A/N- Please, leave me your comments. It would be really nice to know what you guys think.
4 years ago, England.
"Why all this rush, 'Mione?" Harry panted as he hurried after her, levitating a huge chandelier. "Couldn't Ron have helped?" Hermione shook her head, climbing the stairs quickly. "He's busy with the baby, Harry. You know that Pansy's having a difficult time trying to establish herself as a solicitor." Her tone was admonishing and made Harry feel slightly guilty. "Besides, you were going to come down anyway, right?" She continued, stopping to polish the wood on the banisters to a tarnished gold, almost bronze.
"Whose wedding is this?" Harry asked his wand arm tiring. "I've only seen you this bad during Pansy's and Ron's wedding." Hermione smiled, softly. "You'll see, Harry." And then, she was off again. Harry groaned and followed.
Hermione knocked urgently on one of the doors and waited.
Harry waited beside her, the chandelier floating beside him though he had tucked his wand safely back into his arm hostler. The door opened and Narcissa Malfoy stepped out, gracefully. She smiled gently at Hermione. "Hello, Hermione." She said her voice musical. The cultured tones had mellowed, Harry noted. Hermione smiled. Narcissa turned to Harry. "Harry Potter." She said, offering her hand. Harry took it immediately, with an urbanely charming smile and leaned down and kissed her knuckles gently. She smiled, her eyes openly curious. "How charming. How do you do Mr. Potter?"
"Harry." He corrected gently. "I'm doing just fine, thank you, Mrs. Malfoy." She shook her head amused. "You're being stiffly polite, Harry." She noted with an amused smile. "Narcissa will do just fine." She assured when he started. He acquiesced with a small smile. Despite his preoccupation, the chandelier still floated.
"Narcissa, I have a few questions regarding the flower arrangements and a few menus here that I'd like you to approve." Hermione said, briskly, pulling out a folder. Harry smiled fondly. Hermione had taken to event planning after the war. It made her happy to organize these events; she had told Harry and Ron. They made people come together. Harry and Ron had teased her mercilessly but they had gone with it as it seemed to make Hermione happy. She was married to this job, it seemed. She had hardly ventured to date since she and Ron had parted, amicably, soon after the war.
Harry trailed after Narcissa and Hermione, tuning out their conversation, the chandelier trailing behind him. He frowned thoughtfully. It still did not explain whose wedding it was though.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"Malfoy?" He cried, incredulously, the smile blooming unbidden.
Draco grinned. "Potter, we meet again." Harry shook his hand; he couldn't seem to stop smiling. "What can I say mate? Time's been good to you." He told Draco, grinning like a loon. "It has been about a year, hasn't it?" Draco asked, his eyes shining. "You didn't even make it to Pansy's and Ron's wedding." Harry said, clasping Draco on his shoulder and leading him inside. "Yes, sadly, I was in the middle of a project then and could not, at any cost, leave. I did make amends, though." Draco added, smirking.
"Are you here to see you mother?" Harry asked, looking up when Hermione yelled for him. "It's a madhouse here. This wedding is driving me nuts and I don't even know whose wedding it is." Draco regarded him with amusement. "I'm coming, Hermione." Harry yelled back when the woman shouted for him again. "How long have you been here, Potter?" Draco asked, curiously. Harry shrugged. "About a week. Got a month off from St. Prego's, so I thought might as well help 'Mione out." Draco smiled. "I'm coming Hermione." Harry yelled again, when Hermione sent a stinging hex at him. Draco laughed.
"Go on. I'll see you at dinner tonight." Draco said. Harry nodded and flashed him a two finger salute. Draco grinned as Harry jogged over to Granger and hoisted the giant vase that she pointed at, effortlessly. He followed her in a resigned manner, winking at Draco when he saw him watching. Draco smiled and went to look for his mother.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
"To the loss of your freedom, mate." Blaise Zabini said, with a proud smile. Draco smiled back. Harry stared.
"You're the one getting married." He exclaimed, stung.
Draco chuckled. "Yes, I would be the one getting married." He said, grinning. Harry wondered at the feeling of loss deep in the pit of his stomach. He forced a smile. "Congrats, mate." He said, holding up his glass. "Why didn't I see it sooner?" He asked, with a wry smile. Hermione smiled at him. "It's that naivety that endears you to us, Harry, love." She said. Narcissa nodded. "To Harry Potter." She toasted, raising her wine glass. Harry smiled, modestly, trying to appear happy.
"To Harry Potter." The others at the table echoed.
