Chapter 23
In Which We See a Celebration, a Pronouncement and a Proposal

It turned out to be a very good thing they'd ended the spell just then, as a house elf popped in -- Puddy, Harry thought, but wasn't sure -- and announced that the feast would be in half an hour if the sirs would care to dress. They found their outfits cleaned and magically mended, Salazar Slytherin's weapon and Godric Gryffindor's sword lying quietly atop their respective piles of rich velvet.

Harry waited until the elf had vanished again to climb out of bed, wondering idly how long they'd actually been allowed, and if anyone else had noticed their magic orgasms this time. And if they had, just how much ribbing the two of them were in for, once the whole 'hero' thing wore off again and the other students started treating them like normal. He was brought up short when he realized that they wouldn't be students much longer, and there might not be time for them to remember that he was the same kid they'd thought was crazy during most of his fifth year.

He waited, yawning, while Draco made use of the bathroom, then did the same and climbed groggily into the shower for a quick wash-up. He'd rather be late to the feast than show up smelling like he'd just spent the last however long having as much hot gay sex as physically possible, truth or no. Draco washed him in silence, sighing happily when Harry returned the favour. It was almost strange to be running his hands over Draco's skin and only feeling it from the one side, but comforting, in a way.

Like there was, just possibly, a normal for them to get back to.

---

Harry's first thought, looking out across the Great Hall from the unfamiliar perspective of his seat at Dumbledore's right hand, was how young everyone looked. Despite the empty places at each long table where students too injured -- or, gods help them, dead -- to attend usually sat, despite the abundance of bandages and slings, they were laughing and talking just like any other holiday, eyeing the golden plates with greed and wondering aloud what special treats they'd get for saving the world.

Everyone grew quiet as Dumbledore stood, facing out over the crowd. "There are many things that could be said tonight, and many more that will be best left unsaid. Let us first take a moment to remember those who cannot be here, for one reason or another." He waited patiently as the students stopped fidgeting before continuing.

"Each and every one of you deserves far more than a feast, and although there are those that may seem to have done more or less, you all put forth your very lives today, for the sake of your families, your fellow students, and your futures. I believe the Ministry will be giving its own form of praise in due time, but for now let me just say that I have never had a prouder moment in all my years at Hogwarts."

The students glowed, Harry -- and Draco, on Dumbledore's left -- right along with them. The praise helped in a small way to fill the emptiness of guilt and loss, and he realized with a start that the one thing he no longer had to worry about was responsibility. His part was over, he was done, and he had nothing but the unknown future ahead of him. "Two of my best students were, as you all most likely know by now, central to our victory. Harry Potter risked himself to go into Voldemort's lair, but more than that, Draco Malfoy gave him the one weapon that Voldemort had no defence against -- the power of love."

Harry turned and caught Draco's eye behind Dumbledore's back, and winked. Draco blushed, and the students applauded, drowning out whatever else Dumbledore might have said. They stood, cheered, clapped and stomped, and someone started a chant of, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Dumbledore sat, eyes twinkling. "You might as well do as they ask, or we will never get to eat."

Harry resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at the Headmaster in a very juvenile way, instead standing, drawing Draco to his feet with his gaze. He took the two steps behind Dumbledore that brought him to his lover's side, and swept Draco up into his arms dramatically. "Might as well make a show of it," Harry murmured, and then dipped Draco back dramatically, kissing him with a tender, chaste press of lips to lips.

The cheering grew deafening, and Harry let Draco up. He was grinning fit to split his face in two, he knew, and he felt something warm and familiar filling him up as Draco glared at him peevishly. "I'll get you for that, Potter," he hissed, trying to suppress his own grin.

"You already have me, Malfoy," murmured Harry in return, as Dumbledore stood back up.

"To further your elation, in light of your good work, end-of-year exams will be cancelled. Now tuck in!" That last was said over the loudest cheer yet, and Harry released Draco, going to his place rather reluctantly. He wasn't really looking forward to the dinner conversation, having Dumbledore on his left and, of all people, Snape at his right with Lupin just past him. Worse, Draco had McGonagall and Moody on his other side, with the other faculty and Order of the Phoenix members arrayed at the table ends.

A last glance over at Draco revealed him staring down at his golden plate with a small, private smile that matched the warm glow in Harry's chest. Then food appeared before him, roast and turkey and kidney pie, warm rolls and mashed potatoes, flagons of chilled juice and hot mulled wine. He reached for the juice at the same time as Snape, and found himself blushing unaccountably as their fingers brushed. "Pass the mulled wine, will you, Severus?" said Lupin, eyes twinkling.

