1. NARCISSA MALFOY
Dear Mrs. Malfoy,
I hope you’re doing well. I know you’ve been through a rough patch recently with the dismissal of Lucius’ appeal, though I know you’re more than strong enough to get through it.
I’m writing because I would like to meet with you and talk about my future with Draco. I’m not busy from the 24th through the 31st. If there’s a chance we could meet then, please let me know.
With love,
Harry
My dear Harry,
Of course. The manor at 6pm on the 27th will do nicely.
As always,
Narcissa
Harry had received the letter a week prior and had desperately tried to hide it from Draco. He’d lied about where he was going (which made him feel awful as he knew Draco hated lies) in order to keep the surprise…well, a surprise. Hence, he found himself flooing into Malfoy Manor and being greeted by Mrs. Malfoy with open arms.
“Harry, dear,” Mrs. Malfoy began, pulling him into a hug he’d grown familiar with. “It’s been too long since I saw you.”
“It’s only been a month, Mrs. Malfoy,” Harry laughed.
“Still, too long. You Aurors are too busy to come to family dinners now, hmm?” Her tone was both scolding and fond in a way that made the stress and tension leave Harry’s body.
“Just for now. A new group popped up that we’re having to manage, but they’re getting under control fairly easily. I’ll be here for this Sunday dinner, I swear it.” Harry flashed the smile that he knew would get Mrs. Malfoy on his side (which it did). She interlocked their arms and pulled him from the floo towards the den, where the both of them settled into the most comfortable sofa.
“You said you wanted to talk about your future with Draco,” Mrs. Malfoy began almost tentatively.
“Right.” Harry said before letting out an awkward laugh. “I just…well, there’s no easy way to say this, I don’t think. It’s just that we’ve been together for six years now, and we’re both at a different stage of our life than we were even just last year, and-”
“-please, don’t leave him.” Mrs. Malfoy begged, grabbing his hands and holding them together. “You’re the best thing that happened to him.”
“Sorry?” Harry said, completely and utterly confused. Then, he seemed to connect the dots that Mrs. Malfoy incorrectly had. “Oh- oh, Merlin, no. God, Mrs. Malfoy; that’s not where I was going with this at all. I’m desperately in love with Draco, I’m not…breaking up with him. I want to marry him.”
For a brief moment, the entire room went silent. Even the slight wind outside seemed to pause for dramatic effect. Harry felt like he needed to curl within himself and hide away from the world. Just as he was about to apologize, Mrs. Malfoy broke out into giggles and released Harry’s hands to put one of her own over her mouth.
“Oh, Harry. I want you to marry him too.”
Harry grinned and felt his heart threaten to beat out of his chest. “You do?”
“Of course I do! Harry, darling, you make Draco so very happy. All I’ve wanted is his happiness.”
“So, I have your blessing, then?”
Mrs. Malfoy wrapped her arms around him in a hug, one hand coming up to gently stroke the back of his hair. “Yes. Not that you need it, but you do. Welcome to the family, Harry.”
His eyes watered and he fought to keep it down. For a couple seconds, he let Mrs. Malfoy just hold him. When she pulled away, he said, “I still need to propose, Mrs. Malfoy. He might say no.”
Mrs. Malfoy waved a hand in dismissal. “He’ll accept if he knows what’s good for him. With that being said, Harry, dear -- how do you plan on proposing? I promise I won’t tell, I’m just a bit nosy, if I’m honest.”
Harry winced. “I’m…not sure yet. I haven’t bought the ring yet, either.”
“I think you should talk to his friends, Pansy and Blaise.”
“Parkinson and Zabini?”
Mrs. Malfoy nodded. “They’ve been his closest friends for years now. If anyone -- other than you, of course -- were to know what Draco wants or likes, it’d be them.”
“Alright. They’re coming over later this month, I believe. To celebrate Draco’s promotion at St. Mungo’s.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Malfoy said with a smile, “they are. Draco already asked me for one of my recipes.”
Harry sighed. “If he’s cooking for them, it’ll be impossible to get him out of the house so I can talk to them.”
Mrs. Malfoy’s posture straightened and a certain determination flew across her features. “Leave that to me.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy.”
“My dear, you really must start calling me Narcissa if we are to be family.”
“It’s only polite, Mrs. Malfoy,” Harry argued.
Mrs. Malfoy gave him a fond but exasperated look that he was used to seeing on Draco’s features more often than not. Harry gave her a short hug before standing up with the intention of flooing back to his and Draco’s flat.
“Oh, Harry?” Narcissa called, making Harry turn. Once they made eye contact, she said, “I’m sure Draco would like it if you talked to Lucius as well. In wizarding culture, parents will write out their blessings with their magic tied to it -- it’s a pureblood tradition, really. You and Draco will see them on your wedding day; it’s supposed to make the moment even more special. If you could find a way to get Lucius’ blessing, it would mean the world to him. Even if he and his father are a bit estranged.”
Harry fought the spark of anger that appeared at the idea of having to go visit Lucius in Azkaban. “I’ll see what I can do. Thank you…Narcissa.”