The rest of the dinner was very pleasant, as food and wine flowed freely, as did conversation. Harry tuned it out completely. Draco Malfoy was getting married. Draco Malfoy was getting married. No matter what he placed the emphasis on, it still sounded just as bad to him.
He wondered why.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Harry got smashed at the bachelor's party.
"Pure entertainment mate." Blaise told him the next day, smacking a hand over his back, laughing. "Thank you." Harry groaned, clutching his head. Draco chuckled, offering him a vial of Hangover Potion. "Bottoms up." He said, holding Harry's nose when he refused to take the vial. Harry tilted his head back, reflexively and Draco poured the vile tasting potion into his mouth.
Harry swallowed, grimacing and flinching. "That never seems to get any better." He groused. "Harry, I need your help with the flowers." Hermione called, running down the stairs, her clipboard in her hand, a pencil stuck behind her ear. Harry frowned. "Make Malfoy do it." He said, childishly. "It's his wedding."
Draco laughed. "I'll handle it, Hermione." He told the woman. "It's the least I can do after Potter's strip tease last night." Hermione laughed. Harry groaned and turned red. "You're never going to let me live that down, are you?" He glared petulantly at Draco. Draco leaned close, his breath fresh, minty. "You offered me that ammunition, Potter. Of course, I'm going to use it." Married man, Married man, Harry chanted, stiffening so that he would not lean forward and close the distance between them. Hermione watched Harry grit his teeth; an interested gleam in her eyes.
Draco leaned back, grinning and sauntered away with Hermione. Hermione turned back and shot Harry a quelling glance and Harry resigned himself to be cornered by her later that day. "Harry." Harry turned, forcing a smile on his face as Narcissa floated regally down the stairs. "Narcissa." Harry said, politely, offering her his arm. She took it, her eyes gleaming with silent laughter. "Oh, not you too." Harry said, his cheeks turning red.
She patted his cheek gently as they reached the wedding hall where she was supposed to help arrange the flowers. "Off you go, Harry." She said and sailed into the room. Harry started into the room, miserably.
Then he turned and walked out of the house, Hermione's eyes trailing after him.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
He grinned at Hermione as she held out a mug of butterbeer. She sat down next to him. "So, Potter, Draco huh?" Harry smiled. "So now, I'm Potter and he's Draco?" Hermione shook her head. "You're only Potter because I'm mad at you." Harry raised an eyebrow. "And that would be because?" Hermione sipped her butterbeer and looked thoughtful. "Okay, so maybe, I'm not really mad at you." She conceded. Harry smiled into his bottle. "I'm madder at myself for dragging you into this mess." She looked genuinely contrite. Harry shook his head. "'Mione." He laughed.
"It's just physical attraction." He said, amused. "You don't have to feel bad, promise." Hermione frowned. "Look, he's a nice enough bloke. But this is Malfoy." Harry said, sipping his beer. "I cannot really build anything substantial with him. Besides," He waved his hand in an absent gesture. "He's not even gay."
Hermione shoved Harry gently with her shoulder. "He could be bi." She teased.
Harry grinned. "It doesn't matter." He shrugged. "I wish him only the best." He added. "Last time I saw him, he was carrying around so much guilt, and he could hardly smile." Harry said, reminiscing, his lips pulled into a fond smile. Hermione's keen eyes sharpened. "Malfoy was the bloke you spent the day in Salem with." She realized. Harry nodded, eyes sparkling. "I never did mention him by name, did I?" He asked, amused.
Hermione smiled back. "Well, it's all in the past now and Draco's going to start a new life." She said. "So here's to wishing him only the best, eh?" Harry asked, clinking his bottle with Hermione. She nodded, resolutely. "Only the best." She echoed. Harry promised himself he would disappear after the wedding.
Only the best for you, Malfoy. You deserve nothing but.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Draco pulled the woman into his arms, smiling warmly. "I'm filthy from the floo." She said, laughing quietly when he twirled her to some tune only the both of them could hear. He lowered her into a deep dip and smiled into her eyes. She smiled back, adoringly.
He pulled her up and kissed her. Her arms went around his shoulders and he held her tenderly. Harry gulped, watching longingly. "I missed you, Tory." Draco whispered. "Hmm." She said against his lips. "And I you, Dre." The woman was beautiful; long blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes that looked like the sky on a cloudless day, soft pale features, slender, willowy, and so delicate. She was a sight.
