A/N: Don't hold me to this, but I think there are only like 5 or 6 chapters left in this fic!

"Right…so, when did you figure out you actually like Malfoy? And why was I not told immediately?" Hermione gave Ron a stern look while Kreacher and Harry rummaged around in the attic boxes to find the rings they'd stashed up there.

"Er…because I figured it out like three days ago and you just got back in this morning," he sheepishly answered his ex-girlfriend.

Hermione raised an eyebrow before turning to their friend who was trying to stay out of this. "Harry…did Ron literally just figure out he's bi and that he likes our new git of a friend and just a few days later decide to propose marriage to the idiot?"

Harry stood from the box he'd been buried in and shifted Little Bit on his shoulder. "Well, you saw me take him aside where I clearly said it was a bad idea. He made some good points though, and while neither yours, mine, nor the Weasley seats have been approved for this current vote, we could use all the help we can get."

"Yeah, mate…you might want to float the idea by Snape that you should eventually consider adopting someone to fill the Potter seat…just saying," Ron held his hands up in a surrender, not wanting to be blasted for being the bearer of bad news.

"Probably," Harry just shrugged and went back to helping look through the boxes. "At some point long down the line."

"Future Mistress Little Bit will most definitely be immortal," Kreacher added into the conversation with a knowing nod.

"Or Master…" Harry rolled his eyes at the elf. "You know you'll be just as happy if the baby is a boy and will feel so bad pushing for a girl all this time."

"Or employer instead of master," Hermione couldn't stop herself from adding.

"Don't hex me, she said it!" Harry rushed over to hide behind Hermione. "I've been trying to free him all year, but he hexed me for it! I checked a bunch of books, and it wouldn't hurt him as long as he was still in full-time employment for a magical family. He's just an old fuddy-duddy that doesn't want to mess with tradition."

"Kreacher is both very young and not a 'fuddy-duddy,'" He put his hands on his little hips and glared at his master. "Kreacher even agreed to master's ludicrous idea of trousers," he motioned to the newest addition to his uniform that were little trousers under his toga, they really were more practical even if he'd never admit it. "Kreacher likes serving Master Potter and future Mistress Potter though…and if Mistress Grangy weren't a witch…" He added on a violent glare at the end for Harry's friend.

"While that's actually very sexist," Hermione began with a wince. "I'm still glad you aren't going to hex me…"

"The Black Family rings are here," Kreacher didn't break his glare to reach into the box beside him and pull out a smaller, black velvet box. "The Black Family will be honored for Master Malfoy to wear one of their rings…even if it is given by a Weasley…"

"Er…thanks…I think," Ron rolled his eyes as he took the box from the elf and put it on the corner of Snape's potions table.

"Touch anything of Snape's and I can't save you," Harry warned as he left his hiding spot behind Hermione and joined them both to look over the rings. Kreacher began to straighten up the attic while grumbling under his breath the entire time.

"Wow, these are clearly expensive," Hermione whistled as they stared at the precious gemstones and metals held within. "I don't know why I'd expect anything else from Sirius's family though."

"You sure you're ok with this, Harry?" Ron looked up in concern at his friend.

Harry scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Why do I need some dusty old rings?..."

He frowned and pulled a thin white-gold band with a small, rectangular emerald embedded in it from the box. "Er…well, except this one…you know…just in case…"

"That does look very like Snape," Hermione gave him a huge knowing grin.

"Yeah…maybe I'll just hold onto it for a while," Harry ignored both of their chuckles and slid the ring into a pocket in the bag with Little Bit.

"Ok, so I'm guessing something really shiny for Malfoy," Ron sighed and sorted through the box of about a dozen rings, pushing the very feminine ones or overly plain ones to one side. Ron's hand paused over a ring before he slowly picked it up.

"That one doesn't have any jewels in it," Hermione frowned. "I think he'd want a diamond or an emerald at least."

