Chapter 22: Afterglow
McGonagall had the house elves set up a buffet-style dinner in the main courtyard. Fairy lights sprinkled around and through the arches gave adequate lighting for conversation and dancing.
Petunia was in awe to say the least. She never understood why Harry was so important to this world until she experienced it first-hand.
Watching her nephew get married to the Malfoy heir was a breathtaking experience, and she was more than glad that she'd taken the time to get to know her nephew when she did or she would have lost this closeness she'd found with him.
"Penny for your thoughts?" a voice came softly behind her. She whirled around, startled. She smiled when she saw it was Harry.
"You scared the dickens out of me, young man." she scolded lightly.
"I'm sorry, Aunt Petunia. I didn't mean to." Harry told her, pulling her into a hug. She patted his back then looked up at him.
"I do love your young Draco. He's the exact opposite of you, but in some ways, so very similar."
"I love him, too, Auntie." Harry smiled, his eyes traveling to where Draco was talking to both Hermione and Severus on the other side of the courtyard. Draco felt his gaze and looked up, giving him a bright smile before returning to his conversation. Harry's expression turned thoughtful.
"What's on your mind, Harry?" He looked at her.
"Nothing."
"You never could lie well." she smiled. "Now what's on your mind?"
"It's nothing, really. I was just thinking about Uncle Vernon and Dudley."
"What on Earth for?" she gaped.
"They wouldn't have wanted me to be this happy." he stated sadly.
Aunt Petunia grabbed his ear and twisted it savagely, not releasing him at all.
"Harold James Potter you get those thoughts right out of your head!" she scowled, giving his ear a second twist before releasing it.
"Ow!" he exclaimed. "What the bloody hell was that for?"
"You keep your uncle and cousin out of your head. They have no right to be there, especially on today of all days!" She smacked his arm for good measure.
"Ow! Aunt Petunia, please!"
"No, Harry. You listen to me. Your uncle and cousin did their hardest to take away every little happiness you could find and I let them because I was scared. But you're a grown man now and know your own heart and mind better than they do and I would be remiss in my duties as your aunt if I didn't support your decisions. You owe it to James and Lily to keep on being happy, no matter what."
Harry stared at her, realizing he was being stupid.
"Sorry, Aunt P." He grinned, sheepishly. "I forgot myself for a moment."
"See that it doesn't happen again." she smiled. Flitwick set a light tune to play and Harry took Petunia by the hand and led her into a dance.
Draco came to cut in and she relinquished Harry with a smile. Draco moved smoothly into Harry's embrace and resumed dancing. He leaned in and licked the ear that Draco had seen Harry's aunt yanking on. Harry shivered in reply.
"Does your ear hurt?" Draco asked softly. "I saw your aunt twisting on it." He licked said ear for good measure and Harry bit back a groan.
"It feels good now." Harry muttered. Smiling slightly, Draco moved back so he could see Harry's face.
"So what was that all about then?"
"My uncle and cousin."
Draco bit back a patient sigh.
"Harry, they can't hurt you anymore."
"That's what my aunt said in a round-a-bout way."
"Good woman." Draco smiled, kissing his husband's cheek.
"Draco. I don't know how I got to this point in my life, but I'm glad you're with me for the foreseeable future. We've been through a lot together."
"And I'm not leaving anytime soon." Draco smiled, caressing his cheek.
"Good." Harry stated before capturing Draco's lips in a loving, breathless kiss.
- - -
A spoon tapping against a wine glass ended their dance and they turned to see Ron standing on the stone ledge of the fountain in the center of the courtyard.
When he was sure he had everyone's attention, he began.
"I'd like to propose a toast." Ron stated. He looked at Harry and Draco across from him, wine glass hoisted in the air. Others around the couple copied his gesture.
"To Harry and Draco...uh...what is your last name anyway?"
Draco glanced at Harry.
"I know I didn't discuss this with you before Harry, but I'd be honored to take your last name."
"I-what?" Harry gaped. Surely he hadn't heard correctly. "Hyphenated?"
"No. I want to forget the name Malfoy ever existed. It's brought me nothing but stress and pain. I love you, Harry and if I'm going to be by your side until the end of my days, then I want to die a Potter."
"Draco, I don't know what to say." Harry softly replied.
"Just say that you love me."¹ Draco responded. Harry wrapped his arms around him and kissed him as passionately as he could. When they drew apart for air, they both had tears in their eyes.