Harry cleared his throat and smiling, he entered the kitchen. "Just come to collect the silver." He said. Draco grinned. "Potter, come here." He caught Harry by his bicep and steered him towards the woman. "Potter, this is my fiancée, Astoria Greengrass. Tory, this is my…Harry Potter." Draco introduced. Astoria raised an eyebrow, her eyes sparkling. "Your Harry Potter?" she asked. Harry gulped down his heart that seemed to want to stage an escape through his mouth. "Should I be worried, Draco?" she tinkled as she held out a hand for Harry to shake.
Draco flushed.
"Sorry, I don't, really know how to define our relationship quite yet." He admitted, his cheeks suffused with color. He glanced at Harry, who took Astoria's hand with a warm smile. "I'm just a friend." He told the woman with a wink. She seemed very amused. She's very secure, Harry mused, wistfully. "Then, it's a pleasure to meet you, Draco's Harry Potter." She said, laughing. Draco grinned. Harry chuckled. "Pardon me, I don't mean to be forward, but you're incredibly beautiful." He said. Astoria smiled, softly. "You are too." She said, quietly, unassumingly. Harry blushed red.
"If you are quite done looking deep into each other's eyes?" Draco drawled, amused. Harry smiled sheepishly. Draco wrapped one arm around his fiancée shoulders and the other around Harry's and steered them into the main hall. Harry could not help but notice how perfect Astoria looked tucked into Draco's side.
Again, he could not help but smile wistfully. Astoria noticed the exact same thing about Harry and she smiled as well. Maybe, Draco could still be happy. She laid her head against his shoulder and he looked down at her and smiled tenderly. Maybe, there was hope yet.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
The wedding passed in a blur of color, joy and laughter.
Astoria had looked ethereal as Narcissa Malfoy had walked her down the aisle. Harry had heard from Hermione that Daphne, Astoria's sister had been killed in the war and her parents had disowned her for daring to associate with Draco. Apparently, they had been neutral during the Second War. Harry's heart went out to the frail looking woman.
Now Harry stood by the door, waiting to say his farewell before they left for their honeymoon and then the rest of their lives. He himself would leave after they had gone. Harry watched as Narcissa hugged Draco tight and then Astoria. She kissed Astoria's forehead gently and bid Draco to take care of her. Harry smiled when Hermione hugged Draco and shook Astoria's hand and Blaise leaned down and kissed Astoria's cheek.
He saw her look around and smile when she spotted him.
She whispered something in Draco's ear and he nodded, encouragingly and turned back to talk to Blaise. She walked to Harry and held out her hands to him. Harry took them, without a second thought and drew her to him, gently. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "So, all ready to go?" He asked her, dimpling.
She smiled gently at him. "Harry." She said. He waited, smiling down at her. "Promise me something." Harry squeezed her hands. "Anything." He said. "When you find your Draco, don't ever let him go." She told him. "Promise me." He blinked down at her. "My Draco?" He asked, frowning. "You will understand in time." Astoria whispered with a sad smile. "For now, promise me." He nodded, bemused. "I promise."
She smiled, satisfied. Then she leant up and kissed his cheek. "You're a good man, Harry. You will be happy, you'll see." With that parting shot, she took a couple of steps back. Draco strode over and grinned at Harry. He held out his hand. "Until next time, then, Potter." He tilted his head and smiled. Harry smiled back and clasped his hand. "Until next time, mate."
And they parted ways.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O
Present Day, England.
"And the truth, and nothing but the truth shall set you free." Harry said, shutting the book and smiling wistfully, his eyes wet.
"That was a sad story, Harry." Teddy said, his huge grey eyes sad. Harry had showed the boy pictures of his family and he had immediately decided that his cousin had beautiful eyes. Harry gently ran his hand through the dark hair, which Teddy always kept dark in honor of Harry and nodded. "Yes, it's a sad story. But sad stories have very poignant messages, my love."
The eight-year-old frowned. "I'm not sure what that means." He admitted. Harry kissed his forehead, feeling like an idiot. Teddy was eight; of course he didn't know what it meant. "Never mind, Teddy Bear." He charmed one of Teddy's bedposts to glow a soothing blue. Teddy smiled sleepily, closing his eyes. "I'm very glad you're home, Harry." He said. "I'm glad too, champ." Harry said and walked of the room. "Goodnight, Teddy Bear." He whispered. But the boy had already fallen asleep. He shut the door quietly and walked downstairs.
Andromeda had entrusted Teddy to Harry's care for a week while she and Narcissa went to visit relatives in France. Harry had accepted gleefully. It would keep his house from becoming deathly silent for a little while and him busy.
He spent the night staring into the crackling flames of his fireplace.
O.o.O.o.O.o.O