Disclaimer: see prologue
Guide: "Speech", Thoughts, ~letters and other written things, "Parseltongue"
Warning: sexual themes and kinks, lemon
AN: I'm deeply sorry for the long delay. An alternative title of this chapter could be 'The two sides of Lucius Malfoy'.
-~-~- Altair -~-~-
-~-~-by Still waters are deep-~-~-
-~-~- Chapter 40 – Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Part III-~-~-
28th December 1997, Malfoy Manor
"Finally," Draco said in relief when the flames of the Floo turned green. He had eaten his breakfast as fast as possible and then had impatiently waited for Harry's return since half past eight and it was shortly after ten now.
"Draco," Harry greeted happily, embracing the blond, who pressed Harry even closer to his body.
"I missed you," Draco breathed into Harry's ear before he pressed his lips to the brunet's. Humming in pleasure, Harry opened his mouth and eagerly welcomed Draco's tongue.
"I...missed...you...too," Harry answered out of breath when their lips finally separated. Just as he was about to lean back in for another kiss a cough interrupted him.
"Mr Potter, welcome back," Lucius said in a dry voice, giving Harry the feeling that he was not overly fond of their previous display of affection. But Draco could see the slightly turned up lips and knew that his father was more amused than annoyed by their enthusiastic greeting.
"Come on, Harry. Let's go upstairs." And with this Draco dragged Harry after him to his room, straight towards the bed. "Please do not go away again," Draco said as they both lay on their sides, their shoes abandoned on the floor and their bodies touching from hip to feet, Draco affectionately caressing Harry's hair.
"Never," Harry answered and closed the inch that separated their lips. Both boys basking in the feeling to finally being close again. They may have been only separated for two days but to the newly proclaimed boyfriends the separation had felt to go on for weeks. Like a man stranded in the desert desperate for what little water he could find, they tried to take in as much as possible of the other.
With hungry lips and eager tongues they explored each other's mouths, re-mapping each other's most sensitive spots and letting their tongues dance together. Their hands were hurriedly and at the same time also slowly moving through their hair, caressing their cheeks and necks before moving downwards and under their tops, desperate to touch skin. One of their hands landed on the other's neck to close even the smallest distance between their lips. Their legs following swiftly, hooking together and forcing their bodies even closer until there was no space left between them.
"I love you," they whispered between kisses and answered the other with a sweet "I love you too" or a happy "I know". They did not know if minutes or hours past while they remained in their intimate embrace, all that mattered to them was that the other was close.
Harry enjoyed to be able to feel Draco's heartbeat under his right hand while his left hand caressed the blond's soft silken hair as their mouths connected. Draco did not believe that there was anything better in the whole world than to know that Harry was his, to breathe in the air that had just left Harry's mouth and to feel the strong muscle under the soft skin of Harry's back.
They did not know if Harry was first to suggestively play with Draco's left nipple or if it was Draco with his sensually wandering hand on Harry's back that changed the mood from tender and loving to lustful and heady. The kisses they shared became more vigorous and sloppy as the heat inside their bodies raised. Soon, the cloths that built a barrier between their skins became a bother and Draco changed their position so that Harry was lying on his back and Draco sat on his boyfriend's thighs.
"In Hogwarts...," Draco began as he leaned down to give Harry a kiss and both boys started laughing into the kiss.
...we would already be naked thanks to our charmed bed, they both finished Draco's sentence as their tongues battled for dominance.
Leaning up again, Draco sat upright as he gingerly began to lift Harry's pullover, leaving a trail of kiss from the hem of Harry's trousers over his navel that got also lavished with the blond's tongue slowly up to Harry's nipples, purposefully only moving the pullover over Harry's head but still trapping the other's hands inside the sleeves.
"Tease," Harry complained, wanting the pull at the blond's hair with his hands.
