Harry trudged his way through the snow and towards the pub. Oddly enough he didn't even feel the cold, or the snow hitting his face. He just felt so warm inside. He entered the small muggle pub called Willow Street Pub and saw his friends sitting in a corner drinking and laughing. Ron must have noticed him because he waved, signaling to Harry to join them. Ron, Neville and Dean sat around a small wooden table, each a beer in their hand.
They were all looking at him eagerly in the silence, "I'm engaged!" Harry announced and his friends broke out in applause.
"Well done mate! If only Neville here could do the same." Ron shot Neville a crooked smile. They had all been joking for months now that it was due time he proposed to Luna.
Neville blushed and leaned in, everyone else leaned in as well.
"Between us, I have a ring...I'm just getting up the guts to you know...ask her." He said looking to Harry as if he would somehow give him the courage.
Harry sat down and was about to help his friend out but Hermione had come in, along with Luna and Ginny each smiling at Harry. "We heard the news! Congrats!" Hermione said grinning from ear to ear.
Ginny nodded, "It's about bloody time."
Luna laughed softly, "Perhaps the inappropriate touching in public places will now stop?" This caused everyone to burst out in laughter, and Harry to blush.
"Hey! That was only once!" He said.
Ron just rolled his eyes, "More like five." Harry blushed a deeper shade of red.
They all laughed some more before all eyes fell on Harry, "Come on Harry! We wanna hear what happened!" Hermione said eagerly.
"Yah, you two are quite an...interesting...pair" Luna said agreeing.
Harry laughed nervously. "Well," he began "It all started about a week ago at Malfoy Manor..."
Harry stood at the iron gates of the manor, and he was terrified. Sure he'd faced Voldemort, but this was a whole new kind of terror.
"What do you want, Potter?" A voice sneered at him.
"I would like to ask you a formal question of importance." It was now or never.
Lucius Malfoy was out of Azkaban for a week while he received treatment for his muggle illness. If he was going to do this, there would be no better time. The gates creaked open and Harry could see the path that lead to the manor. He walked on. Harry was sure if Draco could see him, he would have given himself a heart attack laughing. Harry took a few deep breaths as he approached the door, only to have it opened by none other than Narcissa Malfoy. He'd been expecting a house elf and he was in shock, this was certainly not going well. "
Erm...Hello." he managed to sputter out.
"Potter." She acknowledged him, and lead him into the house.
The manor looked somewhat like Harry expected, depressing color scheme, pompous tapestry, and decade old furniture. Check, check and check. They approached a room and Narcissa motioned for him to enter. Harry entered somewhat warily. Lucius Malfoy sat at a desk, his back to Harry.
Harry couldn't even say anything, he was nervous to say the least.
"For Merlin's sake Potter why don't you get your wand out of your bloody arse and-"
"I came to ask you for your son's hand in marriage." It came out in one fell swoop and Harry somewhat sighed in relief. He had done what he intended to do. Lucius, on the other hand, nearly fell out off his chair. He was clearly not expecting such a request.
"What?" He asked Harry, dumbfounded.
"Well, I asked you if I could marry your son and then you nearly fainted." Harry said starkly. The nerves and jitters were gone, and now all that remained was just pure sarcasm. Lucius sneered, leaning up against his desk.
"No, what made you think I would say yes." Lucius sneered at his only somewhat-former rival.
Harry didn't even bat an eyelash, "I didn't think you would. But before you answer you should consider your son's happiness." Lucius scowled at him, Harry bit back a smirk. When Draco scowled at him, he knew he had won.
"Don't lecture me about my own son. Why would you even come here?" This time
Harry didn't even try to hide his smirk, "Because this is some old custom, and that sort of stuff means a lot to him so therefore it means a lot to me." Lucius looked pissed, but something made his expression calmer, "Him...happy with you?" He scoffed. "Get out of my sight."
Harry just rolled his eyes, "Well, I'm still going to propose. It would mean a lot to him if you said yes." Harry said on his way out. They walked in silence back to the front door.
"May I see it?" She asked in a matter of fact manner.
"See what?" Harry asked a confused expression on his face.
"The ring." She replied impatiently.
"Oh-" he said fishing it out from his pocket. He'd just been on his way back from the jewelers. He handed the black velvet box to her and even she could not hide her surprise.
"It's so simple." She scoffed.
"Not really, hold it in the light." Harry said. She took it out of the box and held it up and the appearance of the ring changed from that of platinum to the shimmer of emeralds. She gasped, then regaining her composure.
"This ring's quality is high enough that it could sit comfortably on my son's finger." She added cooly before putting the ring back in the box and handing it back to Harry. "
"Treat it well." She said opening the door.
"I will," Harry replied before leaving the manor a bit more nervous then when he entered.
