Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Harry Potter it all belongs to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 8

Harry strolled into the Headmaster/ master manipulator's office. He was quite content with the way his day had turned out so far. Same wasn't true for those waiting for him in the said office. All the members of Order have managed to squeeze themselves in seemingly tiny office. Harry smiled, having expected nothing else. He gave a short wave to everyone and took a seat getting ready for an inquisition he was cheerfully looking forward to. He was no longer going to mince any words. He was murderously angry, at what these cretins and dregs of society had planned for him; or perhaps that was Dumbledore, the old duck.

"Harry," Dumbledore began in that quiet voice which a few years ago would have conveyed his deepest disappointment to his heart enough to kill him with guilt. Now, Harry was immune to it. Dumbledore of course didn't know that. "What happened today in the Diagon alley?"

Harry smirked. He remembered all these years when he had been corrected for not mentioning Snape's title. "It's Prince Harry now. " Snape's lips twitched. He too, was remembering the instances. "Voldemort," he ignored the collective sharp intake of breaths," had annoyed me enough. So, I called a duel. We dueled. He lost. I won. The Wizengamot had accepted the truce and there is no marriage proposal for me there. I won the title in the duel and I am Prince Harry now."

"Harry, it was impulsive and foolish. You could have died." Dumbledore exhaled sharply.

"It's Prince Harry and I didn't die. I didn't want to run either and seriously I have had enough; so we settled our differences like civilized Nobel wizards." Harry exclaimed angrily.

He stood up and glared. "The rest of you wanted me to either accept that bastard's proposal or run away." The Order members began to fidget nervously in their seats. "Your lot isn't happy that my life is no longer in your creepy inefficient hands. I am happy for it. My royal guard is arriving this afternoon and I expect you to host them in the castle properly as advocated by the Wizengamot this morning. Thank you, headmaster Dumbledore." With a last glare Harry swept out of the stunned meeting.

A fuming Harry trampled down the corridor he needed to cross to reach Gryffindor tower. He snarled the password and crawled in. A hush spread over the common room as soon as the students realized who had walked in.

One by one they began to bow. Harry was startled for a second; then, he gave a short nod in acknowledgement. He jerked his head towards Ron and Hermione who quickly followed him upstairs. Once in his dorm, he quickly silenced and warded the room and found himself buried in a mass of bushy brown curls.

"Oh Harry." He noticed that his best friend was trembling. He squeezed her in a hug to reassure her. Finally, she let go and immediately began to check him for injuries asking him if he was alright.

"I am fine Hermione." He scowled at his other best friend who was laughing sitting on his bed. He pushed her onto the bed and sat down beside his two best friends. "I was just sick and tired of running all the time. I just wanted it to end. So, I went of looking for him and I won. It's all right."

"Why did you really do it? I heard Moody ranting about how you were supposed to take a portkey to some other continent and train there so that you could fight later."

Harry looked his two best friends in the world and bit out." They made arrangements so that a proposal of my marriage with Draco Malfoy was formalized and accepted on their behalf."

"WHAT??" two extremely irate voices rang through the dorm. His friends were understandably incensed and he felt vindicated. He nodded. Hermione hugged him again. This time Ron joined.

"Those wankers sold you to the enemy." His friend growled dangerously. He was still in shock. Harry grinned and nodded. It was extremely funny to watch his friend's reactions now that everything was over and done with. He had no desire to know what would have happened had he not found out in time. He sent a silent thanks to his now alive Potion's master.

"I was warned in time but I was just too angry. Dear old headmaster arranged for me to run. I am tired and sick of this dodging and hiding. So, I went to end it. I have been practicing and training in the room of requirement for a while now. It worked out. Frankly I think Tom threw the duel."

"Why?"

"I think, he thought I would be a more valuable asset once the negotiations with Wizengamot were complete. Effectively, this would bring an end to the war too. Dumbledore needed me to rally support for his side and now he had lost it there is no more war; just political treaties and truces and everything is done. " He smirked.

"Harry, are you sure." Ron asked.

He smiled genuinely for the first time in the morning. "Couldn't be worse than staying in a cupboard for ten years." They fell together in a group hug supporting each other.

'It was over.' They thought as they lay together.

hope you enjoyed.