"Right...as I was saying," Ron started again, "To Harry and Draco Potter. May their love be as lasting as the stars in the skies above, and a beacon of hope to others searching for the other half of their soul."
"Harry, you are as much my brother as Fred, George, Charlie, Bill and Percy combined. You were my first friend. My first best friend. You stuck by me through all the shite during school and the war. Even when I acted a righteous git to you, your friendship never wavered. I'm actually surprised we've been friends this long and you haven't hexed me for being a prat, yet."
"Yet being the operative word." Snape spoke up. Ron glared at him a moment before laughing.
"Too right, sir." Ron nodded. He looked back at Harry.
"And bloody hell, mate! You're the one who knocked me over the head with your broom and told me that I would lose out on the greatest love of my life if I didn't grow up and tell her how I felt!" Ron glanced at Hermione, love shining in his eyes. She blew him a kiss. "And for that alone, I thank you. And I love you, you four-eyed git!" This caused everyone around them to laugh, including Harry, despite the tears on his face. Ron looked at Draco then.
"Draco. For a long time, even after the war ended, you were always 'Malfoy' to me. I don't know when that changed. But I'm glad. Glad for your sake as well as Harry's. I shouldn't have to tell you how special that man beside you is. You've made him the happiest I've ever seen him and I wouldn't trade Harry's happiness for all the Galleons in Gringott's. As I claim Harry as my brother in all but blood, so do I claim you, Draco. You've enriched my life as well as the lives of my wife and children. We've all grown up since school. I don't think I'd change anything that's happened since. Welcome to the Weasley Family, Draco Potter." Ron finished his speech and everyone drank to the two young men, who were holding each other close, tears streaking unheeded down their cheeks.
Ron approached them afterwards.
"Did you mean what you said, Ron?" Draco immediately asked.
"Every bloody word, mate." Ron smiled, hugging Draco, to his surprise and shock.
This is the third time I've hugged a Weasley. And I'm not bothered by it one little bit. Draco smiled to himself. Harry sensed his thoughts and joined in the hug. Hermione joined in shortly thereafter and Draco couldn't help but feel a sense of rightness about the whole thing.
- - -
There was nary a cloud in the deep midnight sky. Draco leaned against the balcony of their hotel room (Harry had managed to get the same room in the same hotel where they had spent their first night together), breathing in the night air and staring at the stars literally dotting the sky in a myriad of blues, whites, reds, pinks and yellows.
There was a feeling in his chest he was trying to place. He'd never felt it before and didn't know how to describe it.
Deep within his thoughts, he didn't hear Harry come up behind him until he felt a moist loving kiss on his bare shoulder.
"Sickle for your thoughts?" Harry asked, wrapping his arms around Draco's waist.
"I was just thinking about something."
"Should I call the fire brigade? Smoke may start pouring from your ears."
"Ha ha bloody ha." Draco snorted with laughter. "I'm being serious, Harry."
"I'm listening. What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. I just have this feeling in my chest that everything is as it should be. Like I could wake up tomorrow and you'll still be here. Do you know what I mean?"
"I do. You're content."
"Content." Draco tried out the word, realizing that's exactly what he was feeling. He rubbed his hands across Harry's arms about his middle. "I like that word."
"It does fit you well."
"It's because of you, you know." Draco replied, turning in his arms. Harry stared at Draco, the soft lights of the city glowing like a halo about him in the background.
"I love you." Harry stated solemnly. He leaned in and kissed Draco, his tongue quickly finding a home in the other man's mouth. Draco moaned in appreciation. Harry's hands slipped lower, cupping Draco's arse and pulling him flush against his hardening cock. Draco's own cock twitched and swelled in response and he growled deep in his throat.
"Love me, Harry." Draco whispered in his ear.
"Forever." was his reply.
