Chapter 2

After the impromptu lunch date, during which Harry had spent the majority staring at Draco, Harry and Sirius returned to Grimmuald Place where they continued to go through the bachelor list. "Argh!" Harry shouted after a few hours of scouring, "I can't take any more of this!". Sirius chuckled and returned to his section of the list. After a few more minutes Harry decided to head up to his room to rest early to catch the train the next morning.

At Platform 9 ¾ Harry felt sufficiently stared at by the rest of the population on the platform. "I'm going Sirius", "Yeah okay see you later kiddo". Sirius replied with a big hug. On the train most of the cabins were full, and Harry knew that Ron and Hermione were Prefects this year. Finally, near the back of the train Harry found an empty compartment, or so he thought.

On opening the door, a set of stormy grey eyes met his own from a seat. "What do you want Potter?" Draco demanded with all the venom he could muster.

"I was just looking for an empty compartment, really Malfoy I would have thought we had agreed to call each other by our first names." Harry replied before making himself comfortable.

After making himself comfortable, Harry looked back at Malfoy and was surprised to see him blushing. "Sorry I didn't think you remembered. You might not want to talk to me in public with the war and everything" Draco finished sadly.

"Yea I remembered, and of course I want to be your friend" Harry replied. After that admission, they lapsed into an easy conversation and played wizarding chess, which Draco beat Harry at every game.

"You're really good at this. You could give Ron a run for his money" Harry admitted as his most brutal defeat. "Thanks, we should change soon though, we are nearing Hogwarts".

While changing Harry could not help but sneak glances at Draco. Wow he's really gorgeous. Harry couldn't help but imagine Draco wrapped around him begging him to love him. Harry shook himself out of the fantasy when he realized he had been staring to long. I hope he didn't notice. Fortunately, Draco hadn't noticed.

Dressed and ready to go, they waited outside with the rest of the 6th years to get into a carriage. After a time, harry begun to notice how uncomfortable Draco was. Looking around was then he noticed the glares being directed at Draco. What the hell.

Without thinking, Harry grabbed Draco's hand and ignoring his shocked face dragged him to the next empty carriage to pull up. Shooting a glare at the other students deterred those foolish enough to try to get into the carriage with them.

If Harry had used legimacy on those students remaining behind he would have known that they were too shocked to react either way by the sight of two infamous enemies being together and holding hands. By the next morning new rumors about the two would be spread around the school.

Meanwhile, in the carriage Draco was trying not to blush as he realized that Harry had not let go of his hand. If he was being honest with himself he didn't want Harry to let go he felt protected and loved. As they were holding hands still they ended up sitting next to each other, but neither one felt any inclination to move as they felt comfortable how they were.

On their arrival at the castle, they went their separate ways to their respective tables for the welcome feast. On the Gryffindor table, Harry was being especially quiet as he thought about his actions towards Draco.

Chapter 3

The next day turned out to be stormy and no one dared to venture out. As it was the first day back everyone was buried under work. It was during lunch that Harry noticed that the place he usually stared at across the hall was empty. Where the hell is Draco? He scanned the Great Hall but didn't see Draco anywhere.

He had just stood up to leave when Hermione noticed him, "Where are you going Harry", "I'm going to look for Draco".

"Since when was that ferret Draco?" Ron butting in exclaimed. "Since I saw him in Diagon Alley and he's my friend". With that statement the table fell into a shocked silence, taking this opportunity Harry left the Great Hall.

Outside the Great Hall, Harry wondered where Draco could possibly be. Just then a group of 5th year Hufflepuffs passed where he was, he overheard them taking about locking Draco outside in the storm, and how they had taken his wand so that he could not get back inside.

"Did you see his face, that blood traitor deserves everything we did!" laughed the group. On hearing this Harry fell into a rage, "Petrificus Totalus!" he shouted and it was so powerful that it bound the whole group. He found Draco's wand then left them there with a threat of bodily harm if they went near Draco again.

Chapter 4

Harry found Draco sheltered under a tree in the yard, and on closer inspection saw that he had been beaten. His rage returned and he swore to get back at the guys who had done this. Harry sat down beside the huddled form and brought his hand up, ignoring his small resistance as he set his fingers under Draco's chin and tilted his face up.

A little stubble shadowed the hard line of Harry's jaw. Draco wanted to stroke his fingers over that very masculine roughness and then maybe brush back the thick wave of dark hair that fell onto his forehead. Harry was, he thought, almost haunting. And he must look like something the kneazle had dragged in, with a black eye and busted lip and his hair sticking out.

At some point he was going to feel horribly embarrassed by all this, Draco thought. If there had been any chance that Harry wanted to be his friend, he'd put an end to it. Tomorrow he would regret that. But right now he was just grateful for his kindness, and he felt too tired and achy to worry about anything else.

"What are you doing out here?"

"I noticed you weren't at lunch so I got worried."

So Harry had come looking for him. Draco allowed himself to savor that, though he knew it would only add to his regrets tomorrow. Draco gave a sigh of relief as Harry healed his injuries. In the silence that followed Harry reached out to take Draco's hand, toying with his fingers absently. "Do people treat you like this usually?"

"Not this bad." Draco liked the feel of harry holding his hand, too. "I usually have someone with me, it can't be helped, and my name is a mark."

Harry slid his fingers between Draco's, loosened his hold, and then tightened it again. Draco turned his head to look at him. Harry was looking down at their clasped hands, his dark brows drawn together in a frown. Draco wondered what he was thinking and then decided he might not like the answer to that question.

Harry looked up suddenly, his emerald eyes pinning Draco to the spot. "What if you changed your name, Draco?"

"Are you mad, Potter?" Draco said now angry. How would I change my name?

"I'm not md just listen." Harry's finers tightened over Draco's and his smile had a reckless edge to it that made Draco's pulse race. "What do you think of Canada?"

"I've never been there," Draco admitted, feeling as if he'd stumbled into a mystery.

"How would you like to go? Now. Tonight."

"Now?" Draco gaped at him. "What for?"

"What do people usually go to Canada for?"

"To taste the syrup?"

Harry laughed and caught Draco's other hand in his, tugging him around until he sat sideways, facing him. "To get married. They go to Canada to get married. Especially same sex marriage."

"I've heard that rumour," Draco agreed cautiously.

Had killing Voldermort finally driven him over the bend?

"Let's do it," Harry said, still with that reckless light in his eyes.

"Do what?" Draco asked blankly.

"Get married." When Draco just stared at him, those stormy grey eyes wide with shock, he grinned crookedly. "I'm asking you to marry me, Draco."