"Holy shit. Harry you're a bloody genius. you just owned Malfoy at his own game!" Ron gave Harry a crooked grin.
"Ron!" Hermione said shooting her fiancée a wary look.
"Don't you think you went a little..overboard?" She asked Harry, raising her eyebrow.
"Whatever," Ron interjected "It's not like he's going to start calling him Dad and visit the Manor all the time." At this Ron and everyone started to laugh hysterically at Ron's joke, everyone imagining that scenario, even Harry had to laugh.
"Oh, but do continue please! I find this all so interesting!" Luna asked smiling. Ron and Harry shot Neville a glance which made him blush. Hermione glanced at Ron, Harry decided the story should continue. "So, what happens next is what happened today...and well...it's interesting."
"Draco, you ready yet?" Harry called from the couch. He emerged in the door frame, dressed in very formal attire.
"As much as I do love fancy dinners, do we have to? Oh Merlin, I'm starting to sound like you." Harry looked away from the muggle TV, sometimes he forgot just how handsome his boyfriend was. Harry corrected himself, fiancee, well it would be after tonight anyways, hopefully.
Draco wore a dark grey muggle suit, the collar of the dress shirt underneath it undone, and he wasn't wearing a tie. His hair was short,and combed back. A few stray pieces managed to fall from it lightly floating around his face.
"Have I got something on me?" Draco asked looking at his suit, he must have noticed Harry staring at him.
"No, it's nothing. Besides, you make sounding like me out to be such a horrid thing. " Harry said.
"Oh, because it is." Draco said back smirking a little.
"So are we going or not?" He added as an afterthought.
"Yah, I'll be ready in a sec, just gotta find that damned jacket." Harry said as casually as he could. He was wearing a simple black suit with a simple black tie, nothing too fancy. Only he had taken his jacket off, it was uncomfortable after all, and now he had to go find it. He checked in the kitchen, were he found it draped over a chair by the door, he quickly pulled it on as he ran out the door, he didn't want to be late for this date.
They were seated at a very upperclass muggle restaurant in London, Draco sipping his wine casually and talking about various topics. All was well, that is, until the waiter came in.
"Well hello, I'm Dolli and I'll be your server today what can I start you off with?" she said looking at Harry.
"I'll have the Tortellini in the Alfredo sauce." Harry said giving her his menu.
"What about you handsome?" She said looking at Draco, who restrained himself from rolling his eyes.
"I'll have the Shrimp Carbonara with the angel hair pasta." He said casually.
"Sure thing." She said grinning at him. As she walked away Harry glared at her, she was just a muggle after all. Draco laughed into his wine glass.
"What's so funny 'handsome'?" Harry asked imitating their server.
"The look on your face, who would have thought Harry Potter could get so jealous? Well, I am a worthy prize." He said grinning from ear to ear, Harry just smiled and shook his head.
"What ever shall I do with all this beauty?" Draco said half-mockingly.
"Shove it up your arse." Harry responded cooly.
Draco smiled and leaned towards Harry, "You would like that wouldn't you?" he cooed.
Harry chuckled, "Only from you." This made Draco smile and lean back in his chair. they were interrupted by a small coughing noise.
"Refills anyone?" Dolli said looking at Draco. "No thank-you." Draco said politely.
"You sure?" she said leaning in closer to him. His deamnor remained unchanged.
"He said no thank-you." Came a venomous reply from the other side of the small table.
The waitress frowned and left, "Now I remember why I'm gay." Harry said shaking his head causing Draco to snort. "I can see why." Harry laughed in spite of himself, he wasn't going to let some creepy lady ruin this night.
They talked for a few minutes about Quidditch and who they thought was the best seeker. "Alright here's the Tortelleini and here's the Carbonara for you...feel free to call if you need anything else." She said batting her eyelashes at Draco.
Harry was giving her such a glare that it would have rivaled even one of Molly Weasley's.
"I don't think that will be necessary." Draco said nonchanlatly.
"Well if the need-" She started to respond.
"I believe my boyfriend said that he's fine." Harry said through clenched teeth.
Draco snickered as he watched her walkaway.
"What are you smirking at?" Harry said a little bitterly.
"The fact that you're so possessive...I think I see a little Slytherin coming out in you."
Harry smiled at him, "Only a trait you bring out."
Draco smiled, "Maybe I should stick around then."
Harry smiled back, going for the ring, "Draco listen you see I-" He stopped short eyes wide as he felt an empty pocket where the ring was supposed to be. He quickly checked the other side, but nothing. No box no ring. Nothing.
"Where is it?" He said in a panicked voice patting himself down.
"Where's what?" Draco said confused.
"Oh Merlin not now! How could I have possibly lost it!" Harry said standing up and looking around, only to find there was no velvet box to be found.
"What did you loose?" Draco asked.
