Author's note:
Well loves, this story has one chapter after this to tie up Harrys new journey. Do we want a sequel? Wedding, jobs, kids? Let me know.
Harry leaned against the door frame of entrance to the bakery kitchen. Draco was bent over in the oven, shifting racks of cookies to put his newest batch in, humming to the music he had playing to fill the quiet.
Watching him work made Harrys heart swell. The man in front of him was utter perfection. He knew Draco would argue, that Harry was the better man, the one everyone should be proud of, but that wasn't true.
Draco couldn't see himself like Harry could. Seeing the man he was now, sleeves rolled up, his dark mark faded against pale skin, his quickly growing hair tied back with a pony, face and clothes smudged with flour and humming to a muggle song, that Draco was the man everyone should be proud of.
Draco defied all odds and crushed any expectations anyone had for him. Grow up proper, marry a pure blooded woman, live in the manor, go into politics and be exactly what his father had planned for him.
Instead, Draco was happily dating a man, half blood at that, had his own flat, made his own money, saved and turned it into an investment of his own dreams, and doing everything his father would hate.
Draco had over come more prejudices than any one person should have to face. Growing up in a home taught one way, then deciding on his own, that all of it was rubbish.
This new Draco was flourishing in life. Even with the hard ships and trauma the man had faced. He held his head high and let the world know he would be thrown into the pits of failure so easily.
This Draco was all his. Harry would get to love this man for the rest of his life if he was lucky. And he was damn proud to say that. Proud to be Draco Malfoy's partner.
Draco turned around and caught glimpse of Harry in the door way. He instantly smiled at the man, wiped his hands on a towel and moved to kiss him.
"how long have you been standing there watching me hmm?" Draco asked as Harry brushed flour off his face.
"Long enough. I was admiring the view and thinking how proud I am to see your dream coming true today. " Harry held Draco's face in both hands. "I am so Fucking proud Draco."
Draco blushed eyes fluttering closed as Harry brushed soft kisses all over his face.
"Mmm I have to get back to work. We officially open our doors for business in an hour and I still have to get tons of cookies out there." Draco pressed his lips to Harrys pointedly and unwrapped himself from his boyfriend, heading back to finish icing his turn overs.
Harry glanced out into the cafe and smiled seeing the sitting area arranged with cute black and white, two person tables, with small vases of fresh cut flowers on them, the coffee set to start brewing, and the pastry case already full of fresh goods. "It looks perfect Dray. Everyone's going to love it. Is Luna coming to help run the place for the day?"
"Mmm? Yes. And I asked Hermione to stop in and check if she could in case I needed a hand. I told them that you really needed to be at the castle setting up your classroom for classes next week and to go over your course plan with Minerva." Draco said squeezing by him to place the turn overs under a glass cover.
"Draco. I'm not going to the castle today. Today is important to you... it's important to me. I wouldn't miss this if Voldermort himself appeared and demanded a rematch. He too would have to wait. The love of my life is putting his dream into action today. I would not miss that."
Draco turned and eyed his boyfriend with a smile. "You know, you really are bloody perfect. Come on. I'll let you taste some of the cookies that are finished. I know that why you really want to be here today. " he teased him grabbing him by the hand and dragging him back into the kitchen.
(Several hours later)
Draco flipped the open sign to closed and locked the door leaning his forehead against the cool glass.
He had done it. He had opened his own bakery, and the first day was an utter success. There hadn't been room to sit all day, or stand for that matter. He had never seen so many patrons in Hogsmead before, besides the holidays.
Luna had done a wonderful job finding the location, and advertising his grand opening.
Draco had been worried, that there were going to be plenty of issues, seeing how the press didn't particularly care for him, or his relationship with their savior. The public has been... welcoming. Warm even. It had seemed that the publicity of the trials going on with the Auror department and the prison, that the wizarding community had felt he had suffered more than his fair share of punishment. The interview Draco gave probably helped the most.