It was a ring of some kind of polished black stone with silver weaving through it like vines. The ring made him feel both happy and sad. It seemed almost alive with the silver growing through it. "This is it…" He said confidently. It may not have been overly ostentatious, but it was beautiful…it was just…Draco.

"Great!" Harry clapped him on the back excitedly. "Now, you just need to figure out a way to ask him without letting on just how much you like him but probably also put the idea in his head to be dealt with in the future!"

"Yeah, no pressure," Ron snorted. "You know subtle really isn't my thing, right?"

"Ah, Kreacher knows who's ring that was…" the elf looked over and started with a grin.

"No!" All three called out stopping him.

"Never tell us who any of these belonged to," Harry shook his head firmly. "I don't want that knowledge carrying over to the relationship. We know enough about the Black family to not need that information."

"Suit yourself," Kreacher shrugged wryly.

"You don't think there will be any bad juju or anything, do you?" Ron asked in a whisper as they made their way back downstairs and towards Harry's room.

"We checked, they aren't cursed," Harry assured him yet again. "You shouldn't blame a poor innocent ring for having a bigot of a first owner."

"I had an idea while all you were making plans," Hermione said, plopping down on Harry's bed and lying back in exhaustion. "If we don't think we're going to win this upcoming vote anyway since it's so close, it will probably be best if Tonks and Ron both don't take the family seats until after. That way it will be more of a surprise for the main vote when they are there, and it'll give Malfoy some time to do his little influence dance with the families that normally vote with the Malfoys."

"It couldn't hurt to give Tonks some more time to process changing her name and Ron and Malfoy to convince some people they're actually together," Harry nodded slowly. "Hermione…do you think Rita Skeeter is still afraid of you? It may help to have an extremely carefully worded engagement announcement released."

"I'm certain that dung beetle still curses my name," Hermione barely raised her head to give him a smirk. "I'll chat with Andy while you're out shopping with Snape, and we can put together some ideas."

"Maybe we could get a picture together for the article," Ron gave them a sappy grin at that idea.

"He really does have it bad, doesn't he?" Hermione chuckled at him and flopped back down. "Wake me in an hour."

"You're in my bed, 'Mione," Harry reminded her, only getting a rude hand gesture for his trouble.

"Fine, but you're not to be a bad influence on Little Bit…I'm sure that'll be Fawkes's job. I won't have their first word be a swear word," Harry huffed as they both left and closed the door behind them.

"At least if it's in Parseltongue only you will know and can lie to people later and just say it was 'Dad' or something," Ron tried to help but really didn't.

"Merlin, this kid is going to be a handful with all you poor influences in their life," Harry chuckled and threw an arm around Ron's shoulders. "Now…do you want to do this proposal in private or do you want us all there? We could make it a party? Clearly, we already know he's going to say yes."

"Ergh!"

Ron was pacing the library in Grimmauld place so aggressively he was sure to leave treads in the carpeted floor. He'd thrown the nicest black robe he had (Hermione approved) over some black slacks and a silvery shirt that he personally thought matched Malfoy's eyes. He didn't know why he was so nervous. Malfoy was guaranteed to say yes, but the fact that he found he actually meant every word he was about to say was terrifying to him.

"Weasley," Malfoy sighed as he stepped into the library and closed the door behind him. He'd dressed nicely as well with a green robe over all black slacks and a black shirt with a darker black pattern in it. Malfoy always dressed nicely though, especially since his mother had bought him new clothes, so Ron wasn't sure he should read anything into this.

"How was the tattoo appointment?" He nervously asked, stopping his pacing in front of the large marble fireplace. "Did it hurt any?"

"Some, but I've clearly had worse," he shrugged.

"It was not as bad as getting the Dark Mark, and I'm relieved it is now covered," he added on at the end, as a bit of a concession to Ron trying to start a conversation. He pulled his left sleeve up slightly to show the bottom of a large, white bandage.

"Right, good," Ron nodded firmly, putting his hand in his pocket with the ring and fiddling with it.

"We are here for a reason, Weasley," Malfoy stepped closer to him and crossed his arms. "Make it good…I will be giving you notes," he threatened at the end.