Harry was shocked to see Snape's cheeks colour, and Lupin's fingers linger deliberately over his on the wine flagon. He poured pumpkin juice and wished he was brave enough for the wine, feeling the sudden need for something to scrub out his brain. "Got any plans for after, Harry?" asked Lupin serenely, even as Snape poured his own juice with fingers that just barely trembled.

"Not really. I mean, I was all for the war, wasn't I? Only it looks like we're not having one after all, so it'll really depend on how many NEWTs I take, I suppose. I'd thought of being an Auror once, but I don't know that I've got the marks for it." Harry very carefully served himself a helping of something and avoided looking at the two professors in this very new, very disturbing light.

"I'm certain you'll do fine, Harry," said Dumbledore on his left. "I'm sure that Professor Snape will be happy to help you with Potions, should you be falling behind."

Harry had the distinct feeling that Dumbledore knew exactly what was going on in his head, and he spent a long moment practicing the most calming Occlumency exercises he knew. Mind gratefully blank, he dug into his food without tasting a thing and wished fervently for the meal to end. "I believe he is getting excellent tutelage from Draco at this point, Headmaster. His performance in class has improved markedly since their... relationship... began."

"They do make a lovely couple, though, don't they, Severus?" Lupin's voice was amused and affectionate, and it made Harry smile. They'd grown closer over the last two years, brought together by war and grief and a mutual love for Sirius, and Harry's parents as well. He'd been rather neglecting Lupin these past weeks, and found it heartening to hear the approval in his tone.

"Ta, Professor," said Harry lightly, and then more quietly, "It's all happened so fast, hasn't it?"

"That it has, my boy," said Dumbledore cheerfully. "Who would have thought, three weeks ago, that you'd be sitting here celebrating victory with your husband?"

Harry felt rather sorry for Snape, and not at all sorry for Dumbledore, both of whom were on the fringes of the resultant spray of pumpkin juice. "My... what?"

"Although you have not been formally wed, your status is quite clear under Wizarding law, Harry," said Dumbledore mildly. "Otherwise, rest assured that you would still be sleeping in Gryffindor Tower."

"Yes, Mr. Potter, when will you be having the wedding? I assume that Mr. Malfoy will want to hold it at the Manor, should the Ministry choose not to confiscate it." Snape was smirking as he spoke, voice dry and edged with irony.

"Wedding?" he said, turning quickly to look past Dumbledore. "Wedding, Draco?"

Draco just smirked right back, and raised his gently steaming glass. Evidently, he hadn't been at all shy about taking the hot spiced wine. "I had been meaning to ask you about that, Harry, but there never seemed the opportune moment."

Harry blinked stupidly, suddenly feeling rather outnumbered and completely flatfooted. "You... you want to marry me?"

"That is the general idea when one forms a lifetime bond with their partner, or had you not considered that aspect, Harry?" This was Lupin, and Harry spun, glaring at his erstwhile friend for betraying him in his hour of need.

He turned back when he felt a tug at his shoulder, only to find Draco kneeling down in the space between the chairs, looking up at him with love and mischief in his eyes, and a small velvet box in his hand. "Harry Potter, will you marry me?"

Bugger, thought Harry dimly. He's even got a ring. "Er, yes?"

The cheering that shook the rafters forcefully reminded Harry that he was still in the Great Hall, sitting at the high table in full view of everyone. "Told you I'd get you," said Draco softly, slipping the ring on Harry's finger. It was a wide silver band set with a row of close-set diamonds, and a single large emerald in the centre etched with an ornate letter 'M'.

Harry snorted, and leaned down for another of those warm, chaste kisses. "I am not changing my name to Malfoy," he murmured as he pulled back, "But we can have the wedding wherever you want."

The rest of the feast passed in a blessed blur, although a few images stood, unfortunately, rather sharply out in his mind. A rosy-cheeked and drunken Lupin giving Snape a kiss on the cheek, for instance. Or the moment when Moody had given him a congratulatory hug and offered to give him some pointers for their honeymoon. He kept staring down at his hand, baffled by the unfamiliar weight of his engagement ring, and then staring back up at the laughing faces of his fellow Hogwarts students, three sentences running on a loop through his head.

They'd won. And he was getting married. To Draco bleeding Malfoy.