2. PANSY PARKINSON AND BLAISE ZABINI
Harry heard their laughter before he even set eyes on Pansy and Blaise. He made his way toward the kitchen, stopping in the doorway when he saw Draco. His soon-to-be-fiancé was completely in his element, practically glowing while moving around the kitchen. Pansy and Blaise sat at the bar, watching him as he moved around elegantly. Harry couldn’t blame them — he himself had to stop and stare.
“Oi, Potter!” Blaise said once he saw Harry.
Harry’s heart skipped a beat when Draco turned around and smiled at him. Harry walked into the kitchen, completely ignoring Draco’s friends as he wrapped his arms around his boyfriend from behind. He relaxed the moment he felt Draco’s back against his chest and face, a calming place he found himself more often than not.
“Hello, love.” Draco greeted. “How was work?”
“Tiring. I hate Shacklebolt.” Harry muttered against the skin beneath his cheek. “Not really, but kind-of. He wants to send me to Thailand to meet some retired Auror.”
Draco hummed. “You don’t want to go?”
“It’d be two weeks without you, Draco. No, I don’t want to go.”
Draco Let out an amused huff. “Alright, alright. You can stop being clingy in front of our friends, yes?”
Harry sighed and released Draco, reaching into the cupboard and grabbing a cup. He looked at Blaise and Pansy with an inquiring look that somehow conveyed his message of water? to which they both shook their heads, showing the mugs they already had.
Just then, an owl squawked in the distance. Harry frowned but turned and walked towards the window, collecting the letter it had at its feet. My Dearest Draco was written on the outside in penmanship that Harry knew to be Narcissa’s. He gave the owl a treat and pet its head before it launched off into the sky. Harry felt his body fill with tension as he remembered the conversation he’d had a couple weeks prior.
“For you,” Harry said to Draco, putting the letter next to him and planting a kiss on his cheek in the process.
“Gross, Potter,” Pansy said with a wrinkled face. “That’s my best friend you’re snogging.”
“Please,” Harry rolled his eyes, “that’s not snogging and you know it.”
“True. ‘Least you haven’t walked in on them shagging,” Blaise added, to which Harry winced at the memory.
“I’ve apologized for that more times than I can count.” Harry countered.
“Shit!” Draco exclaimed, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. He scrambled to wipe his hands with a towel and hastily pulled the apron off his waist. “My mum stopped by earlier to grab some thyme that she needed for a dinner party, which just so happens to be the last thing I need to put in here.”
“I can make a run,” Harry offered, though he knew what the answer was going to be.
Draco huffed. “Sure. Yeah, let’s send the boy who never cooks to pick up an herb. No, love — I’ll just run out really quick, it’ll take no time at all. Stir the pot a couple times while I’m gone, alright?”
Harry watched as the whirlwind that was Draco Malfoy swept through the kitchen and then left all at once. He turned to Blaise and Pansy and held a finger in the air to signal he had something to say. The three of them sat and listened for the front door to close.
The moment it did, Harry rushed to the counter and stood across from them. “I’m going to propose.” He said, the words falling off his tongue.
There was a moment of shock before Pansy started clapping and Blaise wolf-whistled.
“Fantastic, Potter!” Blaise cheered, instantly standing and walking towards the very expensive bottle of whiskey Harry had on the counter.
Pansy grinned like the Cheshire cat, reaching out and grabbing one of Harry’s hands in her own. “I’m so happy for you. Mostly for Draco, of course, but you as well.”
Harry felt his ears get hot in embarrassment, but smiled and said his thanks. “I need your help, though. I haven’t got a clue what type of ring Draco wants. You lot are his best friends, so I thought…you’d have some advice?”
Blaise returned to his spot at the counter with more than a couple fingers of whiskey for himself. He downed half of it in one shot before saying, “Now, Potter. The last thing I want to do is inflate your ego more, but you ought to give yourself more credit than that. No one in the entire world pays more attention to Draco Malfoy than yourself.”
“He’s right,” Pansy cut in. “You know about other jewelry he wears! Bloody hell, you’ve bought most of it. Tell me -- does he wear silver, or gold?”
“Silver, of course.
“And what color gems are in other rings and jewels he wears?”
“Some are green, some are blue. All the Malfoy things he inherited have green, but he picks out the blues for himself. So he likes blue gems more.”
Pansy clapped her hands together. “See? You know more than you think. Here’s the point you may not have noticed, daft as you are: Draco’s jewelry has an elegance to it. It’s not gaudy, nor flashy.”
Harry nodded seriously. “Okay. Alright. Silver, blue, minimalist in a way, not over-the-top, probably needs to be a bit expensive, though-”
“Potter, mate.” Blaise cut in, shaking his head. “You’re going to talk yourself into a mental breakdown. Ring shopping doesn’t have to be an attack plan, contrary to what someone like you may assume. Just go into a shop and look around, see what feels right.”
Harry took a deep breath and nodded. “Alright. Thanks.”
“Harry?” Pansy started, making Harry jolt at his given name instead of his surname, “I expect to know the moment you actually propose.”
Harry let out a dry laugh. “Oh, I’m sure you will. Do you really think he’s not going to go running to you the moment I do?”
“The moment you do what?” Draco’s voice called from the hallway. Seconds later, he appeared in the doorway and came back in, a bundle of thyme in his hand.
