4

Chapter 4 The Ceremony

It's Valentine's Day, was the first thought when Harry woke up, and then it's THE DAY. He sat up abruptly and felt his head spinning around. It took him awhile to get his glasses and focus his sight.

After all the walking and fitting and other stuff all day, he still tired even after five hours of sleep. Draco was right about the dress and hair, but it wasn't boring. It was fun and adventurous, except that he had to do it five hours non-stop. And within those hours, he went to many different magical places he didn't even know existed. He never saw so many robes before, in many colours he couldn't name.

When he first saw Narcissa Malfoy, he thought that she was an aloof and standoffish aristocrat rich lady. It only took ten minutes to learn that she was a delicate, sweet lady. She accepted Harry as Draco's choice pretty well. But then he was forced to admit that Narcissa Malfoy is a woman of strong will. It took hours to do his hair and she didn't give up even once. It still looked messy, but it was sexy messy now, not just messy hair. And he got new glasses, too. It did improve his eyesight and his look.

The ever-wise Headmaster had called classes off for the day since the students had something else in their mind, not including studying. So Harry got all morning to sleep in, since the ceremony would be held just after lunch. Thanks to Narcissa, he had nothing to worry about.

He turned around to find Ron's bed was empty. He must have been off somewhere with Hermione. Sigh. It's only ten and he had nothing else to do. Maybe he could experiment with his hair. Narcissa taught him some charms to do his hair. To make it straight, a little wavy or just messy, with the right tonic and spell.

The Headmaster Office

Harry saw Draco stood silently, away from the small crowd in the Headmaster's room. His body was tense and he kept looking back to the entrance until he noticed Harry enter the room.

Harry took his time to toddle pass the room. Standing in front of him, he suddenly realised that Draco was two inches taller and he actually had to lift his head up to look him in the eyes. He never realised before how tall Draco was, noting that he himself was pretty tall at 5 ft 11 inches.

They looked at each other for a few moments. They complemented their partner's outfit. Draco was wearing a fine dark blue formal robe, very contrast to his grey eyes and platinum hair. Very expensive and specially made for him. It had the Malfoy's emblem embroidered on his left chess. A very impressive dragon with its wings spread and a cobra in its claws. At least it's not black, Harry thought, it reminded him a lot of a gloomy funeral.

Harry wore green. It was Narcissa's choice. They spent the whole three hours before she decided that the outfit was good enough for him. She even said that she wished she had two weeks so she could do better for him. But he had to admit that he looked good in it, the robe fit him well, emphasizing his slender body.

"Waiting for me?"

"Yeah, I thought that…" Draco stopped mid sentence; his eyes didn't look at Harry's.

"You thought that I would back off?" Harry smiled at him.

"I hadn't seen you the whole day yesterday." Draco pulled him into his arm and kissed his head.

"Blame you mother. She took me away when I was off of class, and wouldn't let me go back until she was satisfied. She's nice, though."

Harry took his chance to study Draco's face at the close range. He's not very handsome, so why were all those girls crazy about him? Chasing after his money? But there is something about him that makes him attractive. Maybe his masculinity, or arrogance, or…

"Yeah, you sure are better looking now. Why don't you let your eyes get fixed?" Draco's words brought him back.

"Hm, it's OK."

"Is your godfather OK with this? Didn't he try to change your mind?"

"He tried, but not very hard. So I guess he's OK."

Sirius Black and Remus Lupin were pretty shocked when they heard about the predicament and had used the portkey the Headmaster had sent along with the letter to return to Hogwarts. It was very awkward reunion, and Sirius didn't get much time to change Harry's mind because Narcissa had came and kidnapped him to shop with her.

Harry turned to look for his godfather and found Sirius in a heated argument with Severus Snape, the Potions Master. Not such an uncommon sight. But they managed to keep their voices down and be civil to each other.

Remus Lupin, best friend of his parents and Sirius, was talking to the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall, Head of the Gryffindor house. Those three were the only school staff who knew this arrangement. It will be much safer, the Headmaster had said. He would let the school nurse know (about the pregnancy only) when it was time for Harry to need her help.

