A/N: Ok, so I know it's been a while since I've updated, but I've been busy moving onto an apartment, so I do have an excuse. I apologize. So this chapter you finally learn why Harry and Draco are being forced to marry! Squee!
IMPORTANT! READ THIS BEFORE PROCEEDING! The Weave mentioned in the prophecy is actually a reference to another book series. It's actually from Forgotten Realms. The Weave is what gives power to arcane magic, which is the closest thing to magic in Harry Potter that I can think of, so there. I don't own the Weave, or anything about it. If you want to know more about it I ca tell you, but I won't put it up here for people to get annoyed with me over. Anyway, enjoy!
Draco took a deep breath and took the parchment from Harry and scanned through until he found the prophecy. As he read, he calmed and became more and more somber. He looked up at Harry and Hermione. "Oh shit…."
Chapter 3
"You can't be serious about this. That's impossible! And how Harry and I getting married fix it? I don't understand!" Draco threw the parchment on the coffee table, and ran his hands through his hair.
"If you would read the entire report, maybe it would explain it," said Hermione, snatching up the parchment and handing it back to the blonde.
He took it from her and read.
The full prophecy regarding Mr. Harry Potter and Mr. Draco Malfoy is as follows:
'Midsummer's Eve, the Art shall be lost forever. The Weave shall be destroyed, and magic will be untamable by witch, wizard, Squib, or Muggle. Powers will be lost, and Nature shall take back what is rightfully hers. Midsummer's Ever shall be the end of all magic. Midsummer's Eve shall see the fall of magic and a return to Nature. Midsummer's Eve shall see the destruction of the wizarding world. Should two bloodlines merge before then, Nature shall show mercy and the Weave shall stay intact. Bloodlines ancient must become one. One tied to the Hallows, the other tied to William I.'
As far as the Ministry is aware, Mr. Malfoy is the only living wizard with association with William I, and Mr. Potter is the only living wizard to have the fabled Hallows. The Ministry is adamant that the Hallows do not exist, however, it is known to the Ministry that Mr. Potter is descended from one of the original Hallow owners, Ignatius Peverell. Again, the Ministry is adamant that the Hallows do not exist, though some say otherwise. However, because Mr. Potter is the most likely candidate, it is by Ministry order that Mr. Potter wed Mr. Malfoy for the good of the wizarding world and take the name of Malfoy.
Draco looked up from the parchment after he finished, and stared at Hermione. "And you swear you didn't know why?"
"I had no idea. The only reason I was the one to tell you is because I know both of you and we're on relatively good terms," she explained.
Draco glanced at Harry and saw him with his head in his hands.
"I can't believe that I'm the one who has to save the wizarding world again."
"You're not the only one involved in this ok? Quit the pity party."
"And you weren't the one who was charged with killing Voldemort! Yeah, I wanted him dead, but I was a teenager. You don't do that to a teenager."
"And now we're both twenty three! Deal with it! It's not like I'm asking you to stay faithful to me. I don't want you, and the only reason I'm doing this is because if I don't, we're probably going to die."
"Oh, yeah, cheery isn't it? Being the world's savior?"
"Boys! Stop! At least try to get along? I know you don't want this, and who would? But it has to be done. You're going to have to deal with it whether you like it or not." Hermione glared at Harry, then Draco. "Now if you're quite finished, you have something to sign unfortunately stating that yes, you will go through with the wedding before Midsummer's Eve, and that you will make it look like youo want to be together." She produced another parchment and a quill, and offered it to Harry, who took it, albeit reluctantly. She pointed to where Harry had to sign, and after a moment of staring, he did. Draco signed, and Hermione took the parchment and flicked her wand. The parchment disappeared, off to the Ministry.
"Now, I have to be back at work soon. Why don't you two go do something together? Pretend to be happy with each other at least?"
Draco rolled his eyes, and Harry nodded. Hermione smiled and left. The blonde looked at Harry and raised an eyebrow at him. "So what are we to be doing today to appease her?"
"I dunno." Harry fell back onto the couch and covered his eyes with his arm. "It's a lot to absorb is all. I feel like I need to take a break from this whole thing." Draco was silent. Harry looked at him, lifting his arm to see the blonde. "I don't want to be alone though."
"Yeah, I get it."
"Get what?"
"You just don't want me to go for the appearances." Draco sat down in the chair again.
"No, I don't. I want you to be here because I like talking to you. But if you're going to be like that, just go." He slid his arm down to his stomach, watching Draco warily.
"Like what? What do you mean by that?" Draco demanded angrily.
"I hate it when you get all down like that. It's like you're assuming I don't want to be around you unless I've got an ulterior motive."
"Well what am I supposed to think in this situation?"
