Draco wondered.

"I do live here, you know. I think I'm entitled to be here." Harry replied, smiling a little.

"That's not what I meant and you know it." Draco replied, leaning down for a lazy but thorough kiss, one that set his blood on fire.

"I know." Harry laughed. "But to answer your question, I have the rest of the day off. Seems there's an alumni dinner happening at the school and McGonagall wanted everyone to be there. Care to join me?"

This is perfect! Draco thought to himself. "Sounds like fun. What time?"

"About 6, she said."

"Dress robes?"

"She insisted."

"Then I guess I shall go and get ready." Draco gave Harry another kiss before heading upstairs. If he had looked back at Harry at that moment, he would have seen the smirk tugging at the corners of the ex-Gryffindor's mouth.

But then again...Draco was sporting his own smirk.

He has no idea! They both thought at the same time.

- - -

"Ron, Operation Marriage is a go!" Harry grinned into his cell phone.

"Brilliant, mate! How'd you pull that off?"

"I told him McGonagall was having an alumni dinner tonight."

"Genius, Harry. Pure genius! Want me to head up, make sure everything is ready?"

"Would you? That would be one less thing I worry about."

"You're my best friend, Harry and have been for almost 17 years. For once, you deserve some happiness in your life and I want to make sure you get it."

"Thanks, Ron. You may not be my brother by blood but my heart tells me otherwise. I love you, mate!"

There was a suspicious sniffling sound on the other end of the phone.

"Are you crying?"

"No! Got something in my nose." Ron muttered. Harry heard Hermione mumble something in the background. "Oh do shut up, Hermione! I was not crying!" There was another sound and then Hermione was on the phone.

"What did you say to my husband to make him cry, Harold James Potter?" she demanded.

"Told him I loved him." Harry smiled. He could picture her eyes going round and choked back laughter.

"Oh." she stated in a subdued voice. "That's all right then." She handed the phone back.

"Ok there, Ron?"

"Yeah."

"I gotta go, Ron before Draco hogs all the hot water."

"I'll see you at 6. And Harry?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, too, mate." And with that, Ron hung up, leaving Harry sitting there with a smile on his face and tears in his eyes.

- - -

When Harry got out of the shower, there was a note waiting for him on the bed.

-Harry

I'm sorry I wasn't here when you got out of your shower but I was so eager to see some of my old classmates, I headed on to the school to chat with them before dinner. I will stop and pick up Keiron on the way so you don't worry too much.

No matter what happens tonight, remember that I love you. Now and forever.

Draco

Harry smiled slightly, wondering what Draco meant by that last statement.

He took his time getting ready. He wanted to make sure everything went right.

- - -

Draco and Keiron stepped out of the Floo in McGonagall's office where she was waiting for them.

"Mr Malfoy, Mr Potter, right on time." she smiled.

"Hello, Professor." Draco stated.

"Keiron, do you know what is occurring this evening?" McGonagall asked.

"Yes, Professor. Draco explained it to me before we came."

"Then I'm sure he won't mind if I ask that you be Master of Ceremonies."

"What's that?" Keiron frowned.

"In muggle terms, it's the person who carries the rings." Draco replied. "But wizards don't use rings, we use bracelets. Well...we will have rings but not like muggles do. It's a very important job and I trust no one else to do it right."

"Draco, I couldn't possibly-"

"Keiron. I want you to. You're family now." Draco interrupted, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. Keiron bowed his head for a moment so no one could see his expression. When he looked back up at the two adults in the room, his eyes were clear.

"I'd be honored to." he stated in a strong voice. Draco's relief was apparent.

- - -

They went over where Draco, Keiron and Harry would be standing in relation to McGonagall and after a moment, Hermione joined them in the Great Hall to begin setting up the things they would need.

Once everything was set, it was nearly 6 and Draco needed to go find Harry.

- - -

Remus and Snape were waiting for Harry in Snape's room when he Flooed in. As usual, Harry landed in a heap.

"Dammit I hate Floo travel." he grumbled as the two men helped him to his feet.

"Why didn't you Apparate, you fool?" Snape asked, waving his wand over Harry to clean him off.