"I am just taking my time to open my belated Christmas present," Draco countered as he shifted the attention of his mouth and tongue from Harry's left nipple to his right one. When he reached Harry's collarbone, he contemplated the pros and cons of leaving the pullover in place while he got rid of Harry's trousers. In the end, the desire to feel Harry touch him in turn won and he pulled the pullover fully off of Harry and threw it on the floor.
Harry did not hesitate to use his newly found freedom to grab Draco by the head and move his mouth to his for a long and deep kiss. "Hmm," they both moaned in pleasure. Separating from Harry, Draco leaned back and began to open the brunet's belt-buckle while Harry rather unsuccessful tried to move Draco's slipover over the blond's head.
"One thing at a time," Draco admonished, pulling down the zip of Harry's trousers.
"But your overdressed. Besides, why do you have to wear both a pullover and a shirt?" Harry asked in annoyance. He wanted to touch Draco's naked skin.
"Because it is fashionable," was Draco's answer, then he added, "Now hush, or you'll run the mood." That made them both laugh as Harry helpfully lifted his hips so that Draco could take off his trousers. "I'm disappointed," Draco stated when he saw that Harry was not wearing the boxers Luna had given him for Christmas.
"Why? I'm obviously happy to see you," Harry teased, referring to his semi-erect cock that was creating a noticeable bulge in his boxers.
"That I see," Draco said, softly squeezing the bulge. "I'd hoped that you would wear the new boxers," he explained.
"And let Ron see them?" Harry asked. "It was bad enough that Luna told everyone about them."
"Poor Harry," Draco pacified. "I'll make it better for you." The boxers were swiftly discarded in favour of Draco leaning down and taking the cock into his awaiting mouth, circling the cock with his tongue as he gently sucked.
"Hmm," Harry moaned, his hands crawling into Draco's hair and the bedsheets. Draco kissed his way up from the tip of Harry's cock to the base and then followed the most prominent vein with his tongue back to the tip. "Yesss," Harry hissed when Draco sucked at the tip while simultaneously softly tugging at Harry's scrotum. "I love your talented mouth," the brunet stated, out of breath.
"Only my mouth?" Draco asked teasingly and used his tongue to stimulate the slit of Harry's cock while he used his hand to stroke the base of Harry's penis.
"Fuck," Harry screamed, making Draco glad that his parents' rooms were far away.
"That comes later," Draco joked, for a moment taking his mouth off Harry's erection. "For now..." the blond trailed off and moved his mouth back to where Harry desired his lips to be the most: Right around his cock.
"Draco," Harry screamed silently as he orgasmed. Laying spent on the bed, Harry caught his breath and watched with lustful eyes as Draco licked his lips with his tongue. "You missed something," Harry stated, leaning up, resting his weight on his elbows and used his thumb to wipe away the drop of cum that Draco missed. With lowered eyes, he sucked his thumb clean, making Draco bit his lips in excitement.
"My turn," Harry said sitting upright as he finally lifted the slipover together with the long-sleeved shirt over the blond's head. "Hmm," Harry hummed in pleasure when he finally saw Draco's naked upper body. Leaning forward, he kissed the blond's neck and then went down, sucking softly on the skin above Draco's collarbone and then nipped on the blond's left nipple. Thinking that Draco still had way to much clothes on, Harry's hand wandered towards Draco's belt-buckle and tried to open it, his moth still occupied with the blond's nipples.
When Harry still had not opened the belt-buckle after thirty seconds, Draco laughed. "You have to tickle the dragon's belly," he helpfully explained, his eyes shining with amusement.
So much about 'Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon', Harry thought, remembering Hogwarts' motto but complied with the suggestion. After stroking the metal belly three times, the clap opened and Harry could finally unbutton Draco's trouser button and lower the zip. Shoving Draco so that the blond was forced to lean back on his arms, Harry knelt down, his legs caging Draco's in and slowly took off the trousers, his lips following the material, leaving kisses down the blond's inner thighs.