Ron couldn't help his relieved laugh at that. No matter what, he could always count on Malfoy being Malfoy. "I would expect nothing less," he bravely reached out and tugged on Malfoy's hand to lead him over to the armchair. The blond raised an eyebrow but allowed himself to be led over to the chair and sat down. Ron knelt down in front of him, feeling extremely awkward.

"Draco Malfoy," he began, turning too sincere eyes on the man in front of him and causing the former-Slytherin's breath to catch slightly. "We have known each other since we were eleven years old. Most of that time were dark days in our relationship. We've hated each other, we're cursed each other, but we've never been apathetic towards each other. While everything may have been negative in our relationship before, we were always significant parts of each other's lives."

Draco gave a little snort of agreement at that. With a sniff, he even reached out and took Ron's hands in his. "Not a bad start to this proposal, but I hope it gets better from there," he said, a small squeeze to Ron's hands undercutting his words.

"Git," Ron rolled his eyes but squeezed the hands back, anchoring him to what he was doing. "So, this past year, we both came through to the other side of horrors no one should have had to face, and we found each other at the end, or rather Harry forced us together."

"True, the stubborn idiot," Draco scoffed but with a small smile.

"Anyway…I enjoy spending time with you. I like how we can argue about quidditch for hours and still not run out of things to talk about. I like how we're almost equally matched at wizard's chess. I even think your ridiculous since of humor is funny," Ron said, looking into the silver eyes of the wizard.

"I love the way your brain works and that you really care about the kids at school and their safety. I love that you're a huge nerd only bested by Hermione, and that she doesn't even come close to you at Potions. I love that you write your mother almost every day and that you worry about her all the time."

"Weasley…" Draco frowned in slight confusion as the words were sinking in.

"Draco Lucius Malfoy," Ron shook his head, cutting off whatever Draco was about to say. "Would you do me the honor of marrying me? Would you take the time with me to find out if we could learn to love each other now that we no longer hate each other? Would you let me take your name so that I can keep you safe and give you a future in our society?"

Draco cleared his throat, the confusion still lining his eyes. "Weasley…that sounds…that sounds almost genuine…you are an amazing actor. I never thought you had it in you."

Ron stared at him more deeply and then closed his eyes, taking in a steadying breath. "Malfoy, I'm a shit actor."

The blond frowned more deeply before the meaning seemed to finally sink in. "Oh…" he breathed out.

"Look…it doesn't have to mean anything for all this…"

"Wait…" Draco let go of one of Ron's hands to put his up and stop the rambling that was assuredly about to come. "Just let me process for one minute…"

"Take all the time you need," Ron moved to let go of Malfoy's other hand, but the blond instead grabbed both of his tighter once again.

"Look…I might not be where you are right now," Draco held onto Ron's hands tightly. "But, yeah…I think it'd like to maybe give it a chance to see if I could be someday…I'm not making any promises about my feelings, but I find I enjoy the time we spend together as well…it might not be quite so bad to be engaged to you…"

Ron's brow furrowed as he tried to pick apart that answer. "So…are we going to give this a go…for real? Or as close to it as we can right now anyway?"

Draco just rolled his eyes and smirked. "Yes, you idiot. Now, where's my ring?"

"Fine, fine…so impatient," Ron smiled at him broadly but retrieved his hand to reach into his pocket and pull out the black and silver ring. "When I saw it, it just looked like something you needed to own," he shrugged, not sure how to explain how he felt when he first saw it.

Draco had reached out initially, but his hand stilled before it got to the ring. "Eh…Weasley?...You don't happen to have any idea what you are holding there, do you?"

"Nooo," Ron looked at the ring in concern. "Harry and Kreacher assured me it wasn't cursed."

"You couldn't curse that ring if you tried," Draco reverently took the ring into his hand. "This is an alchemical stone. They are said to be from a meteorite that fell to earth. It's not nearly as powerful as the philosopher's stone since it's naturally occurring, but they are said to bring health and long life…how in Merlin's name did one end up here?! No, wait, this is Black manor, I don't need to know," he shook his head firmly at the end.