“The moment he gets himself killed like an idiot.” Blaise lied easily. “Really, Potter. Must you always be on the front lines, fighting? What will happen to my dear friend Draco when the dolt he decided to love gets himself killed?”
“Blaise, dear, hush,” Pansy retorted, setting a hand on Blaise’s shoulder. “Just because you hate Aurors doesn’t mean they’re all awful.”
“Stop arguing like we’re back at Hogwarts,” Draco scolded, tossing herbs into his pot. “Most Aurors are terrible, but the one standing in this room promised his boyfriend he won’t get himself into a coma, let alone killed. And I’m pretty sure said Auror’s boyfriend would find a way to bring him back just to kill him personally if he did die, don’t you think?”
Harry grinned and threw his arms around Draco. “Ah, of course. He won’t leave his boyfriend alone for two weeks, though, so why would he die in battle? Sounds terrible. Sounds like he’s never going to leave his boyfriend alone, no?”
“I would certainly hope not,” Draco countered, his voice firm but the hand that slid backwards to rub over Harry’s knuckles was anything but.
3. LUCIUS MALFOY
“Name, Auror ID, and reason for visiting?” The guard outside of Azkaban asked.
Harry sighed, already done with being there after having to repeat the same three pieces of information six times already. “Harry Potter. 78452HJP. I’m visiting for personal reasons.”
The guard’s gaze snapped up from where he had been looking at his documents. “Harry Potter? Harry Potter! Oh, of course, sir! You can go right in, then. The wards would have kept you out if you weren’t actually Harry Potter, but you are Harry Potter, and that’s- that’s great, sir! Right inside, you’ll be greeted by another guard and she’ll take you where you need to go. Have a good visit, Mr. Harry Potter!”
Harry gave an aggressively fake smile before going inside. Despite the fact that the war had been over for almost a decade, he was constantly being greeted with people who idolized him. Even in places as dreary and terrible as Azkaban, people talked to him like they’d just taken a Pepper-Up. He shook his head in frustration before stopping in his tracks at the sight of the guard; the guard didn’t spare a glance at him as she stood next to him.
“Whom are you visiting?” She asked.
“Lucius Malfoy.” Harry answered.
Without any more discussion, she turned on her heel and continued down one of the corridors. Harry tried very hard to look at the ground and at the way her hair fell in perfect ringlets, purposefully and desperately trying to avoid seeing the dementors swirling around above them.
“Lucius Malfoy is considered NT, or Neutralized Threat. You will be allowed into a monitored room in which he will be magically and non-magically bound in place. You will have no more than five minutes with him. I will be on the other side of the glass -- if you feel threatened or need out before those five minutes are done, all you need to do is look at me and I will get you out of there. Do you understand?”
Harry nodded.
“Brilliant. Should you attempt to touch or interact with Mr. Malfoy in any way, you will be confined to a cell by dementors and held there indefinitely.”
“Great, thanks,” Harry answered, his throat feeling a bit dry.
The guard stopped them in front of a handleless door. She tapped her wand to it and Harry watched as the thick metal pulled away just enough for the guard to push Harry through. He turned -- feeling a flick of anger at being pushed around -- only to see that the door had disappeared behind him again. He looked around the room; three walls were that thick, reinforced metal that the door had been made of. The other one looked like what was glass but shimmered and pulsated in a way glass did not; undoubtedly, it was a mix of shield and concealment spells and charms that that guard and perhaps others would be on the other side of.
All at once, a terribly loud alarm started blaring in the room and Harry subconsciously made a muffling bubble around himself without thinking twice about the fact that he shouldn’t have been able to cast anything while in Azkaban. The shimmering, pulsating wall spread itself apart and Harry watched as a man he once feared and hated was led in by dementors. Lucius Malfoy kept his head held high despite the way his robes fell around him, disheveled and full of tears and holes, and how his hands stayed cuffed in front of him.
“Harry Potter,” he growled, his voice much quieter than it should have been and far raspier than before.
“Hi.” Harry answered.
“You’ll have five minutes beginning now.” The guard said. The shimmery wall closed up abruptly, leaving Harry alone with his future father-in-law.
“Why are you here, Potter?” Lucius asked, glaring at Harry. “They said it had something to do with my son.”
Harry let out a sharp exhale and anxiously ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah. Yeah, it does. Err, you really don’t know why I might be here?”
Lucius scoffed. “Don’t try to play mind games with me, Potter. Tell me what I need to know about Draco and why you are the one delivering the news.”
Harry swallowed. “Okay, well, I’m just going to say it: Draco and I have been dating for six years and I fully intend on proposing to him. I am here because Narcissa told me your blessing would mean a lot to him.”
To his credit, Lucius didn’t outwardly get angry or really even move a muscle. Instead, he sat there for a moment before closing his eyes and laughing to himself.
“Mr. Malfoy?”
“I’ve really lost it, haven’t I?” Lucius said aloud. “This is the moment my mind leaves me after all this time here -- when Harry bloody Potter comes to visit. Surely, I must be going mad because I thought you just said you were…with my son.”