"Maybe we should get you some boxers with my name on them?" Harry asked playfully, leaning down to kiss the other's blue boxers right where the bulge was growing larger by the minute.
"The Nargles will steal them," Draco answered.
"I'm sure I'll take them off you faster than they can steal them," Harry said and pulled Draco's boxers down in one fast move and leaned down again to kiss his boyfriend's cock without the annoying cotton between his lips and Draco's skin.
"I can't wait any more," Draco said, sitting up and shoving Harry down on his back in the same movement. "Where is my wand?" he asked, looking around and spotted his trousers and thus, his wand lying near the couch. Harry's trousers were not any closer to the bed either. "Great," Draco huffed out in annoyance.
"We could try the spells wandlessly?" Harry suggested.
Not wanting to leave the bed, Draco agreed to try it. If it didn't work, he could always go and get one of their wands. "Colluo culus," they said in unison and followed the cleaning spell with the lubrication charm. "Praeunctus culus."
"Did it work?" Harry asked. "I did feel some tickling when we said the cleaning spell and also feel slightly wet."
"There's lube," Draco stated, looking between Harry's spread open legs. "But it seems to be mostly smeared around your opening. Good thing that there's always the good old Muggle way," Draco said and used his fingers to smear some of the lube on his cock. Curious, he licked at his forefinger. "Blueberry and raspberry," he said, having guessed by the magenta colour that their lubes have mixed. "Want some?" he asked Harry.
"No," the brunet answered with a shake of his head. "I only want you. Inside me. Now," he commanded.
"As you wish, love," Draco said and leaned down for a kiss while his right hand began to prepare Harry with his fingers, making sure that enough of the lube got inside the brunet's hole.
"I love you," they said together as Draco aligned himself with Harry's opening. As eager as both were to be finally joined, Draco still took his time. Carefully he entered Harry, centimetre by centimetre. Once his cock was completely surrounded by Harry's warmth, Harry's arms came around his back, bringing him down in a loving embrace. Supporting his body weight on one arm, Draco's free hand wandered into Harry's hair, massaging the scalp.
Slowly and tenderly they made love, kissing with passion and feelings of love, trust and security in their bond as their hips moved in a slow, intimate dance. Reaching their release became only secondary, what counted to them was to just feel the other: their love, their body, their hearth and soul.
Their dance of love may have only lasted five minutes, or maybe it took them an hour to fully express their feelings and love, but when they both finally reached completion, they both could positively feel their love in the air around them, materialising like a blanket that covered them with warmth. They both relished in the sensation as their bodies contracted and shuddered with the force of their orgasms.
"That was incredible," Draco said, falling down on the bed next to Harry, totally happy but also completely exhausted.
"Hmm," Harry agreed as he cuddled his face into Draco's chest. "I do not know if I hate or love to undress you," Harry stated while he got comfortable. "I mean it is nice to slowly reveal the skin beneath all the layers of clothing, but on the same time it is annoying that it takes sooo long before I can touch you," he complained.
"I know," Draco said, kissing the top of Harry's head. "Maybe next time we should only wear bathrobes when we want to undress each other," he joked.
"Or boxers with each other's name on them," Harry suggested.
"The bathrobes are better," Draco insisted. "And we forgot to take off our socks," he added, making Harry look down at their feet. Indeed, they both had still their socks on. They laughed and then they spent the next half hour in silence, just enjoying each other's presence and trying to memorise the feelings they just experienced.
~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-
30th December 1997, Malfoy Manor
It was to the sound of happy groans that the house-elf Temmy Apparated into when he appeared in Draco's room at two in the afternoon.
"Temmy is very sorry, Mr Potter, sir," the house-elf interrupted Harry and Draco's current mid-day make-out session. "But Master Malfoy is wanting Mr Potter to come to his study."
"Urgh," Draco groaned in annoyance, Harry not liking their interruption any better. "And we were just starting with the good part," the blond complained, removing his hand from the inside of Harry's pullover while Harry moved his hand out of Draco's trousers, the blond's top already having been discarded to the floor.