"Huh," Ron just nodded in more appreciation to the ring. "Well…sounds like I did good this time then."

"I'll say," Draco slid the ring onto his left ring finger and gave it and Ron a little fond smile. "Don't expect me to one up this with a wedding ring later. That would literally be impossible to do without finding yet another alchemical stone or making a ring from the philosopher's stone itself."

"See…you're already thinking about a wedding. My master plan is working," Ron gave him a smile and a wink.

"You are both a shit actor and a horrible planner. I know there is and never has been a master plan," Malfoy stood with an exasperated huff and pulled Ron to his feet as well. "Now, I assume your friends have planned some sort-of ridiculous dinner party we must now attend."

"Less ridiculous since you sort-of said yes for real," Ron reminded him with a smirk.

"Clearly," he rolled his eyes. "Don't expect me to be all mushy and lovey-dovey and all."

Ron grimaced sharply. "Ew, no! I'd check you for Polyjuice potion if you did!"

"Good, as long as we understand each other."

"Er…we might need to take a picture for the paper though…" Ron added as they walked down the stairway and towards the kitchen.

"Congratulations!" A kitchen full of people exclaimed before Draco could start complaining about the Daily Prophet.

"Well…condolences if you would rather," Snape grumbled from where he was sitting beside Andy at the table that was overloaded with food and treats.

"Er, guys…er, family…," Ron looked around at them all with a huge smile landing on all his brothers, even Bill and Fleur had shown up. "He sort-of…well…"

"The idiot asked me to marry him for real, or at least agree to a relationship in that direction. He made a decent point for once in his life, so I said yes," Draco finished for him with a fondly exasperated eyeroll.

Stunned silence met that proclamation for a second before… "What?! That's awesome!" From an excited Harry Potter, already bouncing up and down beside Fawkes in the corner of the room. "I call best man! Suck it Gred and Forge!" He crowed.

Snape mumbled something that sounded like "I'm dating an idiot," before he stood and walked over to the couple.

"Uncle Sev…" Draco raised a questioning and concerned eyebrow.

"I will not claim to understand this," he told them both. "Or maybe I do," he glanced over at a smug Harry off to his side.

"Regardless," he reached out a hand to Ron. "Welcome to the family," he said as a stunned Ronald Weasley shook the proffered hand.

"I look forward to Molly and Arthur realizing their son is now Ronald Malfoy," he couldn't help the added smirk at the end.

"We all do, mate," Charlie laughed loudly. "Good on you both! This'll really irritate Mum that she's not helping plan the wedding…well, and everything else."

This caused a huge groan from Malfoy. "Merlin…I have to tell Mother now, and she will be planning a wedding!"

"Don't call me, mate," Snape darkly glared at Charlie before joining Harry who threw an arm around his waist with a smirk.

"Right! Pictures and paperwork, then cake," Andromeda Tonks stood and got to business shuffling through some parchments.

"I've already mocked up the Daily Prophet notice," Hermione added a paper to the pile. "Malfoy and Ron just need to approve it. I'll have Rita post it after we get back to Hogwarts so they don't have to deal with the press before."

"The press," Ron groaned but just held onto Malfoy's hand even tighter as he pulled him over to sign all the paperwork for the name change and engagement contract.

Harry was nervous as he stood in the hallway and stared at the dark, wooden door in front of him. He'd never even attempted to seek access to Snape's room before. It seemed a huge step in their relationship even if Harry (unfortunately) wasn't planning anything overly romantic with the gesture. With a deep sigh, he eventually gave the door a light rap.

The door quickly swung open. "About time!" Snape rolled his eyes and stood back for Harry to enter. "I've heard you breathing out there for five minutes now!"

"You could have put me out of my misery and opened the door then," Harry glared back but looked around the comfortable but spartan room. There was a rickety chair in the corner that he sat Little Bit's bag down on before he just shrugged and plopped onto Snape's bed as the only other place to sit in the room.

