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******** ******** Chapter 6 ******** ********
When the sun rose the next morning, Harry couldn't wait to get to breakfast and see if Draco got the letter telling him about Harry's 'choice'. Ron and Hermione woke soon after he did so he waited until they were ready.
"So, how'd it go with the in-laws, Harry?" Ron asked as the portrait closed behind them.
"Not as bad as it could have, I guess. Lucius is under some misguided impression that I hate Draco and will abuse him at the first opportunity." Harry rolled his eyes while scratching the back of his neck.
"Well, you set him straight, right?" Hermione questioned him with a sharp look.
"Of course I did, Mione; as did Draco himself." Harry nodded earnestly as they waited for the next staircase to move. "I told them all how I wished I could do it right…how I wished it were less of a business proposition and more about the two of us personally."
"So…what – then? He didn't believe you?" Ron asked in disbelief. "You're the one with good reason not to trust them, not the other way 'round."
"I don't think he did, Ron." Harry answered with a mockingly sad shake of his head. "Oh, but you didn't hear the best part! In an effort to chaperone us and keep his son 'safe', Lucius has graciously invited me and Draco to spend the Christmas holiday as well as the first week of the summer holidays at the Manor."
Hermione paled as she recalled their 'visit' to Malfoy Manor last spring. "Oh, dear Merlin!"
Ron held her hand and caught her as she swayed where she stood. "It's alright, Mione; calm down. You're safe."
"I was so shocked that I just stood there, but Draco – you guys should've seen it – he put his foot down and absolutely refused to return to the Manor until it's a totally different place. They'll be renovating it just so he'll be willing to visit." Harry said rubbing her arm soothingly. "I do hope it takes a while, though."
"With magic it won't take more than 6 months to tear down and rebuild it, Harry." Ron told him as they helped Hermione get down to the Great Hall. "The best you can hope for is Easter holiday."
Harry sighed and looked at all of his fellow Gryffindors as the food began to appear. A glance at the Slytherin table told Harry that Draco had gotten his mail and the return letter from the ministry was in it because he was staring back. He waved at the other boy – he wouldn't really think of himself or Draco as men until they were married.
The blond smirked back and lifted the page.
Harry grinned and motioned with his head for the other boy to come over. He could see Draco considering it while looking at his dorm-mates and back at Harry but then he stood up and walked over to Harry's side.
"Are we being public about this?" Draco asked quietly. "Should I sit or should I just tell you what I need to and pretend to my house that we only have an understanding?"
Harry cleared his throat. "I'd like to be public…if you don't mind."
"I agree that it is best for us to refrain from hiding this – it will become public knowledge soon enough." The blond nodded his acceptance and smoothed his robes as he sat after calling his things to follow him. "Well, this is the letter telling me I've been chosen by you. I've signed and now I just have to owl it back to the proper office, but I thought you'd like to see it."
Harry smirked as he read the words.
Dear Mr. Draconis Lucien Malfoy,
Your original form has been reviewed and your name has been placed upon the appropriate list. You have been categorized as a submissive male seeking Dominant male partner. As such, you became a candidate for the role of our Savior's life partner and Mr. Harry James Potter has indeed chosen you to have the once in a lifetime honor of becoming his husband. You have only to check the box next to yes or no and sign your full name to accept or deny his offer.
Please do so and post your reply promptly to allow enough time for him to choose someone else in case of denial. Thank you and have a lovely day.
Mafalda Hopkirk
Ministry of Magic, Department of Marriage and Families
Harry snorted lightly upon seeing that the words 'no' and 'deny' were in bold – as if that would influence the letter's recipient to choose those boxes.
"Of course, they've worded it so it sounds like you're doing me an enormous favor by requesting my hand but what can we expect from those twits at the Ministry." Draco rolled his eyes and straightened his tie while picking at a piece of toast. "I'm 'the Chosen one's chosen one…" He snickered.
Harry smiled at the sight of Draco's signature while hearing the sarcasm in his voice. "I owled a meeting request to the Minister's office as well as McGonagall's to discuss what we talked about yesterday…but I think we should make some kind of announcement here as well." Harry told Draco as they both began to eat.