"At least it wasn't your father that walked in on us," Harry tried to joke as he straightened out his clothes.
"I wonder what he wants?" Harry asked Draco.
"I have not the foggiest idea."
"Maybe he wants to talk with me about tomorrow's ball?" Harry guessed.
"Temmy is to inform Master Draco that he is not to accompany Mr Potter," the house-elf said, just as Draco wanted to offer to come with Harry.
"I hope he doesn't want to give you the 'talk'," Draco said.
"I think he is aware that we already know about the birds and the bees," Harry answered.
"I was more thinking about the 'break my son's heart and your dead' kind of talk."
"Oh," was all Harry could say.
"Don't worry," Draco said and gave Harry a long and heartfelt kiss. "I'm sure you can come up with better threats than him. Being the Saviour and all."
"Or I just do not break your heart," Harry said, leaning in for another kiss.
"Temmy must remind Mr Potter that Master Malfoy is waiting," the house-elf said, finally succeeding to separate the two boyfriends from each other.
Ten minutes after he had send Temmy to get Mr Potter, the young man in question knocked on the door of his study. "Come in."
"You wanted to see me, Mr Malfoy?" Harry asked as he walked in and took the seat that was offered to him in front of the impressive mahogany desk.
"Yes," Lucius Malfoy began. "Mr Potter, now where you are a part of my family, I think that it is important that we are honest with each other." Before he could say more, he was interrupted by Harry.
"If we are to be family, you must call my Harry," the brunet insisted.
"Harry then," Lucius abode, not bothering to offer Harry the courtesy to call him by his first name in turn. "Are you aware what my son's plans are after he graduates Hogwarts?"
"Yes," Harry said. "He wants to become a Potions master."
Now Lucius was smirking. "You are aware, Harry," he stressed the name on purpose, "that brewing complex potions is part of the apprenticeship."
"Of course," the brunet answered, the implied "Duh, are you stupid," more than obvious to both of them.
"Then you do not mind that Draco will be required to brew certain potions with a partner?" Lucius went on and finally Harry was seeing where this talk was going. The only potions he brewed so far that could not have been brewed by one person were Sexual Potions. Harry shuddered at the thought of Draco being together with someone else. "Your answer, Harry," Lucius prompted when Harry had not said anything in a minute, too lost in thoughts about his boyfriend doing sexual acts with a random, faceless male.
"Of course, I mind," Harry answered with a huff.
"So you want to prevent my son from reaching his dream?" Lucius asked, his face stern, but inside he was very amused to be able to make the Boy Who Lived uncomfortable.
"No," Harry immediately answered.
"Then we reached a standstill," Lucius stated. "What do you want to do about it?"
"He can brew those potions with me," Harry said without thinking. Draco was his and no one would be able to come between them. Not when they finally admitted their feelings to each other.
"But you do not want to become a Potions master, do you?" Lucius asked gleefully.
"No, I want to become a Healer," Harry said, enjoying that Lucius looked surprised at his job choice, even if the surprise only lasted for a second.
"So you will not be one of the Potions master apprentices Draco could pair up with," Lucius stated dryly.
Harry did not know how to answer at first. But then he had the thought that saved the day. "I know that they will make an exception for us. AIt is not everyday that one has a natural fourth order bond and received Room Zero in Hogwarts. We already showed that our potions are always outstanding and our Typos Thesis are very compatible," Harry said as arrogantly as he could. Lucius constant smirk was getting on his nerves and he was beyond caring that he was actually talking with Draco's father about having sex with Draco, even if it was only implied. "I'm sure you agree that it would be most advantageous if Draco could brew all of his Sexual Potions with me instead of some random trainee who can never be as suited for Draco as I am. So yes, even though I will not go into Potions, Draco will still only brew his potions with me. During his apprenticeship and afterwards," Harry ended determined.
