The next morning, at about 5 a.m., Ron woke from a clicking of the door shutting. He let a deep moan rumble from his throat as he peeled open his eyes and lifted his head just a bit. 

"Sorry, did I wake you," a familiar voice whispered. Ron jolted at the realization that his missing best friend was alive and okay. He got up from his bed.

"Harry, where have you been? Everyone has been so worried about you, we almost had a search party," he said, hugging him, "how are you, are you okay?"

"Ron, I'm fine, well, excellent, really excellent," Harry smiled at the thought, patting his best friend's back and releasing.

"Where have you been?"

"The Room of Requirement with Draco." Ron's almost seemed excited.

"You finally killed him? Well done, Harry really!"

"What? Killed him? What are you on about?"

"What are you on about," Ron furrowed his eyebrow.

There was a knock at the door.

"No, Harry, please don't tell me..."

"Well," Harry sang, biting his lip as he backed up to the door, still facing Ron. He opened it to reveal Draco behind him. Ron groaned as Draco lifted Harry from behind and shut the door with his foot.

"Missed me much," Harry smiled while Draco buried his nose in his neck.

"Very much," he kissed below his ear.

"It's been two minutes, not even."

"Yes, well, I woke Blaise and he celebrated for about 30 seconds then said if I didn't shut up then he'd kick me out."

"I see that went well," Harry turned his head to Draco's face, looking into his eyes.

"Wonderful, because now I get to be with you," Draco said, cheekily. Harry took Draco's hands, which were wrapped around his waist, and grabbed on to them, squeezing them tightly.

"I think I'm going to throw up," Ron announced, grabbing the bed with his hand so he didn't fall over.

"Weasley, fancy seeing you here," Draco looked up to him, resting his chin on Harry's shoulder. Harry just looked at him in a daze.

"This is my room, Malfoy."

"Just trying to make small talk," Draco said before turning back to Harry, so close their noses were touching. "How long has it been?"

"How long was it an hour ago when I told you?"

"I was a bit preoccupied to pay attention," Draco almost giggled. Ron couldn't believe his eyes. Draco Malfoy, giggling, acting as though he was a 14-year-old schoolgirl under a love potion. Harry tried not to laugh too, forgiving Draco for not listening. Their activities did take up almost all of their focus... and none of their clothing.

"It's been 8 hours," Harry smiled and kissed his nose.

"It seems longer!"

"Nope, just 8 short hours," Harry smiled, leaning his head back into Draco's embrace.

"8 hours since what," Ron questioned, feeling woozy.

"You haven't told him? Harry, you need to pick up your game, you're 4 minutes behind!"

"Sorry," Harry looked back up at Ron. Draco let go of him, but he connected his right hand with Harry's left, twirling his ring around his finger and playing with it. "Erm...Draco and I... we are... sort of engaged," Harry said, biting his lip. He was all too nervous.

Draco smiled wide, an unstoppable force. It was actually happening. He was actually engaged, and not just to anybody, but to his best friend, to his love, to his Harry. Reality was stepping in, them telling their friends, and surely he'd mail his mother when he could stop shaking from excitement.

Ron looked like he was going to blow up, but Harry's eyes searched for approval. Draco could see and he squeezed Harry's hand harder, and Harry looked into his eyes lovingly. Almost as if they were communicating through them, Harry knew he always had Draco despite what everyone else thought.

Ron saw the act of loving. The two were chastely blissful together, and he didn't want to ruin that. The Weasley had too big of a heart. He could see the love in their eyes, almost as if the couple were a work of art; so much pain, such a story, but still beautiful. He wouldn't admit it out loud, but he was staring at pure love in the flesh. "Hurt him again, I'll kill you, married or not... but if Harry's happy, so am I," he said after a deep breath. "Congratulations."

"Thank you," Harry breathed. It was if a big cloud lifted from both of their shoulders. Draco took Harry's chin with his finger and pressed his lips to Harry's own.

"Oh God, I'm going to puke," Ron heaved, running to the bathroom. Harry and Draco didn't care if he was faking or not, they were lost in their own world.

"I can't wait to kiss you whenever I want, all day, everyday," Draco beamed into the kiss.

"I can't wait to receive them," Harry replied, kissing him deeper.

"I should probably get going," Draco reluctantly let go, "Don't want anyone seeing me sneak out of here."

"Wait, about that, when do you want to tell? People are going to see our rings and we will be questioned. It's not going to take long for them to figure out."

