Happy Bank Holiday! Here is the final chapter. I will be doing an epilogue, however, so this is the penultimate update, I suppose. So, this is the beginning of the end. Thank you everyone for reading. I'll add special achknowledgements with the epilogue.

WARNING: FLUFF. SHEER FLUFF. IT MAY ROT YOUR TEETH.

I'm sorry, I tried to keep them in character here, but my fingers typed what they wanted. I hope you like it anyway...

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

"He's not here."

His voice was a resigned sigh, and the speaker sounded defeated and weak. "I was so sure he'd be here."

A consoling hand made their way onto the speaker's shoulders.

"There, there. I'm sure Draco is alright."

Blaise turned to look at Pansy, from where they stood at the entrance to the Slytherin common room. "Yeah, he should be. It was a bit of a stupid mistake, but he's in his own body now, so he should feel better soon."

Pansy nodded. "He'll be back soon. Besides, I think Potter's going to find him. That will cheer him up."

Blaise snickered. "Yeah. Draco can deny it all he wants, but there's no way that Potter will take no for an answer."

"Not that Draco doesn't desperately want to say yes, of course."

"Exactly. Prepare for another loved up couple, Pansy."

She rolled her eyes. "I really should start paying more attention to the Gryffindors. Seemingly everyone is dating one. Longbottom's gotten a bit fit, maybe I'll go and slip something in his drink tomorrow at breakfast."

"Pansy..." Blaise warned, "no love potions, they're sort of illegal."

"That was a joke, obviously. I don't need a love potion, I'll just put on a short skirt, and he'll come crawling to me."

"Yeah, you tell yourself that."

There was a resounding slap that echoed off of the walls of the common room. Blaise held his cheek and whimpered, convinced that Pansy had broken skin.

"Don't be such a wimp. Clean your face up, and come and wait for Draco to get back here with me."

Blaise sighed, resigned to his fate. "He could be gone for ages."

"Blaise."

"Fine, fine, fine. Let's just hope he rejects Potter so this will be quick."

Pansy slapped him again.

...

Harry was right. He knew exactly where Draco would be. He quietly made his way to the tree that overlooked the Black Lake. The dark sky set shadows over the grass, and was only illuminated by the light of the moon, of which a reflection sparkled across the water. Draco was sitting with his legs tucked up to his chest, and was looking at the water, taking deep breaths. His hair was ruffled from the transformation, less perfect than Harry had ever seen it. The moon turned his skin to perfect marble, and his hair was practically glowing.

Harry wondered if he had ever seen anything so beautiful. He took another step forward, and stepped on a twig. Draco's back stiffened.

"Who's there?" he asked, suddenly on guard.

He turned around, eyes narrowed, and Harry could see faint tear tracks trailing down his cheeks.

"It's me," Harry said, before scolding himself for sounding so stupid. Of course it was him, Draco could see him.

"Go away, Potter," Draco muttered, before turning back to the lake.

Harry ignored this and sat next to him.

"What happened to Harry?"

Draco glared at him. "Leave me alone, Harry," he mumbled. "Now will you go?"

Harry shook his head. "Not when I know how you're feeling."

"You don't know anything."

"I know that that's probably been the first time you've been in the Room of Requirement since the night of the Final Battle. I know that you've got terrible memories of that room and being in there against your will and in a great amount of pain didn't help you at all."

Draco looked at him incredulously, and wiped his eyes. "Lucky guess."

"I understand, Draco. I've been in pain before. I've lost friends, people I love. My family."

"What is that supposed to mean? That my problems are insignificant compared to yours?" Draco snapped, his eyes steely and dangerous.

"Oh, no, I didn't mean-,"Harry frantically backtracked.

"Of course, you're the Great Harry Potter, the Saviour of the Wizarding World, and no-one else's problems mean anything because you've suffered so much hardship. Well, screw you Potter. My problems are important to me, so just sod off, and let me brood in peace."

Harry was stunned into silence, but he didn't leave.

"You're right. I have suffered a lot. But don't think for one second that I don't think that other people have problems. That's ridiculous. Of course I care about their problems. I care a lot. And I care...," Harry broke off. Draco looked at him challengingly.

"And I care about you, Draco. A lot."

Draco smiled to himself. "I wish you didn't."

"Why?" Harry asked, gently, moving his hand on top of Draco's. Draco flinched at the touch and jerked his hand away.

"Because nothing can ever happen between us. That's why," he said firmly.