"That is reassuring to know, Harry," Lucius said in answer to Harry's short but heartfelt speech, his face now showing an open and honest smile. "You may call me Lucius," he added after a short pause. "Now, I'll let you go. I'm sure Draco as already anxious for your return."
Perplexed, Harry got up from his chair and walked out of the door. The events of the last thirty minutes felt surreal to him. Has he been testing me? Harry wondered as he walked back to Draco's room. I can only hope that being offered to call him by his first name means that I passed the test.
"So, what did he want?" Draco asked when Harry entered the room.
"I think he wanted to test me," Harry began. "We talked about you wanting to become a Potions master and that it means that you would also have to brew Sexual Potions during your apprenticeship."
"Hey," Draco said and took Harry into his arms in a comforting gesture. "You know that I will only ever brew those kind of potions with you, don't you?" he asked softly.
Harry laughed. "I basically told your father the same thing. Only that I kind of insisted that you would brew with no one but me, even after you obtain your mastery."
"Good," Draco said before he leaned in for a kiss. "It wouldn't surprise me if he was just worried for my well-being. Mum told me that they feared that the Dark Lord would want me for Sexual Magic," Draco told him in a serious tone. Both boys shuddered at the thought. "Or maybe father just feared for the good Malfoy name in Sexual Magic," Draco tried to lighten the situation again. "Sometimes I believe that the after-effect of the Imperious Curse makes him a bit bipolar." With that he kissed Harry again.
Before they could get too lost in their feelings, Harry stepped slightly away from his boyfriend and said, "At the end of the talk, your father actually offered me to use his first name."
"So you passed the test," Draco stated. "And I believe you deserve a reward." With that Draco shoved Harry to the couch and sank down on his knees before Harry's spread legs. Finally they could continue where they left off before the house-elf had so unsuitably interrupted them. Making quick work of Harry's trouser and boxers, Draco eagerly welcomed Harry's erection inside his mouth.
I really loved Draco's talented mouth and tongue, was the last coherent thought Harry had before he got lost in pleasure and lust.
~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-
31st December 1997
It was shortly before four in the morning when Draco woke up. Looking around, he noticed that Harry was not in bed with him. Must be in the bathroom, he thought and waited for his boyfriend's return. When Harry did not join him three minutes later, Draco got worried and got out of bed. Walking into his bathroom, he saw that it was empty. Where is Harry? he wondered.
Not wanting to search the whole manor, he called for a house-elf. "Temmy."
"What can Temmy do for Master Draco?"
"Can you tell me where Harry is?"
"Temmy is feeling Mr Potter inside his assigned room," the house-elf stated.
"Thank you, Temmy," Draco dismissed the elf, put on a pair of pyjama pants and walked across the hall towards Harry's guest room. Why is he there and not here? he wondered. "Harry?" he asked after knocking on the door. He was curious, but he had told Harry that this guest room would be his safe-heaven if the brunet needed a sanctuary and that no Malfoy would walk in without being invited.
"Ehm," he heard through the door and took it as an invitation to walk in. What he saw surprised him. Harry was laying on his bed, and seemed to have been reading the book 'Wizarding Etiquette for Muggleborns' that his parents gave Harry.
"What are you doing?" he asked, sitting down in the bed next to Harry.
"I couldn't sleep?" Harry more asked than stated.
"And that's why you read a book about etiquette? Why couldn't you really sleep?" Draco asked softly, rubbing comforting circles on Harry's naked back. Silence.
"I was worried about tonight," Harry finally admitted.
"There is nothing for you to be worried about," Draco assured.
"But what if I embarrass your family?" Harry asked. "I'm sure your father will hate me if I say something wrong to one of his business partners or do not greet them in the right way."
"Oh, Harry," Draco said, laying down on top of the brunet and kissed his neck. At least this explains why he was reading the book. "You do not have to talk to them and most of them are already drunk before midnight," Draco joked. "Besides, I will be right besides you. And if it becomes too much for you, you can always leave and go to my room. No one will blame you," Draco reassured.