It was almost time, but Draco's parents were nowhere in sight; neither were Harry's friends.

"You're parents aren't coming?"

"They came when the time was up, and left after it was finished," Draco looked apologetic at him, "They really can't risk Voldemort finding out."

There was loud thud of hurried footsteps coming. The door was opened to reveal Harry's best friends, their faces red from the running.

"Hey, I thought you guys wouldn't come." Harry greeted them with a broad grin in his face.

"Sorry, Harry. It took us some time to get away from those nosy friends." Ron smiled back at him.

"Yes, especially Seamus. He thought we had some hot romantic Valentine date. He had convinced Colin to come with him and take our pictures. But we can fool them." Hermione gave him one of her proud grins.

"Which of course, you two would be on, if only you didn't have to come here," Draco smiled secretly at the two of them. Hermione only sighed, really, Valentine's Day or not, she didn't have any hot romantic date.

As Draco had told him, his parents came when the ceremony begin. Harry had never seen such a ceremony before, he had no idea what to do and that made him feel a bit anxious. And then he felt Draco's hand squeezed his softly to calm him, and didn't let go until the ceremony was over.

Professor Dumbledore had them say their vows, just like a muggle marriage, and then let Draco tie a necklace around Harry's neck. It had the Malfoy heraldic as the pendant. Draco put a white gold band on Harry's left ring finger. After that he conducted some ancient spell Harry had never heard before. He felt the warmth on his neck and his ring finger.

"You are mine now, Harry." Draco whispered so softly only Harry could hear it.

"Sorry, I don't have anything for you." Harry had a guilty look in his eyes that made others smiled.

"You may kiss him, Draco."

Draco kissed Harry's lips softly and slowly, slipping his tongue in Harry's mouth. The Headmaster coughed and cleared his throat; he had to stop the kiss before it got too hot. But Draco didn't listen.

"Hey, Malfoy. You kiss him, not eat him."

Ron words got Draco's attention. He had the grace not to look embarrassed. Soon, the ceremony was over, the Malfoys left after they congratulated them, and Narcissa gave each of them a kiss and a hug.

The four of them left the Headmaster's office soon after the Malfoys' departure. Harry hadn't had a word with Sirius and Remus, but then he remembered he would have dinner with them before they left Hogwarts.

Ron and Hermione walked a bit distant from them to give some privacy, much to Ron's dismay. But he just followed Hermione's slow pace.

"I need to get back to the infirmary." Sigh. "Just in case one of those stupid girls feels like visiting and annoying me."

"I guess you better then," Harry couldn't ignore the cold feeling at his finger.

"I'll wait you at my room tonight."

"Why you room? Why not mine?"

"Because you share it with Weasley and since I'm a Head Boy I have a room for myself. I'm not sure about you, but I don't need an audience."

Harry was swearing at his stupidity now and he couldn't stop blushing.

"Draco, do you think it's alright for me to wear this necklace and this ring? Wouldn't that be too obvious? It's your family's right?"

"It's a family heirloom actually, but I don't think you have to worry. No one will know if you don't tell them. And don't leave it where someone could get a good look at it. Just wear it, Harry. It has protection charms." Draco smiled at him now. "You're family, remember?"

"But someone could notice." Harry felt something warm in his heart.

"Not unless you let your shirt off, something I don't advise." Draco looked at him from the corner of his eyes.

"How about the ring?"

"Hmmm, just said that it was from your secret admirer or you bought it yourself, or that it's your parents'. It's not that old, someone could have just bought it somewhere."

"I'll stick to the 'secret admirer', then."

"No ordinary secret admirer, Harry, never."

They headed off in different directions when they got to the junction. Harry was still with his friends, and didn't know what to do until dinnertime.

"So, Harry, what will you do until the night?"

"I don't really know."

"Some place you want to go or someone you want to meet?"

"Not really."

"Come with us then," Hermione realized she had lost hope of any romance with Ron and thought, better spend some time with Harry.

"Yeah, I know just where to go."

12 February 03, 3:18 pm