******** ******** Chapter 7 ******** ********

Dear Mr. Harry James Potter,

Congratulations! This letter is meant to inform you that the young man whose hand you've requested has accepted your suit and his personal information is as follows.

Draconis Lucien Malfoy –
Parents: Lucius Hyperion Malfoy and Narcissa Annalisa Black
Birth date: June 5th 1980
Hogwarts House: Slytherin
Hair color: Pale Blonde
Eye color: Pale Blue/Grey
Height: 5 foot 5 inches
Weight: 56 kilograms

The date and time of your ceremony will be the late morning of October 31st and – as per your request – yours will be the only wizarding wedding that day. You will receive further details as to the location, date and time of the press conference you agreed to give.

Good luck with your marriage and thank you for complying with Ministry regulations,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Ministry of Magic, Department of Marriage and Families

Harry received the notice of Draco's acceptance the very next morning and the boys met several times before Saturday to study in the library with Harry's closest friends in attendance as well. These sessions involved Harry glancing at Draco when the blond didn't seem to be looking and Draco surreptitiously watching Harry glance his way. Harry accepted help with his potions homework while Draco admitted to not knowing the Patronus Charm and several of the other useful DADA spells. Harry, Hermione and Ron offered to help the Slytherin boy learn them – though the redhead only did so grudgingly.

When Saturday morning dawned, Harry couldn't wait to find Draco and escort him around town. Hermione had helped him pick his clothes the night before, so Harry just had to shower and get dressed. He stood in the shower and wondered if Draco was doing the same thing right now, but decided in the end that he should just hurry up and get down to the Great Hall to meet him instead. He finished dressing and looked in the mirror. He was wearing snug fitting muggle jeans and a hunter green long sleeved cotton shirt. Harry adjusted his collar, grabbed his favorite cloak and hurried to the door where Hermione was waiting.

"Ok, breakfast first, and then we're off to Hogsmeade!" She said with a large smile.

The Golden Trio grinned at each other and took some of the secret passages to get to the Great Hall this morning. Harry was sitting at the Gryffindor table reading an owl from Kingsley when Draco finally showed up.

The Malfoy heir looked perfect with a plain, white, long-sleeved t-shirt over tight, blue, dark-wash denim jeans and not a single platinum hair was out of place.

Harry smiled at his fiancé from where he was.

Draco smirked at the brunette but went over to the Slytherin table where he was faced with many stares – some quite hostile. There were several open seats on both sides of the dining table but when he tried to approach them the students on either side of the gap slid into his way. Warily he eyed his housemates.

Harry was still watching during this display and made to stand up, but Draco sighed and turned his back to them. Harry moved to grip his wand but none of the Slytherin students went for theirs so he welcomed the blond to sit with him before sitting back down. "Good morning, Draco," Harry said. "Are you alright?"

"What – that?" The blond asked. "I'm fine. This was not an unexpected reaction, Harry."

"It wasn't?" Harry frowned in confusion. "I didn't expect it."

"Is that from the Minister, Harry? What does he want?" Draco asked trying to change the subject.

"He's just telling me that the press conference will be tomorrow on the Quidditch pitch." Harry informed him. "I'll do most of the talking – of course – but you lot will answer some questions also. You're parents will be there, as well, Draco."

They sat in silence for a while before the food appeared in front of them.

"Draco, was that the Slytherin Slide?" Hermione asked gently.

"Yes, Granger; it was. It's a bit disconcerting to have it used against me since it was my great-great grandfather who came up with it." Draco reached for a piece of toast and began to shred it on a plate. "But they will likely do it at every meal until I get the picture that I'm no longer wanted there."

"Sorry – what's the Slytherin Slide?" Harry asked. "And you can sit with us if you like."

"Thank you, Harry...It happens when they – the Slytherin students – decide to snub one of their numbers. They deliberately leave large gaps at the dining table during meals. When the snub-ee gets close to one of those gaps, the students on either side of said gap pick up their meals and slide down the bench to block him or her from sitting." Draco explained as he started to pull a plate of chocolate cake toward him. "It's meant to punish someone who's done something disgraceful, or rather – something that's been deemed disgraceful by their opinions."