"Are you sure?" Harry asked, still slightly worried and turned his head to face Draco.
"Yeah," the blond answered and gave Harry a soft kiss on the lips. "We will probably spend tonight talking with Blaise and Hermione and enjoy the food and drinks that are offered. And if we get bored, we will play silly games like 'What does he sell?' or 'Who is cheating?'"
"Really?" Harry asked with a smile. He was finally assured that tonight would go well.
"Yes," Draco answered. "And now, since your little breakdown is over, come back to bed."
"But we're already in bed," Harry helpfully pointed out, laughing.
"But it is not our bed," Draco stated as he got up and dragged Harry with him back to his room. Once they both got rid of their pyjama pants, they crawled under the sheets and cuddled up, easily falling asleep with the other besides them.
~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Wednesday, 31st December 1997, Annual Malfoy New Year's Eve Ball
The Malfoy's New Year's Eve Ball officially started at seven, but Draco had owled Blaise in the morning to ask him and Hermione to come half an hour early in the hope to relax Harry even further. Since the Muggles were not here yet, Blaise and Hermione used the Floo to come to Malfoy Manor.
After embracing Hermione and shaking Blaise's hand, Harry asked Blaise, "How was your Christmas?"
"We sure had a fucking great time, didn't we Hermione?" Blaise asked his Altair partner.
"Blaise," Draco said in an annoyed tone, "Harry was asking about Christmas, not the last four days."
"Same thing, same thing," Blaise repudiated and both Draco and Harry looked at Hermione to see what she thought about this statement.
Hermione laughed. "We're not in an exclusive relationship. We're just Altair partners," she said.
"We cannot all marry our school rival come Altair partner," Blaise said, knowingly looking at their promising rings.
"We're not married," Draco answered.
"Yet," Hermione and Blaise added in unison, sharing a meaningful look.
"Thank you for asking us to come early," Hermione said to Draco, changing the topic. "Can you believe that Blaise wanted to drive all the way here by car? The trip to the supermarket was already bad enough to know that he drives worse than the devil."
"And I specifically do not thank you for making me use the Floo," Blaise complained.
"You can always drive to London on the fourth," Draco said.
"And let someone else drive my baby back home? No!" Blaise answered decisively.
"It's just a car," Hermione said.
"It's not a car, it's a Ferrari F355," Blaise informed them.
"Whatever you say, Blaise," Draco said dismissively. "Let's go to the ballroom before the other guests arrive."
"Mr Zabini, Miss Granger, welcome to my home," Lucius Malfoy greeted them at the door to the ballroom. Narcissa nodded to them in greeting.
The four young people had not wait for long before the first guests started to arrive. Finding a corner for themselves, they stayed in their own little group for about an hour, exchanging Christmas stories and talking about Hogwarts. Getting thirsty, Harry and Hermione excused themselves and walked towards the refreshment table.
Taking a glass of orange juice, Harry turned around to scan the gathered crowd. He saw men in dark coloured suits and women in elegant dresses. And then he saw them. There standing in the ballroom of the Malfoy family were none other than Vernon, Petunia and Dudley Dursley.
"Harry?" Hermione asked him with a soft nudge to his arm that was not holding the glass of juice, looking in the Durselys' direction.
"I know, Hermione. I know," Harry answered before he broke out in laughter, Hermione following soon after.
"I cannot believe that during all the years they boasted about going to this exclusive and excellent New Year's Eve ball, they actually came here," Harry said and then fell right back into laughter, some of the orange juice landing on the ground.
"What is so funny?" Draco asked, who had walked over with Blaise attracted by their laughter.
"Do you see the couple with their son over there," Hermione said, pointing as inconspicuous as possible in the Dursleys' direction.
"Yeah, what is with the two whales and the horse?" Blaise asked, uncensored.
"They're Harry's uncle, aunt and cousin," Hermione informed them.