Harry straightened his shoulders, all at once feeling like when Dudley and his friends used to make fun of him and bully him. “You heard right. I’m proposing to him, and I’m here because your blessing would mean a lot to him. Supposedly. I’m not too sure about that myself.”
Lucius sobered within seconds. “What could you possibly offer my son?”
“What?”
“I taught Draco what he needed to look for in his marriage. Family history, money, status, appearance, career. I made sure he knew this, and he chose you, Harry Potter?”
Harry clenched his jaw. “Right. I need to fit your checklist, then? Make sure I would be a suitable husband for Draco? Listen here, Mr. Malfoy. The Potters have a long history with the Wizarding World; that should be enough for you regardless of the fact that my mother was a Muggleborn, which shouldn’t really matter but does to you. Money? I have the entire Potter inheritance as well as everything from the House of Black. Sirius left it to me -- remember him? Yeah. And I’ve done more sponsorships than anyone could possibly need. I’m the Head Auror and get a hefty salary from that. Your son also has absolutely no problem with giving me complete access to the Malfoy vault, so I suppose you could tack that on there. That being said, I currently own the entire flat building that Draco and I live in, so I don’t really need his money at all.”
“He wouldn’t let you into the vault,” Lucius sneered.
“Let me into the vault?” Harry rolled his eyes. “I’ve snogged him within an inch of his life inside of that vault. It’s not surprising that he gave me a couple galleons.”
Lucius looked utterly scandalized. Harry reveled in it.
“Err, what’s next? Status? Let’s see -- I’ve been on the cover of Wizard Weekly more than anyone else in all of history. I go to weekly galas and charity events as the guest of honor; people are tripping over their own feet to get endorsements and sponsorships from me. I am the most sought-after wizard when it comes to the Dark Arts -- that checks off your career bit, doesn’t it? Everyone in the entire wizarding world knows who I am and would beg on their knees to be in Draco’s position. I’m Harry-fucking-Potter, Lucius. My word could move mountains -- would move mountains -- if Draco wanted it to. I could give him the entire Wizarding World on a silver platter engraved with his name if he asked for it. Tell me, Lucius; what else do you need for your son?”
Lucius’s mouth was ajar, staring at Harry in a way that conveyed he was both extremely enraged and mildly impressed by what he had said.
“You fought the Dark Lord.” Lucius squeaked out. “He should know better.”
Harry scoffed. “Please. Everyone that wasn’t thrown in here publicly denounced Voldemort years ago.”
“Narcissa?”
“Among the first,” Harry said proudly. “Draco even said he hadn’t wanted anything to do with him in the first place, and that Malfoy Manor was only host to him because of your own loyalty to Voldemort. Get over it, Lucius.”
There was a moment of very, very tense silence.
“So? Will you provide your blessing? I don’t care if you do or not, but it might mean something to Draco.”
Lucius’s eyes scanned Harry from top to bottom. He took in the deep red of his Auror uniform, the black band on his arm that showed his title. He noticed the way Harry’s shoulders were set in a posture that screamed confidence, and the way that Harry moved his neck to look around in a way that purposefully showed off the hickeys usually hidden by his coat collar.
Harry saw Lucius struggle to take a deep breath before the latter closed his eyes. “I need to think. You will know on your wedding day whether I’ve decided to let you marry my son or not.
“You’re not letting me do anything; let’s be clear about that. The only person letting me do anything will be Draco, and I will be more than honored if he lets me marry him. You say my son my son my son over and over again, too. His name is Draco, and he’s all but disowned you. I wouldn’t be surprised if he changes his name to Potter once we’re married, Lucius! You mean very little to him now. Asking for your blessing was a formality that I thought he deserved -- neither of us will care whether you actually give it or not.”
Harry looked away from Lucius and into the shimmery wall, raising a hand in signal that he was done. The wall parted again immediately. Harry saw Lucius’s eyes widen as he realized that he was going to be put back in his cell. Just as the dementors flocked around the Malfoy again, Harry cleared his throat.
“And Lucius?” He called. He saw Lucius’s wide eyes peek around a blur of a dementor cloak. “About appearances…I may not find myself that attractive, but all of the Wizarding World does, and that includes Draco. He’s more than happy to tell me how fit he thinks I am, so I’ve checked that box too.”
With that, Lucius was guided out of the room and Harry was left alone, feeling more than happy despite having just had encounters with a miserable man and dementors.
4. RON WEASLEY AND HERMIONE GRANGER
“Uncle Harry!” Rose called the moment Harry walked in the front door. Instantly, Harry felt her hit his legs in a hug.
“Hi, hi! It’s been so long since I saw you.” Harry laughed, gently removing her enough he could crouch down to be at their level.
“Mommy says you're busy, Uncle Harry,” Rose said. She held up three fingers and said, “Hugo is two now.”
Harry grinned and pushed down one of her fingers. “There you go, sweetheart. That’s two fingers. I’m sorry I missed Hugo’s birthday; I was far away on a work trip. Where’s Mommy and Daddy?”
“Where’s Uncle Draco?” Rose countered without answering the question.
“Rosie,” Ron’s voice called. Harry looked up to see his best friend smiling down at him. “Uncle Harry and Uncle Draco aren’t always together, you know?”