Harry blocked his hand. "Draco, there's something I need to talk to you about."

His fiancé looked up at him. "That sounds ominous…what is it, Harry? Can't I eat while you talk?"

"No, Draco – We need to talk about your dreadful eating habits." Harry sighed.

"I beg your pardon?" Draco glared at him in outrage. "I am perfectly well mannered and…"

"No – it's not your manners I object to." Harry lifted his hands in surrender. "It's what you eat and the quantity. I've been noticing that one day you'll eat next to nothing and the next day all you eat is sugary food or salty stuff. It's not healthy, Draco."

Draco looked at the cake again. "Sweets are my major weakness."

"I understand having a sweet tooth, Draco. Ron and me each have one too. I'm not asking you to give up sweets – just… please try to have a care with your health." Harry suggested.

"Why the bloody hell does it matter that my food choices aren't healthy? It doesn't affect you." Draco grumbled.

"It bloody well does affect me!" Harry hissed at the infuriating blond. "You're soon to be my husband and the father, erm, mother – or something – of my child! Our child needs you to be healthy!"

"I hadn't even thought of that…" The color drained from his face as Draco took a deep breath. "What do you think I should do?"

"Just give your body a bit of balance." Harry said pointing to his own plate. "Look, I've got pumpkin juice and orange juice here, with a veggie omelet for vitamins and protein. I had my buttered whole grain toast and one chocolate donut for sweets, carbs, dairy and fiber. Later, I'll put lettuce and tomato on a nice thick turkey or chicken sandwich… or something similar."

The blond nodded. "I see. You've a bit of everything, there."

Harry nodded. "If it's a special occasion, I'll allow myself an extra sweet or two during the day."

"Everything in moderation, Harry!" Hermione agreed.

"Sounds like something my mother said once." Draco muttered.

"Mothers are almost always right, Draco." She grinned.

Ron just rolled his eyes and kept digging into his large slice of cake.

"I'll take your suggestions into account, Harry…but not just now. I really want that chocolate cake." Draco moaned and pulled it to him.

Harry smiled. "As long as you promise to think about it and maybe slowly adjust…"

The Slytherin nodded silently as he savored the moist cake and, after the meal, Draco excused himself to visit his dorm for a little while before their date to Hogsmeade.

"Draco was fairly easy going about you taking the initiative in your relationship like that, Harry." Ron smirked. "When you pointed out his erratic eating habits and explained your worry, he just agreed to try and have a healthy breakfast from now on. I was fairly shocked!"

Harry chuckled. "I was a bit nervous to do it, but some things he said the other day made me think he'd appreciate it. Uh, mate? I've been wondering…What exactly is involved with this whole courting thing?"

"Oh, is that all?" Ron smirked. "It's just legally sanctioned dating, Harry. You have dates and you learn about each other. Gifts are usually given every month, but this is a shortened courting so maybe one per week would be better."

"Since we're still in school, you could have study dates." Hermione suggested. "Obviously there are also Hogsmeade visits…and we're in eighth year so you can do that any weekend you like."

"Dates and Gifts…?" Harry thought for a moment. "I know! I'll have to go to lots of weddings this month and I'll need a date! I'll invite Draco to join me and make sure we have a little time to ourselves after each one."

"Yes, I'm sure he'd agree." Hermione grinned.

"Gifts…He's rich what on Earth can I give him that he won't already have?" Harry lamented.

"Well, you could start with a conjured rose. It'll let you see where you stand in his eyes. I taught you that spell just after your birthday, remember?" She asked.

Harry did remember that. When he'd gotten the knack of it, he'd conjured one for her. It'd turned bright sunny yellow. That's when she'd listed off the meanings. Yellow meant friendship or brotherly love while pink signified happiness and family love. Blood red was for deep abiding love and blue meant obsessive love. Black would mean the person hated him and white was pure love. Lilac colored roses meant love at first sight and there was another one but he couldn't recall it just then.