"I didn't realize knocking on my door was such a stressful endeavor. Or, is there something you need from me that is causing this level of anxiety?" Snape frowned in concern now, awkwardly standing in front of Harry since he wasn't sure where he should sit or stand now that the egg was on his only chair and Harry was actually on his bed.

"Not really…I was just over-thinking it," Harry shrugged, seeming to make himself at home before he reached out and pulled Snape over to sit beside him. "Well, we go back to Hogwarts tomorrow, so I wanted to spend some time with you first. More importantly, it's someone very special's birthday today!"

Snape actually had to think about who's birthday it might be before he almost had to slap himself at how dense he was being. "It's my birthday…how did you find out?"

Harry shrugged but gave him a mischievous grin. "There was a bit of bribery of Madam Pomfrey involved since Healer Morris gave me nothing."

"I have never been one to celebrate my birth," Snape began to protest in earnest.

"And I'm not going to make a big deal about it…at least not this year," Harry assured him quickly.

"I know you at this point, and I know a fuss being made is the absolute last thing you would want. I didn't even buy you a gift," he added with a smirk at the end before taking a vial of clear liquid out of his jeans pocket.

"Indeed…is this water then?" Snape rolled his eyes but took what he assumed was going to be a ridiculously expensive potion ingredient knowing his partner.

"In a sense," Harry shrugged. "I'll have you know that took three horribly sad movies with Hermione, a bottle of the hottest hot sauce I've ever eaten with Tonks, and a terrible muggle book called Chicken Soup for the Soul that Andromeda should just burn in order for me to get all those tears."

"Phoenix tears," Snape couldn't help the smile that crossed his face at what Harry had done to provide him with more tears for his research. "Thank you…" he said simply, not knowing how best to express his gratitude.

Actually…maybe he did. Snape turned and put the vial on his nightstand before he gently took hold of Harry's arm and tugged him closer. Taking in the surprised look in Harry's eyes, he tangled his other hand in Harry's short hair and cupped the back of his neck. "Is this, ok?" He asked leaning forward, just brushing Harry's lips with his own.

"Merlin, yes!" Harry gasped before breaching the distance between them, wrapping his own arms around Snape's thin frame, and pulling him into a searing kiss.

Snape felt like he'd come home there in Harry's arms as they tentatively explored each other's mouths and lips. "About time," Harry mumbled, causing a little chuckle from Snape.

The vampire pulled Harry even closer to him to where he was almost sitting in his lap before trailing kisses down his neck and nipping slightly at his earlobe. "Merlin, you're good at this," Harry gasped, brain going more than a little fuzzy. Harry's brain immediately shifted back into focus as a slight graze trailed across his neck and he was shoving Snape off him as fast as possible and with much more force than was necessary.

"What?" Snape looked so confused and hurt from where he'd fallen back on the bed that Harry's heart felt like it would burst. "I'm sorry…what did I do?" The man gasped out, eyes wide and fearful.

"Shit, Snape, nothing, you're fine!" Harry rushed to assure him as quickly as possible before tugging him back up and closer to him. "I'm sorry, I just wasn't sure if you remembered…I felt your fangs…"

"Oh," Snape frowned deeply. This was something he'd been broken up with over in the past. Harry wasn't prejudiced against vampires though, so he was more confused than anything else about what had happened. "Sometimes they just…come out. It's involuntary…I'm…sorry?"

"Merlin, Severus!" Harry huffed out before his eyes went wide as he realized he used the man's first name. "Er, sorry…I know you don't like me using your first name…"

"It's fine," Snape assured him quickly. Their relationship had progressed significantly since they'd first had that conversation. "Just don't call me Sev and we'll be fine. Draco only gets away with it since he was three when he started calling me that. Now…just spit it out…did I make you uncomfortable? Was I going too fast?"

