A/N: It's so sad to say good bye, but welcome to the last chapter of Romeo, Romeo! Thanks to everyone who read and especially to everyone who reviewed. Sorry I've been such a horrible updater, but you guys stuck with me anyway, so thanks for that also! Okay, go and read it now!
The common room looked quite different only a week later, with the war between the houses over. Once again laughter rose up from the assembled Gryffindors, and the conversations flowed and ebbed through the air comfortingly. George stood in one corner, surrounded by a group of students as he demonstrated the effects of their newest stink potion, and pointed out the new warning labels on the side of each package of Skiving Snackboxes. Fred stood off to the side, sucking lightly on the tip of his sugar quill between orders. Near the fireplace, Ron sat across a table from Hermione, examining the wizard's chess table between them as thoroughly as Napoleon might have a map of Waterloo. Dean had claimed the sofa nearby, a sketchbook balanced on the arm as his pencil made rapid movements across the paper, neither item so strange to the other wizards as to draw attention anymore.
If one stood on the staircase from the boys' dorm and just looked for a few moments, as Harry was now, it would all seem perfectly normal. But there were differences, subtle or otherwise, and Harry smiled as he let his gaze wander around the warmly colored room.
Seamus was stretched out on the sofa, his head pillowed in Dean's lap as he grinned and waved his arms animatedly, going on about something or other that had happened in his never boring day, and Dean nodded with a small smile, though anyone could tell he was only half listening. Lavender had taken over a portion of the room and female Gryffindors of all years lined up for a free makeover, taking the fashion advice and hearty gossip that came with spending any amount of time in the chatty girl's presence.
The room erupted into a wave of greetings as Ginny and Lee came through the portrait hole, engaged in an argument over which of them would date Blaise Zabini. It ended quickly when Seamus shouted from across the room in no uncertain terms that, lacking the proper equipment, Ginny couldn't even hope to hold Blaise's attention long enough to ask the boy out for a butterbeer, much less a date. Lee, mature as ever, stuck his tongue out at the red-head.
And perhaps best of all, Hermione was sitting back victoriously in her chair as Ron stared dumbfounded at the chess table, where his pieces lay in ruin as he mentally reviewed the game in his head. "Again!" he demanded, his face turning the same brilliant shade as his hair as he displayed that unique brand of stubbornness that only a Gryffindor could possess. Even a Hufflepuff would have been wise enough to accept defeat after the first thirty-two losses. Hermione shrugged and helped to repair his pieces before setting back up. She threw Harry a grin from across the room, which Harry returned. Who could begrudge the girl her victory? She was the only person to ever beat Ron at Wizard's Chess after all.
Harry began to make his way through the groups of students to the fireplace, glancing down at the sketch Dean had been working on. He smiled and Dean looked up at him, holding a finger to his lips. Harry nodded his understanding. It was obvious that Dean had been working for some time on the drawing of Seamus in his Mercutio costume, if the detail was anything to go by, and if he wanted to keep it to himself, who was Harry to insist otherwise? He stood by and watched a few minutes of Ron and Hermione's game. It didn't take even that long for him to know that Ron was going to lose once again. His angry flush was still on his face, and he ran his hand through his hair again and again, a sure tell that his confidence was failing.
"Hey, Harry, don't you have a date?" Seamus paused his story long enough to remind him. As if he would have forgotten. But Harry grinned at him and nodded his head. He'd spent so long worried about his friends and what they'd think of his being in love with another guy, and a Malfoy to boot, that he was still getting used to the idea that they were perfectly okay with it.
"We just want you to be happy, Harry," Hermione had told him a few days ago. "And it' s obvious that you are."
Ron had wrinkled his nose with disgust. "Though how you can be happy with that snobbish prick is beyond me." Harry had laughed, because years of animosity were hard to overcome, and because Ron just didn't know what he did.
Seamus had simply offered advice that made Dean blush, Ron look sick, and Harry's ears burn before Hermione managed to stifle the boy's mouth under a pillow. "Not appropriate in front of a lady, Finnegan," she'd exclaimed, and only removed the pillow when Dean pointed out that she was coming awfully close to suffocating the boy.
Waving to his friends, a gesture that went mostly unnoticed, Harry moved toward the portrait hole, dodging a small group of puffskeins and the two first year girls that chased after them. Unfortunately, the move put him right in the path of the Creevey brothers who called out "Hello, Harry," so in tune that they could have, and probably should have, been twins and the too bright flash of a pair of cameras going off.