"So, what are you guys going to do in Hogsmeade?" Harry asked.

"Just a little shopping, I think." Hermione smiled softly.

"You sure knew how to handle him, Harry. I'm glad you're getting what you want." Ron squeezed his shoulder. "Have fun today."

"I will…and hopefully he'll let me kiss him again." Harry blushingly told them.

"You snogged him? Why didn't you tell us?" Ron demanded.

Hermione hit his arm. "Do you tell him every time we snog? Harry – that's great! Did you both enjoy it?"

Harry couldn't put it into words so he just nodded and glanced at his pocket-watch. "Draco should be ready by now, guys. See you in town."

"Harry! Don't forget to conjure the rose!" She reminded him loudly when he was almost out of hearing range.

Harry sighed as he swished his wand in the correct pattern and said the incantation she'd taught him a few months ago when he'd confessed his desire to enter the dating world. The rose-bud appeared and hovered in mid-air. It was just a bud for now but when the person it was conjured for touched it, the small green bud would bloom in the proper color for the meaning of their relationship with the conjurer. Harry became excited to see the color it would turn for Draco, but he hurried back and kissed Hermione's cheek before rushing off with the rosebud in his grasp.

He bypassed a classroom where Peeves and Filch were arguing again and shook his head resolving to ask the Bloody Baron to intervene if he saw him. Harry had spoken to the Baron a few times before and the ghost had seemed nice enough, but he was hell to Peeves. He was just past the Great Hall and almost to the corridor leading to the Slytherin dorms when he heard voices from that direction.

"C'mon, Draco, why are you selling out this way? Your family was put on trial! You should hate Potter, not let him fuck you!" Harry recognized Blaise Zabini's voice.

"Vince died in that fire, Draco! How can you just stand by and marry the prick who left him to die?" Greg Goyle's voice stood out from the cacophony of noise for a moment.

"Draco, my father is in Azkaban because of Potter's testimony! I can't believe you would allow this travesty of a marriage! He should be reviled by every member of Slytherin!" Pansy Parkinson raged.

"Guys! Enough, already! I'm not selling out! My family was put through a trial, but Harry testified and we got released!" Harry heard Draco snarl. "You all know we weren't released because we were 'not guilty', but because Potter defended us and our indefensible actions. Pansy, you wanted to hand Harry over to Vol- Vol-." He took a breath and continued. "The Dark Lord and he even defended you in your trial! Vince died because he was careless, Greg; the Fiendfyre was too wild and he couldn't control it. Harry couldn't carry both me and Vince out so he left the one who'd just tried to kill him. Wouldn't you have done the same? Pansy, your father's in Azkaban because he committed crimes that were witnessed by whole crowds of people. It just so happened that the 'crowds' included Harry Potter. None of that is Harry's fault!"

Harry peeked around the corner and watched the crowd glare at his intended.

"Now, get out of my way! I'm leaving!" Draco huffed and stomped toward Harry. When Harry placed a hand on Draco's arm, the other boy stiffened in surprise. "Sorry, Harry. I forgot; I'll go get my cloak." Draco said, turning around.

"Wait, this is for you." Harry said quickly handing the rosebud over by the stem. "It's a courting gift…"

Draco looked intrigued. "Is this one of those spelled buds?" At Harry's nod, the blond smiled and touched the stem. It bloomed and turned yellow so they thought it meant friendship but as it left Harry's hands the tips of the petals turned red.

Harry suddenly recalled that this meant that their newfound friendship was already turning into love.

Draco smirked. "These should be our wedding flowers…"

Harry beamed. "I'll see to it, personally."

Draco stood at the portrait and Accio-ed his cloak. Then he tucked the rose into his lapel and turned back to his date. "I'm ready when you are."

They walked the grounds until they got to the gates. Harry looked around and seeing no other people around began to step through toward Hogsmeade.

