Cancellation
Back in the castle, there was held a great feast in the Great Hall. Students and Order members alike sat together chatting and eating.
Not having to hide their relationship anymore, Harry and Draco took a seat at the Gryffindor table with Hermione and Ron, joined by Pansy and Blaise.
Suddenly, Sirius appeared behind Harry and motioned him and Draco to come to the little room next to the professors’ table. Naturally, their friends followed. Sirius rolled his eyes.
Draco’s parents and Dumbledore already sat there waiting. Confused, Draco frowned. “What is going on here?”
“We don’t know, dear”, his mother replied. “My cousin had something important to discuss.”
Lucius waved his hand impatiently to Sirius as if to say, 'The stage is yours’.
Sirius smirked. “Well, now that we all have our happy ending with our mate Voldie gone, I have a little announcement to make regarding Harry’s betrothel.”
Lucius sat up a little straighter, excitement shining in his eyes. Were they finally discussing marriage arrangements? Would they select a date? He just opened his mouth to suggest they did it right after their graduation at the Manor’s grounds when Sirius continued.
“I – in my authority as Harry’s guardian seeing as he isn’t of age yet – hereby declare the engagement between Harry James Potter and Draco Lucius Malfoy null and void.” Sirius grinned, satisfied by the shocked gasps of his audience.
“You–you can't do that!” Lucius spluttered. “We agreed on this engagement in exchange for my assisting in bringing down the Dark Lord! I have a contract!”
“Oh, but Lucy, dearest, that’s just the marriage contract. It only becomes valid if Harry and Draco marry. However, the engagement was never part of the contract. Our agreement was only oral and can be broken easily. Like I just did.” Sirius chuckled.
“You bastard!” Lucius spat, drawing his wand.
Sirius had his wand trained on Lucius head just as fast. “You honestly could not have thought that I would trade with my godsons live for anything! I’d never sacrifice Harry’s freedom of choice. I did what I had to do to keep him safe. And if that was an agreement with you, Malfoy, then so be it. But don’t believe even for a second, I would give him away without a loophole. Seriously.”
Lucius was furious. “You sneaky, filthy little–“
“I’m a Black, Lucy. You, of all people, should know who you’re dealing with.” Sirius taunted.
“Enough! I’m not tolerating another battle today. Escpecially not in Hogwarts.” Dumbeldore’s voice boomed across the room. The two men lowered their wands, glaring at each other murderously.
“Were you in on this, Dumbledore?” Lucius grumbled threatingly.
“I can honestly say, I did not know of Sirius’ plan. I’m afraid, the engagement is officially broken off.”
„What? NO! You can’t sink my ship when it finally sailed!“ Pansy cried out.
Draco’s mind was reeling. Did Harry know all along their engagement was being broken off? Was their relationship a fake for Harry all along? He turned to his boyfriend, though he wasn’t sure he ever truly was his boyfriend.
„Did you just pretend to like me all this time?” Draco asked, his voice very small. He wanted to be furious, to shout angrily, but all he felt was despair and emptiness.
Harry looked at him, eyes wide in shock. “It’s not– I–“, he stuttered and then went silent.
Draco nodded sadly, “I see.” He turned on his heels to speedwalk out of the room and the Great Hall. Outside, he began to run. He didn’t know where to go, he just had to get away.
Harry could not comprehend what was happening. In one moment, he was happily sitting with Draco, finally enjoying peace after defeating a mad wizard who thirsted for his life. The next, his boyfriend looked at him in betrayal while his godfather winked at him smugly.
“You don’t have to be with him anymore, pup” Sirius said to him conspirationally.
“But I – I want to be with him!” Harry exclaimed indignantly.
“What are you waiting for then, idiot?” Hermione screamed at him. “Go after him!”
Harry nodded, turning to leave. But then he turned back around, looking at his godfather. “I appreciate you looking out for me, padfoot. But I won’t give up on Draco.”
Sirius eyed him critically, then sighed. “Alright. If that’s what you want, Harry. I’ll support you. I’m always on your side, you know that, right?”
Harry teared up. Before he could embrace his godfather, though, Pansy and Hermione screamed at him. “Harry, go!”
The Gryffindor shot his friends a small, sheepish smile before breaking out in a run.
“Draco!” Harry shouted as he ran after him. Draco ignored him.
“Wait, dammit!” The Gryffindor caught up and grabbed the blonde by his shoulders to keep him in place.
“What do you want, Potter?” Draco spat, tears pooling in his eyes. “Did you come to get your stupid ring back?” He reached into his shirt to tuck his necklace out. Big, calloused hands stopped his smooth, trembling ones by wrapping around them tightly.
“Please keep it.” Harry whispered. Draco looked up, searching Harry’s face. What was he on about?
“What do you mean? I don’t understand.” Draco whispered back.
Harry tucked a stray blond lock behind Draco’s ear. “It’s a promise that someday I will marry you.”
“But–but the whole thing was broken off.” Draco sputtered.
“I know. But that does not mean I’m not in love with you. I want to be with you, Draco. I really do love you. Our relationship may have started because of the engagement, but my feelings for you were always real. I didn’t have to be your boyfriend, but I really, really wanted to. And I still want to be your boyfriend. And then I want to be your fiancé. And then your husband. But this time it’s going to be on our terms and not because of war strategies or family obsessions.” Harry stared into Draco’s eyes imploringly, willing him to understand.
A tear rolled down Draco’s cheek. Harry thumbed it away.
“Alright”, Draco said simply and nuzzled Harry’s hand that held his cheek.
“Alright?” Harry asked.
“Alright”, Draco nodded, and a small smile formed on his lips as Harry scoffed exasperatedly.
“I practically pour my heart out to him, and he just says ‘alright’! Not even an ‘Oh, Harry, of course I will marry you someday’ Or ‘I love you, too, Harry, this love is eterna–‘ mmpfh.” Harry was effectively silenced with soft lips on his. Before he could really melt into the kiss, though, Draco backed away.
“Of course, I love you, fool. That proposal better be spectacular, or I’ll say no.” Draco said mischievously while tucking the ring back into his shirt.