They had the radio in their room turned on to an old 90's station and at that moment, "I'll Be Your Everything" by Tommy Page began to play. Harry pulled Draco close and began to lead him in a dance. Draco listened to the words of the song and realized it described his and Harry's relationship perfectly:
So long that I've waited for a girl
To come into my life
And in my world
I can't explain my feelings for you
I guess you're just all my dreams come true
And I'll be your lover (Your lover)
And I'll be your best friend (Ooh, I'll be your friend)
I'll be there when you're needing me (When you need me)
I'll be your everything
Your everything
Chorus:
I'll be your everything
I'll be all that you want
And all that you need
I'll be your everything
I'll give you all that I have
My love, my life, and me
I'll be your everything
Now that we're together at last
We shouldn't think about
Our Problems in the past
'Cause true love takes a miracle to find
I guess that I've been blessed
'Cause I've got you by my side
And I'll be your lover (Your lover)
And I'll be your best friend (Ooh, I'll be your friend)
I'll be there when you're needing me (When you need me)
I'll be your everything
Your everything
I'll be your everything
I'll give you all that I have
My love, my life, and me
I'll be your everything
When you're lost and you're down
And you're seeing darkness
And there's no one there that can be found
Just turn around
I'll be there holding out my arms for you
Just reach for me
I'll be the one to set you free
Chorus:
(I'll lift you up when you're feeling down)
I'll be your everything
(I'll make your whole world turn around)
I'll be all that you want
(I'll give my heart and soul to you)
And all that you need
(To let you know this love is true)
(I'll lift you up when you're feeling down)
I'll be your everything
(I'll make your whole world turn around)
I'll give you all that I have
(I'll give my heart and soul to you)
My love, my life, and me
(To let you know this love is true)
I'll be your everything
Ooo
I'll be your ev...ry...thing
- - -
Draco's eyes were closed in pleasure as Harry worshiped his body. He spent an inordinate amount of time licking and nipping all of Draco's hot spots, making him tremble with need.
Harry kissed his way down Draco's body, stopping to swirl his tongue in Draco's navel, making the other hiss in surprise and want. He bypassed the hardened, weeping flesh in the center of the dark blonde curls, kissing the inside of both thighs before placing small love bits there and blowing cool air over the bruised flesh.
"Harry." Draco moaned, trying to twist his throbbing cock toward Harry's mouth. Harry held him still with his hands on Draco's hips.
"Not yet, love." Harry whispered against his thigh. He kissed his way lower, down the backs of Draco's knees, drawing his legs up to place kisses on both feet before moving back up. He traced his tongue along the vein on the underside of Draco's cock. Draco clenched his fists into the sheets on the bed.
"Harry, please!" Draco begged him. He felt Harry move back.
"Turn over." Harry whispered, his voice ragged with lust and love. Draco quickly complied, moaning as his cock rubbed against this silk sheets. He felt Harry part the cheeks of his arse and his breath hitched in anticipation.
Harry's tongue sliding over his puckered entrance caused him to gasp in a mix of shock, surprise and lust.
It took very little time for Harry to prepare him this way and when Harry pulled away, Draco's body was a teeming mass of nerves. He was practically rolling his hips into the sheets dampening them with his need. He felt Harry's hands on his hips drawing him up onto his knees before Harry pushed into him gently.
Harry thrust in and out slowly. Draco was moved to tears as Harry made love to him. They had only fucked before but this was a whole new level of intimacy that Draco had never experienced and it was mind-blowing. It meant that he was loved and loved in return.
Harry's thrusts came faster and he angled his hips so he could get at Draco's prostate. Draco keened wildly, raising up a little to draw Harry deeper into his body. Harry helped him up more until he was practically sitting in his lap, Harry's left arm around his waist for support.
"H-Harry!" Draco stammered, feeling his orgasm approaching. Harry reached around with his free hand to stroke Draco's cock in time with his thrust. "Fuck!" Draco screeched as his vision faded to black. He came violently, spraying Harry's hand and the headboard with his seed. He felt rather than saw Harry's hips snap upward sharply twice more and felt his cock swell and throb within him as Harry reached his own climax, the arm around Draco's waist tightening.
"God, Draco!" Harry groaned, dropping his forehead onto Draco's sweaty backside. They rested that way for a moment, catching their breath before Harry eased him off gently. Draco collapsed onto the bed with a contented sigh.
He felt Harry leave their bed and return with a warm wet cloth. He took his time cleaning Draco's body before his own. He returned the soiled cloth to the bathroom then returned to their bed, spooning up behind Draco. Draco grabbed Harry's arm and pulled it around his waist, twining their fingers together. Harry kissed his shoulder once more before they both drifted off to sleep.
A/N: I do not own or lay claim to "I'll Be Your Everything". It belongs to Tommy Page and was written in 1990 for his album "Paintings In My Mind".
Well...I'm in the homestretch. I know exactly how this is ending and that will be the Epilogue (next chapter). I want to thank everyone who's read and reviewed this story from it's beginning.
¹as quoted by Lois Lane to Clark Kent/Superman in the movie Superman II.