"It's important-I was holding onto it for Neville!" Harry lied.
"Is it at home?" Draco asked trying to calm Harry down.
"I-I don't know!" Harry said panicking. Draco took some money out of his pocket and threw it on the table. Grabbing Harry and tugging him out of the restaurant into a back alley where they apparated in front of their door. Harry fumbled for his keys flinging open the door and rushing inside He couldn't have lost it. He began frantically checking all over the kitchen. Draco followed him-unsure of what they were looking for. He stepped on a black velvet box, he didn't recognize it so he knelt down to pick it up. Whatever had Harry this worked up had to be very important.
"Is this it?" Draco called to Harry who was tearing apart the living room. Harry rushed over to find Draco on his knee holding a small velvet box up to him. He started laughing.
"What's so funny? You looked like you were freaking out a minute ago." Draco asked him confused.
"You'll see," Harry said pulling Draco to his feet.
"Now you stand here, I'll take that." He said gently taking the velvet box from his boyfriend. Harry knelt down and it hit Draco like a ton of bricks.
"Draco Lucius Malfoy will you do me the great honor of becoming my husband?" Harry said smiling up at Draco who was flushing more then normal.
"I-you...well yes of-of course!" Draco managed to sputter out. Harry took Draco's and and removed the ring from the box and slid it onto Draco's ring finger. The ring seemed to glow brighter and then faded back to normal. It was a shinning platinum ring inlaid with emeralds that only appeared if the ring was turned a certain way. It had cost Harry a fortune but the look on Draco's face was priceless as he stared at it open mouth.
"Harry..." He said softly looking at his fiancee. His fiancee. The words hit Draco and he pulled Harry to his feet and hugged him so tightly.
"I love you." He said.
Harry laughed lightly, "I love you too. Draco Potter." Draco pulled back.
"You know that's not happening." He said, causing Harry to chuckle.
"But Harry Malfoy totally is." Harry made a face which caused Draco to laugh. they both got a bit more serious as Harry leaned in and stroked Draco's cheek. Caressing the skin, he pulled Draco towards him and their lips met in a passionate kiss, "Hell drinks with Hermione and Ron can wait, this is much more important." He thought turning all his attention back to Draco-his fiancee.
"That was so romantic!" Luna said dreamily, resting her head in her hand.
"Where is your fiancee anyways?" Hermione said glancing around.
"He had some business to finish up, something important he had to see to." Harry responded nonchalantly.
"Saw too." Draco said appearing behind Harry.
"Blimey why do you always do that?" Harry asked greeting his fiancee with a quick kiss.
"Just how we Slytherins are." Draco responded pulling a chair up next to Harry.
"So what business?" Ron said trying not to glare.
"Things." Draco said as Harry slung an arm around Draco's shoulders, Draco leaning into Harry.
"Kinda shady if you ask me Malfoy." Ron said.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "Sorry, beer makes him angry..or lovey dovey...you can never really tell which." They all laughed.
Harry and Draco caught each other's glances and leaned into kiss before they were interrupted by a "Hey! Obey the rules!" said a drunker by the minute Ron. They sighed, they all had agreed not to kiss in public since it freaked them all out. No one wanted to see their childhood friends tongue's in someone else's mouth after all. Everyone had to obey the rule Ron and Hermione, Neville and Luna and Dean and Ginny.
"Who slipped it in his drink?" Harry asked. His gaze falling on a giggling Ginny.
"Ok, I admit it." She said owning up to the fact she'd put a Beer Better into her brother's drink. Beer Better was a Weasley Wizard Wheeze that made a person go through the stages of becoming drunk much more quickly than it actually took.
"Oi You were late! Why were you late?" Ron said to Harry, who blushed. Draco rolled hie eyes. "We were having sex Ronald."
Ron nearly choked on his beer. "To much info. Way to much. So-then. Why were you late?" He said glaring at Draco. Draco huffed.
"Fine..." He grumbled taking a velvet maroon box out of his pocket and giving it to Harry, "Your friends never quit do they?" He whispered in Harry's ear. Harry opened it revealing an exact replica to Draco's ring except gold instead of platinum and rubies instead of emeralds. Draco gently took the ring and glided it onto Harry's finger, followed by a kiss that had been previously interrupted.
"Hey no-!" Ron started before he was cut off by his own fiancee, Hermione. Draco nuzzled into Harry's neck sighing contently. All the girls were ogling the romantic moment while Ron, Neville and Dean preferred to avert their eyes. When the moment was over all the girls made Harry and Draco show them the rings. Even the guys had to admit they were stunning, not to gaudy not to simple.
"Is there an enchantment on it?" Ginny asked, holding Harry's ring in her hand. "I think there is." Hermione said holding Draco's in hers. "There is. But it's our secret." Draco replied.