"Why?" Harry repeated, his head on one side. "I thought you wanted me, too."

"I do," Draco admitted, looking at his hands. Harry found the faint blush adorning his cheeks rather adorable. "But that's the bad part. You need to stop being nice to me and stop saying things to try to make me change my mind."

"Like the fact that I think that right now you look like the most beautiful and unearthly creature I've ever seen? That I want to kiss away your worries and your fears and just see you smile?"

"Yes. Things like that."

Harry grinned (un)apologetically. "If I like you, and you like me, why can't we be together?"

Draco smiled sadly. "My father. I'd bring shame on my family, and I'd be disowned. The press would tear me apart. I don't think any of the Wizarding World would want their hero to be with a man, let alone an ex-Death Eater, like me."

Harry sought out Draco's eyes.

"I don't give a damn what your father thinks, Malfoy," he said, bluntly. "He's vile and cruel, and the press are just pathetic."

Draco had to smile. He recognised Harry's words from years ago.

"I care," he demurred.

"You shouldn't. Your father shouldn't run your life. You're his son, and he should love you no matter what. If he does disown you, then I've got plenty of money. More than I could ever spend. I'd be more than happy to take care of you. The press are just vultures scavenging for new gossip and scandal. I can't guarantee they won't be repulsive to you. I'd even say that it's entirely possible that they will. But that shouldn't matter. We'd be happy. I'd defend you to my last breath. I love you, and that's all that should matter."

Draco's head jerked up in shock. "What was that?"

"What was what? I was trying to convince you to go out with me, weren't you listening? I'm not sure I can remember that speech. Hang on..."

Draco laughed and clutched Harry's arms. "No. I heard your speech and it was lovely. The end part though. Say that again. You said that you loved me."

"Well, I do," Harry said, sheepishly.

"No-one apart from my mother has ever told me that."

"I'm glad I had that honour then," Harry smiled, "Why don't you let me make it up for everyone else in the world?"

"For once in your life, Potter. Would you just shut up?"

"Make me."

Draco met his eyes. Harry's hand entwined with his for reassurance. He looked into those emerald eyes, filled with love and hope. How could he crush that?

"Scared, Draco?" Harry asked, his voice filled with mirth.

"You wish," Draco replied, before leaning forwards and finally, finally pressing his lips against Harry's.

Words to describe it are difficult, but they moved together in harmony. In that moment, the two of them were perfectly in sync, and perfectly attuned to the other. For they have always been, and always will be, each other's equal. The kisses were sweet, but with an underlying tone of need and want. Draco's hands were in Harry's hair, his fingers knotted in the soft tangles. Harry was pretty sure he'd died (again) and gone to heaven. His heart was pounding and he could feel Draco's doing the same. Eventually, they stopped for air and rested their foreheads together.

"I love you," Harry whispered.

Draco smiled. "I know. I guess you're not so bad either."

Harry bit his lip gently in reprimand.

"Was that meant to be a punishment?" Draco enquired.

"It was the nearest thing I could reach. I take it, it didn't work?"

"Merlin, no. You'll be doing that again."

"Just you try and stop me."

Draco affectionately carded a hand through Harry's hair, sorting out the mess he had made.

"I was joking before, you know."

Harry raised his eyebrows in question.

"I do really like you too, you know that right?"

Harry's heart swelled. "That's reassuring," he teased.

Draco swatted the side of his head good-naturedly. "No really, and I hope you can respect that I didn't say the L-word straight away."

"Rubbish," said Harry, "I'm glad you didn't say it back."

"What?"

"It gives me something to work for," Harry replied, "and you know how much I love a challenge."

"Yes, single-handedly saving the world seems to be a bit of a pesky challenge," Draco dead-panned.

"I didn't mean that," Harry smiled, "I meant you. We used to hate each other not a few years ago. We were enemies. Look at us now."

"Look at us now," Draco echoed.

Then they pulled each other close once more, neither wanting to let go as the sun rose behind them, signifying the dawn of a new day, and of a new love.

The End.

...

I hope you all enjoyed it! I have enjoyed writing this story so much, and it was straining but worth it. I hope I haven't given you all diabetes from the sugary fluff of this chapter.

Ok, so I don't have much merch. I have the books and films, do they count? Then I've got a Hogwart's keyring, a Gryffindor magnet and Hermione's wand, from when I went to the HP Studio Tour.

FINAL QUESTION:

What would you like to see in the epilogue?

I'll leave it down to you, as a thank you for reading.