Harry cursed under his breath. "Hello, Colin. Hello, Dennis," he intoned, though he wasn't sure they were even still there, and he pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes. It didn't stop the multi-colored spots from flickering across his line of sight and Harry sighed as he reached out and felt his way through the portrait hole. He managed to push the portrait open without incident and was silently congratulating himself when he tripped and fell out the entrance.
He knew a moment of panic and flung his arms out in a desperate attempt to regain his balance. It was an unnecessary move and Harry smiled as he recognized the arms that caught him about the waist, saving him from a surely painful collision with the stone floor of the hallway. "The little Creevey or the even littler one?" Draco asked softly in his ear as he helped Harry stand upright, and Harry could hear the smile even if it was still a little difficult to see it.
"Both," he replied and grinned when he felt Draco's hand slide down his arm to twine their fingers together. He let Draco lead him along silently for a few moments, but there was a question he'd been longing to ask, and Harry felt that the time had finally come for him to put it into words. "Draco,' he started and grimaced a bit at the weakness in his voice. This was what Malfoy did to him! But Draco was watching him, gray eyes warm with what Harry could recognize as affection and he smiled. "When the twins played that truth prank on your house, you said there were things you needed to keep secret."
Draco's hand on his tightened, and Harry was surprised when the other boy stumbled slightly. When he looked up, Draco was focusing straight ahead. He knew what the sudden tenseness meant, but he couldn't believe it! Draco Malfoy was visibly nervous. Well, now he just had to ask, didn't he? "What would you have said, you know, if someone had said toffee to you?" And there it was, almost invisible in the dim light put off by the torch glowing softly a few feet away, high on his cheeks, just the faintest blush.
"None of your damn business," Draco answered quickly, and turned his head away.
But it was too late. Harry had seen enough for his curiosity to kick in and he grinned. "Come on, Draco. Toffee. Toffee! Please?" he pleaded teasingly, and pulled at Draco's arm. He saw the taller boy roll his eyes, the only warning he got before he was pushed against the wall and Malfoy's mouth pressed against his. It was delicious and warm, vanilla and mint, and there was no way he'd let it distract him, no matter how fuzzy his thoughts were becoming! He pushed at Draco's chest, pulling away. "No fair, Draco," he protested, but it didn't stop the barrage of kisses his Slytherin pressed to his cheeks and neck. "I said toffee, and please! That should get me something. At least a hint."
"No talking," Draco whispered and turned Harry's face to him, "unless it's to tell me how amazing I am."
"But…" Harry was cut off when Draco kissed him again, running his tongue over the seam of Harry's lips before pushing past them. And Harry welcomed it, the firm warmth that stroked inside his mouth. It was everything that was Draco, hard and hot and possessive. He let his eyes close, resting his hands on Draco's hips and pulling him closer as he leaned back against the wall. Harry could feel the other's pleasure as he responded, flicking the tip of his own tongue to meet Draco's. Long fingers curled in his hair, and an arm circled his waist tightly.
Then Draco pulled away, and Harry followed, his eyes flying open at the soft husky chuckle the move inspired in his partner. Draco dropped his forehead to Harry's, still smiling as he confessed, "I love you, Harry Potter."
Warmth spread through Harry's entire being and his heart felt so light he was sure it would have flown away if it could be free from his chest. He smiled, because he couldn't help it, and reached up to frame Draco's face with his hands, pressing their lips tightly together, because he couldn't help that either. He leaned back, only the slightest, and rested his head on Draco's shoulder. "Was that your secret?"
He didn't have to see to know that Draco was rolling his eyes. It was clear by the annoyed sigh that came so close to his ear. The Slytherin took a step back then turned on his heel and began to stride towards the staircase. Even so much as a week ago, Harry would have suspected that the other teen was angry, but now, with his eyes on his love, Harry could tell Draco was only teasing him. So he followed, jogging a bit to catch up, until he walked in step with the blond. "So when will you tell me?" he asked, finally breaking the silence a few moments later.
Draco shook his head, but smiled and threw an arm over Harry's shoulder. It wasn't the answer he wanted, but the arm resting heavily on his shoulder would be enough, for now. Besides, he was too brilliantly happy to pursue this topic any further, especially when he knew the room of requirement to be just down the next flight of stairs and to the left. If he figured it just right, Draco would be in for a good surprise.
A/N: And that's all. Thanks to SunshineAndDaisies, Ibbet, Slytherin Hybrid, AnimeFreak2468, farwalker, AlineDaryen, DarkWiccanPrincess, purplerawr, paintupurple, LyricallyInspired, HDMmad, Lady-Umbreon, TheSlashBunny, RebeccaMarieCullen, Caldonya, PrincessPurity, dress up romance xx, nowle, Twinfetish, and narubleone for the lovely reviews! Again, thanks for reading and bye, everyone!