"It makes me sick. I don't think you'd want me vomiting all over your shoes, Severus." Harry told him. Snape wrinkled his nose in disgust.

"You're right about that one, Potter." Snape nodded. Then he took notice of what Harry was wearing. His robes were a deep red in color, almost bordering on burgundy. They were left open in front and his suit was a midnight blue. He'd also done something to his hair. It no longer resembled a tangled mop of black but was perfectly groomed and curled around his ears. The effect was amazing and Snape felt his jaw drop. Harry saw his stare.

"What?"

"You look incredible, Harry." Snape whispered in awe. Both Remus and Harry stared at the Potions Master in shock.

"Remus, he just called me by name. That scares me."

"Scares me as well. You feeling all right, Severus?"

"I'm fine!" Snape growled. "I can't pay the brat a compliment?"

"It's so unlike you, Sev." Harry grinned.

"Git." Snape replied, a note of affection in his voice. Laughing, Remus looked at Harry.

"Ready?"

"I've been ready my whole life, Remus." Harry replied. Remus clapped him on the shoulder and nodded.

Hedwig flew in the room with a note for Harry. He stroked her feathers tenderly and took the parchment from her leg.

-Harry

Can you meet me in the Great Hall right now? I need to ask you something important.

-Draco

"Draco wants to see me. Care to join me?" he asked his companions. They both nodded and headed out.

When Harry opened the doors to The Great Hall, it seemed the entire world waited within. He saw all of his classmates from his year as well as most of the current student body. Hermione and Draco and all of the Weasleys were near the front of the room near where the teacher's table usually stood. Ron and Hermione were both smiling widely.

For the first time, Harry realized the room was set up in the same way it had been during Cedric's memorial service.

Draco, followed by McGonagall, entered from the door at the back of the room. Harry's eyes widened and he felt his heart rate soar as he took in Draco's appearance.

Draco's robes were of the deepest green while his suit was pure black. His hair, usually slicked back, was free and loose around his face. Harry felt his cock stir to life.

Down boy! He thought to himself.

"Draco? What's going on?" he asked.

"Hi, Harry." Draco smiled. He seemed nervous all of a sudden. "Um, can you come up here for a moment?" Harry walked toward him, suddenly wracked with nerves himself.

I can do this. They both thought.

"Um, Harry? You know I love you, right?"

"Of course I do, Draco."

"Do you love me?"

"Always." Harry replied without hesitation.

"Then marry me?" It was a question.

"What? Now?" Harry gaped.

"Why not now? All our friends and family are here." Harry looked around the room at all the smiling expectant faces. Hermione was looking like she knew this was going to happen and suddenly what happened at Remus's before made a whole lot more sense and he began to laugh.

- - -

Draco had been holding his breath the whole time and when Harry began to laugh, he frowned in confusion. Then he started to get mad. The longer Harry laughed, the angrier he got.

"Fine, Potter! Be that way! Once again I pour my fucking heart out to you and once again you laugh." Draco turned on his heel and started to walk away but a hand on his arm stopped him. He turned back to see it was Harry, who had stopped laughing.

"Draco. That's not the reason why I was laughing."

"Do tell, then. I'd like to hear it."

"I was laughing because I was going to ask you the same thing." Harry smiled. Now it was Draco's turn to be shocked.

"You were going to ask me to marry you?"

"Today. Right now if at all possible."

"Hang on a minute!" Draco rounded on McGonagall. "Did you know about this?"

"I did. Harry came to see me just after you left yesterday. When he expressed his desire about this ceremony and mentioned some of the same ideas you did, I knew then."

Harry rounded on Snape.

"Did you know?"

"I knew after I spoke to Remus this morning. Draco asked me to stand for him just as you had asked Remus to stand for you." Snape replied.

Harry and Draco looked at each other.

"Draco, it's obvious that this is right for the both of us if we're thinking the same things. So I ask you, will you marry me? Right now, right here, in front of all our family and friends?"

"Only if you will do the same."

"I accept."

"As do I." Draco grinned. The room exploded in applause. Draco leaned toward Harry for a kiss but McGonagall stopped them.

"Not until the end of the ceremony boys." she smiled.

A/N: Up next...the ceremony!