Hermione had told Draco it wasn't necessary but it wouldn't hurt to give the paper an interview. They had been pestering Draco for the last few weeks about one. They wanted a victim's experience to really get the people to understand what was happening.
Harry had came with Draco, which of course pleased Rita Skeeter beyond belief. Not only did she get a tell all exclusive about the inside of the prison, but a one on one with the famous couple themselves. Rita, for the first time in her slimy career, wrote an article with mostly truths in it. She embellished of course, things like them tearing up, choking on words, their love glances and touches, but it was over all just fine.
The trials were finally finishing up, and he was almost free from having to deal with it all anymore. Ron had been sentenced one year detainment and five years community service for his wrong doings, and helping provide information on the things he had seen going on.
Harry thought he deserved more, but Draco was happy to see that at least he was being punished.
The last trial had been today, he hadn't tuned in to hear how it went, and Hermione hadn't come back from it yet. She spent most of the early morning with Draco and Harry, munching on treats and catching up with some of the patrons. She had left early afternoon to represent Draco in the case. He owed her more than he could ever repay her.
Draco felt arms wrap around him, and he sank into the warm embrace. "You are thinking way too loud over here."
"Mmm, just glad today went so well. I had my reservations about it, but today...was better than perfect. Thank you for being here." Draco turned in his arms wrapping his arms around Harrys neck. "I love you so much Harry. "
Harry smiled nuzzling his nose against his nose. "Mmm well it's not quite over yet. There's two more things before we clean up and head home. "
Draco sighed, "oh god. Did something happen that's going to ruin my high on cloud nine mood?"
Harry laughed and pulled away gathering a few paper cups and plates that had been left behind.
"No, Hermione sent her patronus over, to let us know how it went. It's all over Dray. That guard, he is going away for Twenty years. No chance of parole. Hermione said if the court could have given the man the kiss she thinks he would have. They didn't even want to hear the whole case. They took one look at Hermione's pictures and documentation and that was it. The guys lawyer didn't even fight for him. They had him plead guilty and accept whatever he was granted. "
Draco felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest. All of them, each and every single one of them had been founded guilty. For the first time in his life, they didn't think he was the evil one deserving what he got. The was the victim, and they wanted him to get justice.
Draco followed after Harry into the kitchen, when he didn't return after a few minutes. "Harry? You said there were two things? What was the second? And what are you doing in the kitchen? It should already be..."
Draco stopped dead in his tracks, Harry was down on one knee with a small black velvet box in his hand, looking nervous as could be. Behind him stood Hermione, Blaise, Ginny, Molly, Arthur, and Luna. They were all wearing matching knowing smiles.
Draco glanced around the room cautiously and looked back at Harry. "Harry?"
"Draco, I know we haven't been together long, but I've known you for half my life. Falling in love with you has been of of the greatest pleasures and journeys I have ever been on. I come home everyday, grateful that I get to look at you and know you are all mine. You are kind and wonderful, witty and funny, brilliant beyond belief and so dedicated to me and our life. I would be honored, if for the rest of our lives moving forward, that I could call you more than just my boyfriend, or my partner. You are my best friend Draco, and I would love it if you would become my Husband. Marry me Draco? "
Draco felt tears slide down his cheeks. "Really?" He whispered and when Harry nodded he flew forward knocking him over kissing him breathless. "Of course I'll Marry you. Yes! Yes I'll be your husband."
Harry laughed rolling them to sit up on their knees so he could open the box. Inside was a simple white gold band, two diamonds on either side of a beautiful emerald that was placed in the middle. The band twisted slightly on either side of the diamonds bringing attention to the set before finishing into a sleek band. "Harry, that's absolutely beautiful."
Harry took it out of the box and placed it on Draco's finger. "It was my great grandmother's. I found it in my vault and I knew... I knew it was meant for you. " when they kissed again their friends clapped, Blaise hooting happily for them.
"Now, today has been absolutely perfect."