Draco pulled him back and pointed at a beetle that was perched on a low tree branch. "Isn't that…?"

Harry sighed. "Yes, Draco…that is Rita Skeeter. C'mon, I know it's you!"

The beetle jumped toward the boys and transformed into the horridly annoying reporter. "Hello, Young Harry."

Harry rolled his eyes. "I believe you know Draco Malfoy?"

"Indeed; hello, young man." She said to the blonde.

"Harry, I thought the press conference was tomorrow…" Draco commented.

"It is, Draco. The Minister said I'd remain undisturbed until then but…" He glared at Rita. "You know Rita…"

"Now, Harry, you know I can't resist a good story." Rita admonished the Boy Who Lived.

"Well, here's your story, Rita: Harry and I are going to Hogsmeade for a few hours. Now, if you don't mind … Hogsmeade is waiting." Draco replied scathingly.

"Wait! Draco, did Harry give you that rose? Harry, was it a spelled rose? What does it mean?" Rita shouted, following them.

"I wish I had some Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder." Harry said to his date. "But if I used it here it'd probably make her fall into the forest or a pit or something that would get her hurt or killed." He paused. "You don't have any… do you?"

Draco looked to be suppressing a chuckle as he shook his head. "Not with me, Harry."

"Oh, well, maybe next time." He reasoned as they walked along. Suddenly, Harry noticed that Rita wasn't following them anymore so he turned around looking for the beetle. Sure enough, there it was at the hem of Draco's cloak. He shrugged and resolved to find a way to rid them of her at the first opportunity. The first signs of other students could be seen as a pair of girls walked out of the Three Broomsticks.

"Let's go to Honeyduke's first, Harry." Draco suggested. "I've been craving some Jelly Slugs and I haven't had a licorice wand in ages."

Harry grinned at him. "So, your sweet-tooth is pretty big, huh?"

"Yes, it's also a bit spoilt as I owl-order quite often." Draco smirked. "I like hot chocolate as well."

"I'm a big fan of chocolate myself, Draco. I like all forms of it and have some daily." Harry said as he held out a hand to open the door for Draco. "Just please remember what we spoke about at breakfast?"

Draco beamed. Even at the meal, Harry hadn't scolded him as his parents would've. His mother was always worried about him gaining weight while his father just thought he should earn his sweets with political maneuvers and other such things…but Harry just expressed his worry for Draco's and their future child's health. That was something the blond understood and felt comforted by.

"The chocolate cauldrons with Firewhiskey are so good!" Harry went on, obliviously. "But I think my absolute favorite sweet is chocolate frogs. They were also my first magical sweet ever."

"Really?" Draco asked. "What are muggle sweets like?"

Harry grinned, "Well, first of all they don't move!" They both laughed. "And there are no love potions in them, either."

"No, really; tell me." The blonde commanded.

The boys had talked for what seemed like ages about the differences between muggle and magical sweets when Ron and Hermione walked by the window.

"C'mon, Draco, I want to ask Mione about something." Harry said pulling him outside. "Hermione, I need your help with something!"

His friends stopped. "What is it, Harry?"

"I can't recall that spell you did when we wanted to CONTAIN that PRESS-ing BUG problem during fifth year." Harry said.

"Harry, what are you on about?" Ron asked.

"Oh, right!" She swished her wand to conjure the jar with Imperturbable and Unbreakable spells on it and then she looked around for Rita's animagus form. "You remember, Ron. That pesky flying insect problem we had…in fourth and fifth year…"

Ron's eyebrows went up as he also caught on.

"So did you SEE Draco's CLOAK? The detailed stitching at the HEM is lovely; isn't it?" Harry continued giving Hermione hints and she smiled as she caught sight of the pesky beetle and scooped it right up.

Ron smiled. "Rita just never learns, does she?"

"I'll take care of her, Harry!" Hermione grinned.

Harry grinned at them and said good-bye. "Draco, let's go get something to drink…"

The other boy got quiet. "Was the sweets shop just something inane to distract Rita while you waited for your friends?"

