Epilogue
Draco would look back on this day with a smile, he knew.
The pillars in the entrance had been wound with glittering silk. The chandeliers were fine and charmed to sway so the hanging crystals would catch the flickering light of the hovering candles. Harry had insisted on that part; his love of Hogwarts, true and profuse and everlasting. The tables and chairs were polished and fair, while the colours softened them, just at the edges. In all, the room looked like a sunset of yellows, reds, and oranges.
"Nervous?" Pansy bumped her shoulder against his. Luna stood at her side with a bright smile. She wore a flowing robe that looked to be made of giant pink flower petals. Pansy's was sleek and elegant; a deep red, while her flowery necklace matched the formers dress perfectly.
He gave a noncommittal hum in response, looking out at the other guests. His mother stood fixing the flowers in the marital arch. The rest of their friends stood near the chairs, laughing and smiling. Half of the Weasleys as well as Ron and Hermione were presumably with Harry.
"C'mon Draco. Don't act like I didn't watch you take a calming draught not an hour ago."
He eyed her for a moment. "Yes, well. I'm only human." He fought the urge to bite his lip; an awful habit of Harry's that he did not want for himself. No matter how attractive it was when the raven did it.
Luna spoke up with her feathery voice, "So is Harry,"
To which Draco let out a laugh, "Harry? Human? Absolutely not."
"Oh you are cute, Draco." Pansy grabbed his face and mushed his cheeks before he swatted her away again.
"Not because he's some ethereal being. Because he's insane." Draco crossed his arms over his chest.
"And you love him"
"And I love him"
At that, Molly Weasley came bustling up to them, "Draco, are you ready?"
He nodded, knowing that if he spoke, his voice would probably do something embarrassing. Molly led Luna away to the rows of chairs, while Pansy remained at his side.
He was wearing silver and Harry would be gold, as per the Wizarding custom. Draco matched the whites of the room, And Harry the colourful accents. There was something poetic about that, but Draco was too nervous to think about it (yes, okay, Pansy).
He forgot to breathe when the music came to life, and the lights dimmed. Was this really happening? It didn't feel real.
Suddenly everyone was sat quietly in their seats, and the doors at the back were opening.
Harry's golden robe glimmered in the light. He looked like an emperor. But all Draco could really look at was his face. His hair -someone had tried to tame it but it stubbornly held its charming, charcoal curls. He was smiling. A soft thing of rubies and roses. Draco's attention was drawn to where it always seemed to go; his eyes. They were brighter than he'd ever seen them; a forest green that flickered like how sunlight filters through leaves. Beautiful, alluring.
When Harry reached him, Molly left his side. He hadn't even noticed she'd been there. And then he was stood right next to him, close enough to touch. And oh, would Draco give anything to touch. To hold. Forever.
"Witches and Wizards," Kingsley Shacklebolt began from behind them, his dress robes a burnt orange, "We are gathered here today to witness the joining of two souls..."
He didn't hear the rest, too busy looking at Harry again. He felt himself smile, as the raven looked up at him through his eyelashes. Like he was something great. The irony, of it all. Harry Potter in awe of him. What a world.
"And now, for the vows."
He opened his mouth to begin but found it didn't seem to want to work. Harry's encouraging smile brought him back, however. He took a breath.
"Harry. I know it took a long time for this to happen, and I'm sorry for that. I am. But I promise you I will spend every day of the rest of our lives making it up to you. With quidditch, and treacle tarts and kissing; which I know to be your favourite things." the room chuckled, and Harry was grinning so wide it must have been painful.
Draco swallowed, "When I was younger, my Mother would tell me about this old legend." He glanced at her, where she was beaming in the front row; evidently knowing where he was going with this.
"It was said that Merlin, upon his death, let out a pulse of magic so strong that it fractured the magical signature of the world. From there, time was split into near-identical versions of itself. Mirrored images of one another, only with faults. Changes. Different realities, all of equal chance." He pressed his gaze into Harry's, "And I am eternally grateful that this is one of the ones where you love me. And I get to love you."
There was a chorus of 'aww's and sniffling (primarily from Molly Weasley), before Harry spoke, expression firm.
"Malfoy." He broke into a smile, once again, "Draco. I had a hard time writing these vows, because, who can put you, me, into words? How could I describe everything we've been through in the space of a few minutes? But I realised that these vows have nothing to do with any of that. It's about right now, and everything that comes after. Sure, it's about all the Birthdays and Christmases and milestones we'll accomplish together. Anniversaries, and the like. But it's also about the lazy days in when it's grey and miserable outside so we decided to get a Chinese because neither of us can be bothered to cook. It's the beginning of our lives, Draco. It's the beginning of the days when you get sick I get to stay home to feed you soup and take your temperature. Or the Friday date nights that we'll have and you'll insist on taking me to a different restaurant each time until we've been to all of the ones in a sensible distance so you'll apperate me to all your favourites in France. It's the endless evenings of me putting on the wireless, and trying to force you to dance with me; waiting for the day when you finally give in and realise what you've been missing out on." Draco rolled his eyes, shaking his head; getting a laugh from the room.
Harry's voice softened, "And it's being with you in my last moments. Knowing there was no one else I would rather spend my life with, than you."
Draco would later deny the tear that slid down his face, at that.
Kingsley nodded to each of them, before, "The rings?"
Teddy held up a jewelled box to him. His hair was an ombré of reds and oranges and golds. His little face bright and smiling. Draco took out the gold ring, pretending that his hand wasn't shaking.
He held Harry's hand with his other, looking back at the minister.
"Repeat after me. Harry James Potter"
He locked eyes with Harry, "Harry James Potter"
"I give you this ring"
"I give you this ring"
"As a symbol of my love and devotion"
"As a symbol of my love and devotion"
"I promise to honour, respect and care for you,"
"I promise to honour, respect and care for you,"
"To support you through good fortune and adversity,"
"To support you through good fortune and adversity,"
"Joy and sadness,"
"Joy and sadness,"
"And to be your friend, as long as we both shall live."
"And to be your friend, as long as we both shall live."
He slipped the ring on Harry's finger, chest so filled with anticipation, he could hardly breathe. It immediately lit up, encasing his hand in ribbons of ebbing blue and striking white.
Harry's voice repeated his words slowly, eyes boring so deep into his, as though he were digging into Draco's soul. It's a miracle he didn't fall over; his vision hazy and wet.
When Harry put Draco's ring on his finger his own hand lit up with shades of blue and twinkling white. The delicate strands wove and connected with Harry's with warm, buzzing magic.
"I now pronounce you wed. You may-"
But he didn't get a chance to finish, because Draco had surged forward to kiss Harry. It was a warm, smiling kiss. One made up of crystals and galleons and all the valuable secrets of Hogwarts. The kiss was an adventure. The beginning of their lives. The end of separation.
The moment he did it, he felt the glowing ribbons encircle their entire bodies until the world disappeared completely. Just he and Harry. And while the spell ended moments later; leaving them magically bound, the sentiment did not.
Because Draco would make sure that this kiss would be the first of many, many more.