"And they detest magic," Harry added.
"Really?" Blaise asked. "And they're in the house of one of Britain's best known Magical families?"
"Yes," Harry stated dryly before all four broke out laughing.
"How nice that you are enjoying yourselves. May I ask what the source of your amusement is?" Lucius asked. He and Narcissa having been drawn in by their giggles. Harry and Draco quickly explained the situation to the elder Malfoys. "We must introduce you as my son's special friend," Lucius decided.
Motioning Harry and Draco to follow him, he walked towards the Dursleys. "Do you believe he is really doing this?" Harry whispered into Draco's ear.
"Yes," Draco whispered back. "And now walk behind me so that they won't see you right away."
"Mr and Mrs Dursley," Lucius greeted, totally ignoring Dudley. "Have I already introduced you to my son Draco?"
"It's an honour, sir," Vernon said to Draco, feeling like he was above every other guest because the host had bothered to personally introduce his family to him.
"And this is his fiancé Harry," Lucius said, enjoying the outrageous look on all three Dursley's faces he received in return. It was obvious that they were homophobic.
"A pleasu—," Vernon finally got out, stopping abruptly when he saw who this Harry was.
"Har...ry," Petunia and Dudley stammered out, not believing their eyes.
"Good evening, Aunt, Uncle, Dudley," Harry said, nodding at each of the Dursleys in turn. He had not wanted to see the Dursleys ever again, but the reaction he got was worth the five minutes he spent in their presence. Not only were all three speechless but Vernon actually fainted.
"Vernon, Honey bunch," Petunia screamed.
"Wizards… magic," Dudley stammered, low enough that none of the wizards found it necessary to silence him.
"Vernon," Petunia said in relief, when her husband regained consciousness.
"Freaks, we're surrounded by freaks," Vernon said hysterically.
"Calm down, Honey bunch," Petunia said to him. "What shall the people think?" she reminded him.
"We'll leave," Vernon said determined and dragged the still shocked Dudley with him. Neither of them could believe that all the time they had been celebrating the New Year with freaks. I'm doing business with freaks! Freaks! Vernon screamed inside his head.
"I though we were celebrating New Year's Eve and not Halloween," Blaise calmly commented after he saw Hermione's shock face when Lucius Malfoy offered to rile up the Dursleys and then saw how Harry's uncle fainted and the other two went into shock.
"Your fiancé?" Harry asked Draco once the Dursleys were out of sight.
"With accepting each other's promising ring, we promised to accept the proposal if we ask the other to marry us, so we're as good as engaged," Draco explained.
"But the book said that the ring only means that one wants to built a romantic relationship," Harry said.
"No," Draco contradicted. "We used sapphire as the eighth stone which stands for engagements, and in our case for going to accept an engagement in the future."
"But the eighth stone was iolite," Harry said, confused.
"No, I'm know that I took a sapphire," Draco answered.
"And I followed your lead," Harry whispered under his breath in realisation.
"Are you regretting giving me the ring?" Draco asked, worried that Harry had not meant to go this far yet.
"No, I'm not," Harry answered with a big smile and then leaned in to kiss his boyfriend.
"Good," Draco answered, playing with the promising ring on Harry's hand.
"Let's go upstairs for a while," Harry said and led Draco out of the ballroom.
"I cannot believe that Mr Malfoy really went to freak out your family," Hermione told Harry, when the couple finally returned to the ballroom.
"Me neither," Harry admitted. "But it sure as hell felt good. Therapeutic even."
Now that really is a great end to an even greater year, Harry thought as the clock struck Midnight, standing in Draco's arms.
"Happy New Year," Draco whispered into his ear, before he turned Harry around to give him a proper New Years kiss.
Whatever was waiting for them this year, they was sure that it would be full of happiness and love.
~-~-~-~-~-~-Altair-a life changing event-~-~-~-~-~-~-
Next: Back to Hogwarts. Update in October?