"No," Harry shook his head firmly. "You shouldn't be sorry, and you did nothing wrong. Merlin, that was actually extremely hot! I just wasn't sure if you remembered that my blood is acidic. I didn't want you to get hurt…I don't want to accidentally poison you. I'm not really into pain and all, but if I wasn't so poisonous, I wouldn't begrudge you a little bite now and then…"

"Besides…" Harry opened his own mouth showing off where his fangs were also just slightly showing. "It's not like we don't have a matching set. I think we should just very carefully keep them to ourselves."

Severus couldn't help the chuckle that bubbled up in inside him. A second later and he was full-blown laughing. Merlin, he didn't think he'd laughed like that in decades. His sides were actually hurting as the humor rushed out of him.

"It's not that funny," Harry protested with a fake pout and a smile.

"Harry…" he chuckled again. "I'm not going to bite you! Merlin...! You're ridiculous! Especially that whole line about not begrudging me a bite or two!"

"Well, it felt like I was talking you off a ledge there for a second," Harry huffed and rolled his eyes. "I'm assuming we're fine though?"

"You dunderhead, of course I remember your blood is slightly acidic," he chuckled once more before wrapping his arms around Harry's waist. "I've been brewing you those nutrition potions all year to counter it. I think it's a solid rule for both of us to keep our fangs to ourselves though, especially you with your snake venom."

"Great, now, let's get back to the snogging then," Harry grinned before pushing him flat back on the bed and almost falling on top of him. "Fangs are safely pulled in," he assured the vampire before combing his fingers into Severus's hair and kissing him so deeply he wondered why he'd never celebrated his birthday before.

The friends and family of Draco Lucius Malfoy and Ronald Bilius Malfoy (nee Weasley) are pleased to announce their formal engagement. Heir Draco Malfoy is the scion of the Ancient and Noble House of Malfoy and heir to the Malfoy lordship. Mr. Ronald Malfoy, Order of Merlin First Class, was influential in the overthrow of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and a hero of the Second Wizarding War.

This eagerly anticipated wedding is scheduled to be held at the end of summer with Harry James Potter (Order of Merlin First Class) standing for Mr. Ronald Malfoy and Severus Tobias Snape (Order of Merlin Third Class) standing for Heir Draco Malfoy. Services will be conducted by Madam Andromeda Tonks and held on the grounds of Malfoy Manor. Attendance will be by invitation only.

"Well…that's one way to find out you got an Order of Merlin," Snape raised a surprised eyebrow at the engagement announcement that had just been delivered within the Daily Prophet during breakfast. A ridiculous picture of Ronald grinning with an arm around a stoic Draco was included.

"You didn't know?" Filius Flitwick frowned over the top of his paper.

"I'm not sure if that is more surprising or if Weasley and Malfoy getting married is," Minerva McGonagall remarked having almost choked on her tea when she'd read the announcement. Immediately, she put down her tea and reached for the pot of coffee.

"THIRD Class?!" Was bellowed loudly and in indignation from the Ravenclaw table. "The recommendation was for FIRST!"

Snape looked over to where his indignant partner was fuming over the paper beside the Lovegood girl and where Ronald and Draco were trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. With a shake of his head, Severus just poured more pumpkin juice in his teacup (he'd never admit to drinking the stuff) and turned to Minerva.

"Actually, they are both Malfoy now," he reminded her. "It was more prudent for Ronald to take my godson's name as Draco is an heir to a lordship and Wizengamut seat."

"Oh really," Filius smirked at him, knowing exactly now why that was important. "I see the prudence then in their decision to maybe rush things some."

Snape scoffed. "Unfortunately, they are both actually serious about this engagement. Draco has already been discussing what robes he would like me to wear." He wouldn't let on that Filius was completely right, but he'd also been surprised that both young men seemed to be taking their new relationship seriously and he was dreading that this might actually be leading to a wedding.

"I meant with the name change, but that is good to know," Filius smirked back. "I must invite young Draco to our Sunday tea."