The raven sat up. "Look, I know it's weird, this whole thing, but just because I have to marry you, doesn't mean I have to enjoy being with you. And I do. Usually." Draco rolled his eyes. "Look, just because I have to marry you, doesn't mean I have to want to be around you. I could just say screw it and only hang around you when absolutely necessary. I don't have to stay faithful to you, because this isn't truly a relationship. It's more of an obligation. But I won't do that because I'm not that much of a douchebag. Unwanted or not, I'm not going to fuck this up on purpose."
"Well I apologize for not being the girl of your dreams," Draco sneered. "I'm sorry I can't be your precious Ginny, but you've got me whether we like it or not, and you're going to have to deal with it."
"I'm willing to deal with it just stop having such a pity party. I'm not going to just deal with your little mood swings all the time. I know I'm not the perfect example of a lack of mood swings, but I try at least, and…." Harry sighed. "Can we just forget about this? This whole argument?"
Draco glared at him for a moment, then sighed and nodded. "So what are we going to do today?"
"Well, if you're comfortable with it, I was thinking that we would finally go public with this. What do you think?"
As the couple reached The Leaky Cauldron, they took off their scarves and gloves, Draco held the door open for the raven, who blushed appropriately and looked down at the floor as he walked into the pub, though it wasn't an act. He was slightly embarrassed by the entire display, though they hadn't planned that part. Harry looked slightly up at Draco and saw him smirking slightly, which only made the raven blush even more.
"Ah, Mr. Potter! Mr. Malfoy! How nice to see you! What's your poison today?" called Tom from the bar.
"Just butterbeer thank you Tom. How's business been?" asked Harry as he sat down at the bar, Draco following.
"Pretty good considering the snow. Plenty of people want something warm when they're in Diagon Alley. And what about you? Have you been keeping busy?" he asked, handing them their butterbeers.
"Yeah, I've been pretty busy. There's not really anyone for to personally handle, mostly the rookies have been kept busy, but I have to hand out all the assignments for them. Mostly just routine stuff, but there have been a few instances from other departments that have needed our backup." Harry smiled as he finished and took a drink.
Draco smiled at Harry, and the raven blushed of course. Hoping to hide it, he took a swig of butterbeer, and, of course, choked on it. Draco, chuckling, thumped him on the back until he stopped sputtering. "I've been keeping him on his toes when he's not in the office as well." Draco laughed at the expression on Harry's face, one of shock, embarrassment, and mild horror.
"Ah, I heard about you breaking it off with the Weasley lass, Mr. Potter, and you with the Greengrass lady, Mr. Malfoy. What happened there, if it's not too much to ask."
Harry bit his lip and looked away, fighting to keep the tears from pooling. "I… moved on I guess you would say…."
"Nothing wrong with that. The world just thought you were to marry her the way you two were going."
"…I know…." The shame trickled into his voice, and Draco put his hand on Harry's shoulder sympathetically.
"That's pretty much what happened with Astoria and I as well. I moved on." Draco was much cleaner in his act than Harry was, though it was to be expected.
"Excuse me…." Harry got up and walked out into Diagon Alley, and leaned against the wall, knowing that Draco would follow eventually, and he was right.
"Harry… what's wrong?" he asked when he was close.
"I just…. Tom was right. I was going to marry Ginny. I was actually looking for a ring when this whole thing happened…." Harry looked up at the dull grey sky, lightly snowing, and closed his eyes. "I loved her. I still love her…."
"…I know. I know I'm never going to be able to replace her. I know you're never going to be able to love me. Just like you know I'm never going to be able to love you. But… we can't keep dwelling on what we can't have anymore. I've been trying to move on since I broke the news to Astoria, and I can almost stand to hear her name now…."
"That's the thing Draco, I can't move on. She was everything to me."
"I know." The blonde reached out and took his hand. "I know it hurts, but sometimes we need to let go. This is one of those times."
Harry looked at him and gave a wavering smile. "Thank you Draco. I needed that."
"Of course." On an impulse, one that he knew coincided with their plan, he kissed the raven's cheek and led the blushing man back into the pub.
They made small talk with Tom and a few of the other patrons, but they were used to seeing Harry Potter, so most didn't bother them much. When they rose to leave, they paid their tab, and Harry, gathering his courage as quickly as he could, gave Draco a quick kiss. He knew several people had seen judging by the amount of noise and talk. He blushed violently and grabbed Draco's hand and dragged him out of The Leaky Cauldron.
When they reached Harry's flat again, Harry almost fell onto the couch. "Are we sane doing this? I mean, I know we have to, but why do we have to do it this way?"
"It's what the Ministry wants. We kinda have to listen. I know it's embarrassing, trust me I know, but it wasn't as bad I thought it was going to be. Considering everything, it went quite well I think."
"Yeah I suppose so…."