Rose gasped and covered her mouth, ever the drama queen, and ran away, seemingly to wherever Hermione was.
Harry stood up and was pulled into a hug. Ron clapped him on the back a couple times before pulling away and holding Harry at arm’s length.
“Blimey, Harry. You look exhausted. That’s why I quit the Auror thing, you know?” Ron said.
Harry nodded. “I was at Hogwarts for a week and a half; a whole group of people decided the best way to teach the kids about the Dark Arts would be to try to perform them on them and the teachers. I got probably twelve hours of sleep the entire time I was there.”
“Nightmares again, or just busy?” Ron sounded concerned and it made Harry feel bad. He was here for good reasons, not bad.
“Both, but I also just missed Draco. Rosie might be right -- I am always with him.”
Ron laughed and clapped Harry’s shoulder before pulling away and moving towards the den, Harry right behind him.
“How’s ‘Mione?” Harry asked.
“She’s alright. You work in the same department as her, Harry! Surely you would know.”
“I’ve been gone, remember? We don't see each other as much as you’d expect, mate.”
They walked into the den and Ron announced, “Harry’s here, ‘Mione.”
Harry saw her head pop up from around the sofa.
“Harry!” Hermione said with a massive grin on her face.
Harry circled around the sofa and settled down next to her, instantly cooing and playing with little baby Hugo when he giggled at Harry.
“Gosh, Harry. I feel like I barely see you!” Hermione complained. She reached one hand out from under Hugo to squeeze Harry in a side hug before saying, “You know I love you and seeing you, but why did you want to stop by so urgently?”
“Leave the man alone, Mione. He just misses us. Am I right, Harry?” Ron teased.
Harry laughed for a second before sobering, taking a deep breath, and fishing out a small, navy leather box from deep in his pocket. “Well…”
“Oh my god, Harry!” Hermione exclaimed, her free hand coming up to cover her mouth. She moved quickly, putting Hugo in a rocker and coming back to throw her arms around him.
“What?” Ron asked urgently. “What’s happened?”
Hermione’s face removed itself from where she’s pressed it into Harry’s shoulder. With her eyes slightly teary, she turned to Ron and asked, “Are you really that daft? He’s proposing, Ronald!”
Harry saw the moment Ron connected the dots.. His best friend broke into the widest smile Harry had seen from him in years as he said, “Right on you, Harry! Congrats, mate!”
“Thanks,” Harry replied, just as giddy as his best friends.
“Can I see the ring?” Hermione asked, fully pulling herself away from Harry and just clapping her hands together. “Please, Harry? Please?”
“Of course, Mione. I didn’t just bring a box.”
Harry flicked open the ring box. Inside, a silver band was completely inlaid with sapphires that gleamed and glittered and bounced off the light. Despite having gems all the way around, it was a strikingly simple design that called for elegant minimalism, something that Pansy and Blaise had made sure Harry knew would be best. Inside the ring, a thin golden line pulsated.
“Oh, Harry,” Hermione said, reaching a hand out to hold one of his, “it’s gorgeous. Draco will love it.”
“I was so nervous about it that I had to call Pansy and Blaise,” Harry responded with a chuckle. “Thought I was going to make a complete mess out of it and he’d reject me.”
“As unhappy as it makes me to say this, Harry, Draco is completely mad for you and would probably just make you go shopping again before saying yes.” Ron scrunched his face in a displeased way that made Harry laugh. They both knew that while Draco and Ron weren’t the best of friends, they’d long accepted their place in each other’s lives.
“What’s that golden line inside?” Hermione asked, drawing Ron and Harry’s attention back to the main topic.
“Oh,” Harry breathed out, all at once feeling embarrassed. “To explain, I need you both to promise not to interrupt me until I’m done. It’s related to blood status things -- not in a bad way, Mione -- but you might be uncomfortable at first and I want to explain properly.”
Ron and Hermione nodded.
“The first person I talked to was Draco’s mom. She’s the most important person in his life, so I knew I ought to ask her for her blessing first. When she gave it, she explained pureblood wedding traditions. For example, pureblood parents write out their blessings and give it to their child on their wedding day; the blessings have protective magic in them that, in theory, helps keep their child safe and happy. It’s a superstitious thing, more than anything, really. But that made me look into other pureblood wedding traditions. One of them is similar -- the spouse gives a bit of their magic in the ring. It’s nothing more than symbolism, really. Of course, I added a protection charm to it, but otherwise it’s just about the idea. Your spouse gives you a ring as a promise to stay with you and their magic as reinforcement of that idea.”
Ron and Hermione were quiet for a moment and Harry began to get deeply worried that he’d talked about blood status for too long.
Then, Hermione turned and smacked Ron in the chest. “Ronald Weasley, that is how you be a romantic! You’re a pureblood, why didn’t you do that for me? That’s romantic!”
Harry felt a smile creep onto his face as Ron desperately tried to defend himself. Only when Ron continued to dig himself into a hole did Harry finally come to his aid. Harry squeezed Hermione’s hand that was still in his.