Harry frowned. "No, of course not, Draco; it was conveniently on the way to other things in town and gave us quite a lovely icebreaking topic of conversation. Didn't you think so too? Isn't that why you suggested it?"

"Yes, Harry." Draco said sounding uneasy. "Thanks…for buying me those slugs."

"Draco, please tell me what's wrong." Harry asked. "I get a sinking feeling that you don't believe me."

"I guess I just feel like something you've pushed under the rug." He looked intently at the floor.

"I just didn't want to do an interview for our first date, Draco. It's just not that romantic to me, but I promise that I'm not hiding you at all!" Harry took Draco's hand in his. "Now then…I know most people don't get jewels on their first dates but we do have a wedding coming up…"

The blonde chuckled. "You're not trying to buy me off with gifts are you, Harry?"

Harry sighed in relief. "That depends…would it work?"

"Maybe…" Draco's trademark smirk was back and Harry was glad to see it.

They stopped outside the jewelry store. "There's something I want to bring up before we go in."

Draco squeezed Harry's hand to encourage him.

"Marriage really means something to me…and I want it to mean something to my husband as well." Harry took a deep breath and looked into Draco's eyes. "I'm in this for the long term, Draco. Even if the ministry eventually repeals the law and allows the couples that were formed under it to divorce, I don't want that to happen with us. Do you understand?"

"Harry, I…" Draco started. He thought for a minute. His father wouldn't be happy if he agreed, but Harry had already begun to matter to him in many ways. "I think I do, Harry…"

"When I say my vows that day, I'll mean them…" Harry said softly. "Will you?"

Draco stared at the other boy for a moment. What he saw scared him. Harry seemed more vulnerable than Draco had ever seen him. He could sense a point of no return that hinged on his imminent response and knew he'd better mean what he said right now or Harry would be very upset. Suddenly, he realized that the thought of disappointing the boy in front of him in any way made him feel sad and almost desperate to find the right words. "Yes, Harry, I will."

Harry's smile blinded Draco. "May I kiss you?"

"You don't have to ask." The blonde whispered and leaned a little closer, already remembering the last kiss they'd shared.

Harry wrapped his arms around his fiancé. "I'll hold you to that." Their lips met softly.

Draco felt relaxed in Harry's embrace. He moaned into the other boy, enjoying his attentions until a throat cleared. Draco's eyes opened at once when he recognized the voice of person standing there. He pushed Harry away lightly. "Hello, Father; what brings you to Hogsmeade this lovely day?"

To my readers:

Thanks for keeping up with the story! It makes me very happy to see the reviews rolling in every day! Nobody mentioned the Ministry letter from last chapter. Was it not funny enough? Anyway...I was unable to respond to one review so I'll have to do it here…

Kb: I'm so glad you like the story and the way I write. You brought up three issues and I want to address them even though you don't have a PM account here.

I really am trying to keep the characters 'in character'. To me, Draco would be a 'sub' because although he was quite aggressive in the books and movies I think he always did as he was told – by his father – and he always relied on Lucius to defend his actions or get him out of trouble. As for drama - I'm not fond of it so I try to keep things mild. The drama comes from family members and friends rather than a 'bad guy'.

I also noticed the courting issue that you pointed out and decided that a pureblood heir needed to be courted in some fashion. In most fics Harry is the 'sub' and the 'sub' is the one getting courted however in MY fic you will find … uhmmm that would be spoiling the secret! You'll just have to keep reading!

You're right! I estimated the number of future students by how many there are in Harry's year but if you noticed, Harry's year had 9 – 10 students per House. I messed that up so thanks for pointing it out to me! Ten per house makes 40 students per year and there were 7 years to the Hogwarts curriculum which really gives us around 280 students total… but with Harry's year coming back there are 8 years and several students died in the war. Ten to twenty was too low but I was only off by about half and I've now fixed it!

Thanks for reading, kb, and please keep reviewing!