"What did you speak about yesterday, Harry?" Ron asked raising an eyebrow.
"We want to get married on Halloween and that's the very last day the law allows for." Draco quietly answered because Harry had his mouth full.
"When did you change your name to 'Harry' Malfoy?" Ron frowned at him pausing in mid-scoop of some eggs into his mouth.
Draco rolled his eyes but let Harry answer.
"Being that I don't want to rush things with Draco and Halloween is his favorite holiday…ending at his favorite ball, I thought I'd have a talk with certain key people about the timing of everything." Harry smirked and met Hermione's gaze across the table. "That's all."
"Oh! That's so sweet, Harry! You're trying to give him a bit of romance!" She gushed.
Ron snorted in amusement. "Well, I thought they'd make you get married first and we would be next – and so on."
"Yes – that's what we thought also, but I'm going to talk Kingsley into going the opposite way." Harry told them his plan and they loved it.
A brown barn owl came winging in to land next to them.
"It's for you, Harry." Draco told him. "It has the Minister's personal seal and McGonagall's also."
Harry looked up at the Headmistress. She wasn't looking back so he just opened the letter and sighed with relief. "They've accepted my request and they'll both be in the Headmistress' office after breakfast. Would you like to join me, Draco?"
"No, thanks; I have Arithmancy class." The blond said – in effect giving Harry his first challenge of their new relationship. "Just let me know what gets decided, please."
Harry nodded. "And about that announcement…?"
"You decide…or ask the Headmistress what she thinks." Draco suggested with a shrug as he picked up a slice of apple from the fruit dish and began to nibble on it.
Harry smirked as stood and discreetly approached the Headmistress. His friends could see him speaking to her.
She nodded and waited for him to retake his seat before she stood and cast Sonorus. "Ladies and Gentlemen, quiet please!" As soon as the students got quiet, she went on. "I have an announcement to make. All students from the sixth and seventh years have received a letter telling them about a new law passed by the Ministry…a marriage law. Our Savior, Harry Potter, is not above such laws, but has been given the right of choice. He has just informed me that he and his fiancé wish to make it known to all of you. Please give them a round of applause: Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy!"
Harry and Draco stood and waved to their friends and schoolmates. The Slytherins appeared truly shocked and scandalized as they politely clapped, but most of the Gryffindor table applauded instantly while the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws looked confused but clapped anyway.
The meal went too quickly for Harry but it wasn't a matter of being unprepared. He knew what he wanted to say to both Kingsley and Minerva at their meeting; he just wished for a few more minutes with Draco and his friends.
Now that Draco's wit had turned to flirting instead of insults, Harry was beginning to enjoy it and the other boy's company. He'd taken note of something that worried him though. Draco hadn't eaten much at all that day but Harry'd seen him pig out just yesterday morning. He resolved to watch Draco's eating habits more closely because that would have to change if he wanted to have a healthy husband and child. If it was just an occasional thing, Harry would understand because he'd had days where he wasn't all that hungry.
The Gryffindor resolved to speak to the blond about it even as he walked quickly down the corridor toward McGonagall's office and was happy but unsurprised to see that both of the people he wanted to speak with were already there.
"Good morning, Harry," Minerva McGonagall greeted him.
"Harry! Good to see you! How have you been, young man?" Kingsley greeted him with a big smile and hug.
"I'm well, Minister. I was so happy to hear that you got the position!" Harry told the older man.
Kingsley grinned widely at him. "Yes, I got your letter the day after the election. Thank you, Harry!"
"What did you want to see us about, Harry?" McGonagall prodded the conversation forward.
Harry nodded her way. "Right, thanks… I don't know if you heard, Kingsley… Due to the new marriage law, I've had to choose a spouse. I've chosen Draco Malfoy."
"Malfoy? Death Eater – Lucius Malfoy's son? Didn't you hate him, Harry?" The Minister asked, incredulous.
"It was never really hate. I hated the way he acted; the way he treated my friends and so on, but not really him." Harry smiled sadly. "Besides, that was his father's influence. What I want to talk to you about is…Well, I was hoping to date and have a little romance and such but the way things worked out, that isn't going to happen…so I was wondering if you – as the Minister – could see fit to allow for us to choose the wedding date and have that date for ourselves."