“Mione,” he began, “it’s a traditionalist thing. You know…blood purists, mostly. Obviously, Ron doesn’t know about it as it’s not something his family would do. Even though Draco and Narcissa are different now, it’s still something they would know about. Something that would still be important to them.”
Hermione huffed and crossed her arms, turning away from Ron. She looked at Harry and gave him a wink; instantly, Harry knew that her fit was just for show and that she wasn’t actually upset.
“See?” Ron chuckled nervously.
Harry laughed. “Okay, well. I’ll be going, then. Just wanted to tell you my news. I don’t need to see Mione take you down in a fight, Ron.”
“She would not beat me!” Ron cried.
“Really, Ronald? Do you want to test that theory?”
5. JAMES AND LILY POTTER, SIRIUS BLACK, AND REMUS LUPIN
“It’s wonderful to see you again, Mr. Potter.” Headmistress McGonagall said as she and Harry walked down the corridor. “The students absolutely loved seeing you come in and talk about your time here.”
“I’m happy to visit, Professor,” Harry responded with a smile. “Between you and me? I miss this place more than anything, even though it’s been years.”
“Hogwarts will always be open for you to visit,” McGonagall responded kindly. “The floo in my office is open for you to return home today, as well.”
“Thank you. Err, Professor? Would it be alright if I wandered the grounds for a little while? I won’t be more than an hour, I promise. I…just need to talk to some people in the Forbidden Forest.”
McGonagall huffed, though there was a fond look in her eyes. “Getting into trouble the moment you’re back here, Mr. Potter?”
Harry grinned. “Of course not, Professor.”
McGonagall gave him permission and Harry practically ran out of the castle and towards the Forbidden Forest. He jumped over roots and dodged trees, the wind whipping in his face, until he got to where he’d last seen the ghosts of his parents, Sirius, and Remus before he’d faced Voldemort all those years ago.
Harry took a deep breath. He looked around for a moment -- at the mist weaving between the trees, the quiet emptiness, the serene moonlight -- before he sat down in the middle of the small opening and began to talk.
“Mum, Dad. Sirius, Professor Lupin. I’m not sure if you can hear me at all, or if it would have been better for me to visit your graves. Honestly? This place is where I feel closest to you, now. So, I really bloody hope you can hear me.”
Harry waited for a moment, almost hoping that there was going to be some sign that they were listening, that they were there.
“Well, here it goes, then. I’m getting married.” Harry smiled up at the moon, trying to ignore the way his eyes watered. “I always knew I wouldn’t get to go tuxedo shopping with my dad or dance with my mom, but it started feeling more real. Even though you can’t be there, I still wanted you to know.”
Harry choked back a small sob before clearing his throat.
“His name is Draco, Draco Malfoy. I know what you’re thinking, Mum and Dad. A Malfoy?” Harry let out a weak chuckle. “Yeah. Sirius knows him -- they’re cousins, or something like that. Professor Lupin knows him too. If you can hear me, Sirius and Professor Lupin, try to give my parents some reassurance that I picked someone alright? I promise he’s not like the other Malfoys, like Lucius. He’s kind and loving. He’s a Healer, you know? One of the very best at St. Mungo’s. He’s brilliant, obviously. Draco’s like Sirius, the black sheep of the family. Though, Narcissa -- that’s Draco’s mum -- is more like Draco than Lucius. That’s because she was a Black, I suppose. I’m getting distracted…Draco’s everything to me. He’s the thing that keeps me going when the nightmares from the war and the work gets to be too much. You’d love him, I know it. Well, he can be a bit much at first, but then you love him. I do. Love him, I mean.”
Harry blinked away the tears as he looked around him, vividly remembering seeing his parents, Sirius, and Remus.
“There’s not much more I have to say, I suppose. I probably should have waited to tell you this since I haven’t even proposed yet, but I’m sure he’ll say yes. If he doesn’t, I’m going to wait as long as it takes. I’ll marry him whenever he’ll have me, even if that’s in fifty years. I’ll bring him here sometime. To meet you. You’ll know him the moment I come here with him -- he’s absolutely gorgeous.”
Harry stood up, taking in one last deep breath. “I’ll be going, then. Mum, Dad. I miss you so much. Narcissa’s taking good care of me; I’ll be happy to call her Mother, but she’ll never be you, Mum. Don’t worry. Dad, I’m going to be great to Draco like you were to Mum, I swear it. Sirius, Professor Lupin? I miss you, too. You don’t know it, but you were the ones who convinced me my parents would be alright with me liking Draco, that encouraged me to be a proper Gryffindor and be brave enough to ask him on a date. Thank you for that.”
Harry began a slow walk away. Right before leaving the clearing, he took one last look backwards. He searched around the area and took in the peace with a smile on his face. A part of him knew that, despite not showing it, they’d heard him.
+1. DRACO MALFOY
“Harry, love,” Draco said, his voice surprisingly alert, “you need to wake up. You’ve turned off your alarm eight times. One more, and you’ll be late.”
Harry groaned and pushed his face into the pillow. One arm shot out and grabbed onto Draco’s wrist. With a sharp tug and a sound of surprise from Draco, Harry was able to latch onto his boyfriend and continue to hide away from the daylight.