"WAIT! WHAT?!" A shrill screech rang out from the Gryffindor table as a furious redhead stood from her seat and slowly turned towards the Ravenclaw table.

"Oh dear," Minerva sighed from beside Severus. "Should we let this play out for a second or stop it now?"

"You're the headmistress," he snorted with an eyeroll. "However, I'd let her say her piece while we're here watching than somewhere we can't stop it later."

Ginevra's little group of Thomas, Patil, and Finnegan all stood with her. "Should we be worried?" Pomona leaned around Filius to ask with a frown.

"Break was a bit boring, let's let it play out for a second or two," Filius smirked while sipping his tea.

Ginevra stormed across the hall causing a mix of students who looked excited at the drama about to happen, those who looked worried, and the ones who hadn't read that far in the Daily Prophet looking very confused. "You spelled him! Or potioned him!" She screamed at Draco when she got within shouting range. "What did you do?"

"He treated me kindly and like a human being," Ron turned and calmly met her look with a stern expression of his own. "That is more than what you and our parents have done for the rest of us recently."

"Come off it, Weasley," Seamus growled. "I wouldn't peg you as someone who'd slum it with a Death Eater, let alone in some kind of pouf relationship! He's potioned you somehow!"

Ron, Harry, and Neville were already standing with their wands drawn before Seamus had even finished. "I'd watch your bigotry, Finnegan, it's showing," Harry sneered at him.

"Now it's time to break this up," Severus pointedly informed the headmistress.

"Oh, yes," she stood quickly and began making her way down towards the tense group.

"Five galleons on Longbottom if it comes to a fight," Filius said quietly beside him.

"I'll take that," Snape smirked back. "Potter will be the one that ends it."

"I'll put five on Weasley-Malfoy," Pomona leaned across Filius again. "He looks like he could roast someone with his eyes right now."

"Either of you even suggest my fiancé potioned me again and I'll show you exactly how I escaped a group of snatchers during the war," Ron growled darkly.

Draco reached up from where he was still calmly sitting and placed a hand on Ron's arm. "Andromeda Tonks wrote up our betrothal contract which has compulsion detection charms built into it. Anyone with any knowledge of good society should know that," Draco said as if he were regretfully talking with slime.

"Why you!" Ginny already had her wand raised before she completely stilled, frozen.

"That's enough," Headmistress McGonagall sternly ordered them, lowering her wand slightly. "You will all head to your classes and cool down before speaking to each other again."

"Of course, Headmistress," Harry slowly put his wand back in the holster Snape had gotten him for Christmas and nodded to Ron and Neville who also begrudgingly backed down.

"As I said at the end of last term, there will be no tolerance for fighting the rest of the year. If I hear about one curse being cast, that will be the end of your time at Hogwarts," McGonagall told them all. "Now go!" She said, causing the entire Great Hall to scurry to grab their bags to leave.

Ginny shook her limbs when she could move again before sneering at her brother. "You know Mum and Dad get the Prophet. How do you think they're going to handle this, huh?"

She turned and, in a swirl of red hair, she Parvati, Dean, and Seamus made their way out with a parting, "Traitor!" Thrown over Parvati's shoulder.

"How long do you think before the howler comes, mate?" Harry asked Ron who groaned deeply.

"Before my mother's congratulatory letter but after five more people ask if Weasley is in his right mind," Draco suggested with a pat to his fiance's arm.

"It might be easier if you call me Ron now," he frowned. "We share a last name."

"You will forever and always be Weasley," Draco scoffed before leaning in. Harry thought he heard a whispered "My Weasley," before the blond hurried off to his Arithmancy class and left a bright red Ron in his wake.

"Soooo, that's going well?" Neville raised an eyebrow at the exchange, having been filled in by Harry and Hermione on the train ride back to school.

"The hell if I know," Ron shrugged and sighed. "I know…teaspoon," he rolled his eyes at Hermione who just smiled more broadly at him.

"As long as you know," she told him proudly and hurried after Malfoy.

Up Next: Howlers, Percy's mission, and Harry asks questions...