"What date were you thinking of, Harry? Halloween is the last day the law will allow the marriages to take place." Kingsley looked worried.
"Exactly…" Harry smiled. "You see, Kingsley, my parents died on Halloween and many of my past Halloweens have either been terribly sad or absolutely horrific…On the other hand, Halloween is Draco's favorite holiday…"
McGonagall smiled. "You want to give him a Halloween wedding and allow the ball to be your own private reception; how romantic."
"Yes, Headmistress, but that's just the private reason. Kingsley, I know I'm in the public eye and have to have many reasons for doing things." Harry informed the older man. "The reason you can give the politicians is that me getting married on the anniversary of my parent's death will allow me to reclaim that date for something good. It'll make me feel closer to them as well as make my fiancé happy."
"I see…You're not just trying to put it off as long as possible to avoid the issue?" The Minister asked.
"No, sir, I just don't want to rush him. Pure-bloods have traditions and the ministry has circumvented them in favor of this new law." Harry went on. "Personally, those traditions sound like a lot of fun except for the paperwork. If we're wed on Halloween, I'll also have a small window to court him which might give me a point or two with my future in-laws."
"I'm also a pure-blood, Harry – I know the traditions. I courted my wife and it was fun but, with the lack of births this year, the future is disrupted. I know you aren't thinking about this in the same context that the Wizengamut is but in eleven years there will only be fifteen or twenty new students in each magical school instead of the usual forty or fifty." Kingsley told him. "The magical community has been dealt quite a devastating blow. Voldemort killed many people of every blood status and we simply cannot allow that number to stand."
"Yes, sir; I understand that." Harry nodded.
"If we allow you to marry last, the rest of the magical world will not be happy, Harry. The wizengamut needs you to endorse this law or the public will object very strongly." The Minister didn't sound happy at all.
"I'll give an interview or press statement to that effect." He volunteered. "I can make it sound like it was your idea all along. 'The ministry proposes to make October a month of weddings', I'll say. 'The nuptial extravaganza will begin on the first of the month and culminate in the Halloween Wedding of Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy'. I can tell the reporters how terrible most of my Halloweens were and how I hope to change that by marrying a man who has always fascinated me on that day. I'll also tell them how I'm a horrible romantic and how much Draco loves Halloween. I'll even make personal appearances at all the weddings that take place here at Hogwarts."
Kingsley and McGonagall looked at each other. "I thought he was a Gryffindor, Minerva…but he sounds positively Slytherin."
"I like it." McGonagall nodded. "The ceremonies can start with the lesser known students and work up to the more publicly prominent ones. Harry and Draco will marry last on Halloween with much pomp and circumstance. The publicity will give the wizengamut nothing to complain about."
"I agree. Harry, I hope you don't mind but I'd like to promote this to them as my idea." Kingsley grinned and walked to the floo. "If they think it was suggested by an adult they'll be more likely to support it and you'll get what you want that much easier."
"Thanks, Kingsley." Harry beamed and said goodbye before running to meet Draco at his class.
Hermione and Draco walked out of the Arithmancy classroom very quickly and Harry had to reach out his hand to grab Draco's sleeve.
Hermione kept going but when he saw who it was, Draco stopped short. "So…?"
Harry grinned. "I had to promise a positive article for the papers, but otherwise…they bought it! Kingsley is pitching it to the Wizengamut as his idea."
"Well…you are just full of surprises, Potter." Draco smirked.
Harry blushed. "I try…Anyway, I was thinking that we could study together for the next couple of days and then maybe we could have our first date this weekend?"
"Hmmm…" Draco tapped his chin with his fist. "This weekend is a Hogsmeade weekend…"
Harry chuckled. "Yes, it is…"
The blond stared at him expectantly.
Harry rolled his eyes behind closed lids but then looked into his fiancé's molten silver ones. "Draco, would you please come with me to Hogsmeade this weekend?"
"I have a feeling I should make you work harder for this but…yes." Draco answered with a smirk. Then he kissed Harry's cheek softly and hurried away to his next class leaving a grinning Harry to stare after him.