Draco let out a small laugh. “Harry, seriously. You’re training that new Auror today, remember? You don’t want to be late to that.”
Harry shot up, suddenly wide awake. He did have to train a new Auror, and he had to make sure everything was perfect for proposing later that night. Harry looked down at where Draco was sprawled on the bed from being roughly pulled by Harry. He was overwhelmed with affection for the man -- everything in him wanted to ruin his surprise and run across the room to grab the ring and ask him right there, in their small little flat. Yet, he knew Draco would never let him live it down; just a few weeks ago, they’d been watching trashy Muggle television in which an episode had various proposals. Draco had reacted best to the dramatic but private ones. Harry had taken extensive notes about which ones Draco violently hated and which he thought were romantic and sweet.
Harry snapped out of it when he felt a finger flick his forehead.
“Come on, Scarhead. Don’t get lost in your own brain.” Draco pushed himself up and off the bed. “I made you coffee.”
With that, Harry was left alone to frantically get ready. He tossed on his robes with pure muscle memory, making sure to grab that little navy box and stuff it in his safest pocket just beside his heart. When he entered the kitchen, Draco was humming to himself while making a fry-up, happily swaying back and forth. Harry felt his heart skip a beat just like it had continued to do for the past six years. Without a second thought, he moved across the kitchen and cast a quick stasis charm on the food before spinning Draco around so he was facing Harry.
“I’m so in love with you,” Harry stated, holding Draco by the waist. His eyes scanned Draco’s face and it was only because of this that he saw the way Draco’s gaze seemed to melt a bit.
“I would certainly hope so,” Draco countered.
“Like…really really in love with you.”
“That’s a great coincidence, Harry. So am I.”
“Even when you’re doing something as simple as making breakfast for yourself, I’m in love with you.”
Draco’s eyes fluttered for a moment and Harry felt him relax before he straightened up and pulled himself out of Harry’s arms, turning back to the stove. “I love you too,” Draco said, “but you’re going to ruin my food. You ought to get going, don’t you?”
Harry rolled his eyes in fond exasperation. “Right, right. I’ll see you tonight.”
He grabbed his coffee and went to the door to slide on his boots. His heart felt like it was going to burst; nothing could possibly make this day better. Just as he turned to call out to let Draco know he was leaving, the very man stalked into the room to put his hands on either side of Harry's face and pull him into a kiss that Harry never wanted to escape from.
“You forgot that,” Draco whispered against Harry’s lips. “See you tonight.”
Then, Draco went back to the other room. Harry grinned like a fool.
He wore that grin all the way to the Ministry. He didn’t even touch his coffee -- he was wide awake just from that morning. He greeted the trainee with more excitement than he’d ever been able to gather before. They’d talked for a while (and Harry tried not to let his brain think only of Draco) before grabbing the portkey and taking it to the old site.
“This,” Harry began, is a house that hosted Death Eaters during the Second Wizarding War. The Auror’s office has recreated it as it was during the height of the war. During this exercise, we’d like to see how you’d approach this house given that you have knowledge that it houses dark wizards and contains dark objects.”
“Okay!” The trainee -- a newly graduated former Ravenclaw by the name of Esmerelda -- said joyously.
“My job is just going to be to stand behind you and inform you what would happen if you happen to make a wrong choice. Nothing here can actually hurt you, though that won’t always be the case.”
Esmerelda nodded and began to move towards the house, wand at the ready. She opened the door carefully and moved from room to room. When she got to the den, a book swirled with fake dark magic on the couch.
“Log: Auror Fuentes. Dark object: book. Location: den. Suspected dark magic present.” Esmerelda said to her wand. She looked at Harry and he gave her an encouraging nod. Then, she reached out to pick it up.
“Stop.” Harry said. Esmerelda froze. “Never touch a dark object without knowing what magic is placed on it. Our job is to catch dark wizards, not the things they leave behind. That book had been charmed with a binding jinx; you would have been bound and frozen, trapped here by the Death Eaters.”
Esmerelda nodded shakily, looking a bit nervous, before regaining her composure and moving on. They went up to the second level of the house. When they entered a bedroom, Harry barely had enough time to pull Esmerelda out of the way before the green light of a spell came flying through the door at her. Esmerelda yelped and Harry pulled her behind him.
Harry spoke into his wand, “Auror Potter requesting backup at Plyer House.”
“Auror Potter, you say?” A voice called from the inside of the room.
Harry moved into the doorway and all at once he and the dark wizard were flinging spells at each other. He managed to get a stinging hex in that made the wizard flinch away for a moment, but it seemed to only make the wizard more angry and he attacked faster. Harry felt a brief moment of panic as two dark smoke tunnels came flying into the room; suddenly, it was three versus one and Harry really did not like those odds.
“Go!” Harry called out to Esmerelda. “Get help!”
Esmerelda didn’t argue and instead ran to where Harry dropped the portkey, completely disappearing within a couple seconds.
Harry slung hex after curse after spell, fighting to hold his own against the other three. He felt one curse hit him, felt the cold aura that surrounded him, but he kept fighting as much as he could. He held his own, dodging spells and moving throughout the house. His vision had begun to swim and his head pounded but he stayed on his feet. Harry managed to petrify two of them and had made it to the door when it swung open and revealed five other Aurors. Letting out a deep sigh of relief, Harry relaxed; it made his body feel extremely heavy. All at once, he felt himself falling towards the floor and only saw darkness.
Harry blinked his eyes open against bright lights, wincing at the way his body ached. All at once, he felt his glasses being roughly shoved onto his face. He blinked a couple more times to see Draco’s extremely displeased face in front of him.
“Am I in heaven? Because you look like an angel.” Harry joked.
Draco did not find it funny. “I’m about to kill you and then you can find out if I’m an angel or not.”
“Sorry.” Harry apologized. “I didn’t mean to get hurt. How’s Esmerelda? How long was I out? Is everyone okay?”
Draco sighed. He helped Harry sit up -- this made Harry extremely aware of the way bandages were wrapped around his entire upper body.
“Everyone’s alright.” Draco said, not even looking at Harry as he shuffled around gathering potions and taking care of him. “You’ve only been asleep for two hours, which is surprising considering we didn’t know what hit you. It seems like a cutting curse of the wizard’s own making. They’ve been arrested, by the way. Only thing those bloody Aurors seemed to do to help you.”
“Hey,” Harry cut in, eyebrows furrowed. “You’re being angry. What’s wrong? It’s something other than me being hurt -- if it was just me being hurt, you’d call me an idiot and then kiss me. What did the Aurors do?”
Draco was quiet for a moment before turning to Harry with a stricken expression on his face. “They wouldn’t let me get to you.”
“What?”
“They wouldn’t let me get to you,” Draco repeated with more feeling. He looked like he was going to cry. He sat down on the cot next to Harry and held one of his hands, the other one coming up to brush hair off of Harry’s forehead.
“Tell me what happened, Draco.”
“I was with another patient when a notice came that there was a hurt Auror in the trauma bay. I didn’t pay attention to it -- I wasn’t assigned there today. Then, a letter came flying in to me that said you were the one hurt and that I was just being notified as your emergency contact. I ran there, of course, and gods, Harry. You were so covered in blood and it was all your own and I was terrified, but I knew I could heal you. I went towards you and an Auror stopped me. Said I couldn’t go over there because of this,” Draco said, gesturing to his dark mark.
“Name.” Harry said, absolutely full of rage. The moment he was well enough to move, they’d be fired.
“I don’t know. It started with a K, I think. I’m sure he’s still out there with the others.” Draco took a shaky breath. “But they wouldn’t let me get to you. I said I’m your boyfriend, and that I’m the first contact, and they still wouldn’t let me heal you. I thought I was going to lose you, Harry, all because they wouldn’t let me over there. He kept saying I could only go over there if I was your spouse and I know we’re not but we practically are and I said that and he still wouldn’t let me. I’m a Head Healer here, for fucks safe! That should have been enough!”
Harry felt his heart break for Draco. If this had happened one day later, all he’d have to do is flash that ring and he’d have been given complete access to Harry. Resigning himself to his decision, Harry reached a hand up and held Draco’s cheek for just a second as reassurance.
“I'm here, I’m alright.” Harry said and Draco nodded. Then, he asked for his robes. Draco looked confused but moved to get them anyway. He returned just a moment later with red and black fabric, gently giving it to Harry. Harry made Draco sit next to him, momentarily ignoring the confused look on his face.
“I had plans for this -- really, really great plans that I knew you’d love and never shut up about, but I think I should do this now, for both of our sakes.” Harry began.
“Harry, what-”
“You’re it for me, Draco.” Harry said, hand fishing around for the small box. The moment it made contact, he looked up at Draco. “I love you more than anything. It makes absolutely no sense how people could think you’re anything but the first person I would want to see when hurt. I’m sorry I waited so long. Too long, apparently. They won’t ever try to keep you away from me again, I promise.”
Harry pulled out the box, his heart skipping at the way Draco took in a sharp breath. He pushed the top open, looking at Draco and watching as a million emotions went across the latter’s face.
“Will you let me marry you, Draco?” Harry asked, his voice coming out far more nervous and quiet than he’d wanted it to.
It was then that Draco let the tears fall that he’d been holding back. He nodded frantically before delving into a fit of happy laughter. Harry pulled the ring out and carefully slid it onto Draco’s finger. The moment the ring got to its spot, he felt his magic jump as the magic in the ring found its way home.
Draco’s hands came out and grabbed onto his jaw just like they had that morning as they pulled Harry’s forehead against his own. “Please marry me, Harry.” He begged through elated laughter and a wide smile.
“I will. I love you, Draco.”
“I love you, too.” Draco responded. They sat there for a moment, simply basking in each other’s presence. Harry loved the way the thin band of cold metal and gems pressed against his face; it was a feeling that was rapidly becoming one of his absolute favorites in the entire world.
“Don’t let that Auror come to our wedding or I’ll throw a fit.” Draco ordered, pressing a short kiss to Harry’s lips.
Harry let out a chuckle. “He’s fired, baby. I’m not letting him anywhere near you. You’re all mine, now.”
“Don’t be a prat. You’re mine, obviously.” Draco countered.
“Yeah, okay. I’m yours.”