"What do you want to do," his face went serious, "I'll do what ever you want."

"I don't want to give you up just yet. I want you all to myself. It's just people-"

"If people find out on their own and connect the pieces, good for them. It's not like we can hide it forever. But I'm ready when you are."

"Not yet. But, soon, okay? Is that alright," Harry questioned.

"It's perfect, Harry. I love you," Draco kissed him goodbye.

"Love you too," Harry responded. "Wait," he called as Draco put his hand on the doorknob.

"Yes, my love?" Harry almost immediately melted to those words.

"First call me that more often. Second, should we be friends, you know, out there?"

Draco thought, but then answered, "I think people are already sort of suspicious since you beat up Jensen and half the Hufflepuff quidditch team for me," while smiling. "Oh and whatever you say, my fiancé."

"I like 'My love' better," he quirked his lip to the side.

"Whatever scarface," Draco rolled his eyes, leaning his back against the door.

"They beat you up! How could I let them get away with that?"

"I knew you wouldn't of. But yeah, we should be friends...sort of... well I mean I have been particularly nasty to you lately... We'll have to ease into it."

"Alright, I can work with that," Harry kissed his cheek and started walking away to his bed.

"Ah ah ah... come here," Draco grabbed Harry's cheek and stared into his eyes, "I need a real good morning kiss."

"You're so needy," Harry laughed, smashing their lips together. "Good morning," he said after releasing.

"Good morning. I'll see you in transfiguration?"

"Transfiguration it is...Malfoy," he joked.

"Not for long, Potter, " Draco kissed him one more time before leaving to his dorm.

Harry loved him, he really did, and sometimes he couldn't even comprehend how much he did. He brushed his finger over his ring and immediately smiled. It was really happening. He finally had his Draco back.

"Is he finally gone," Ron begged from the bathroom.

Harry just rolled his eyes.

Later that morning, Harry found himself at breakfast with Ron and Hermione, who he'd yet to tell.

"So, how's Draco," Hermione asked bluntly, trying to hide her smile.

"Hermione, I didn't even tell you I was with him yet," he laughed.

"I'm me, I can tell. It must've been good," she said while digging into her food.

"To answer your question he is wonderful, and yes it is very good."

"Well go on, spill!" Harry was just about to answer the curious girl when he reached for his pumpkin juice completely unfocused, and he accidently knocked it over, the liquid pouring over a small portion of where they were sitting. "I didn't mean it literally, Harry."

A few people stared but gave no thought to it. Hermione reached for her wand and was about to use the spell to clean it up, but a certain sparkle caught her eye. On Harry's left finger, his ring glistened as he picked up the goblet he just knocked down. Hermione's mouth dropped as she turned to the boy. "Harry," she said breathlessly, almost speechless, diving in for a hug, "you and... you're... Harry that's incredible!"

She looked up to the slytherin table to find Draco not there. "Where is he?"

Harry furrowed his eyebrow but then just relaxed about it, "Probably in his room getting ready. He said he'd meet me in Transfiguration."

"Well this is exciting isn't it!"

"No Hermione, not at all," Ron said sarcastically, only to drop his voice to a whisper. "Our best friend is engaged, totally boring."

"How are you not exploding by now? You hate Draco," Hermione turned to him, equaling to his volume.

"I still think this is some horrid nightmare that's why," Ron said while Harry just smiled.

"It will hit him, Hermione, just give him chance to let it sink in."

"How does it feel? Being engaged," Hermione asked, excited.

Harry bit the inside of his cheek, attempting to find an answer to the question. It truly was indescribable. "Like I'm the luckiest man in the world."

----------------------------

Harry strolled to first block with the widest smile on his face. He couldn't keep from it. He was engaged. Engaged! To the man he loved, to the man who loved him. Everything seemed happier and brighter, especially due to the excruciating hate he'd been manifesting within himself for the past few months, it finally being obliterated.

He walked into the almost vacant classroom and Professor McGonagall eyed him suspiciously, which he didn't know why, but he just flattened his lips and nodded his head. The only other person in there was Draco who rested his head on his arm, a smile on his face.

Harry was about to sit down when he saw an object on his desk. It was a rose, a bright red, lovely rose. Attached to it was a note, and he opened it erratically, eyeing Draco with a raised eyebrow. Not caring how closely the Headmistress was looking over her glasses frame at them, he completely ignored the 8th years coming in the door.

"To my love,

I know that no matter what I do, I could never make up to you the pain I put you through, and I cannot apologize extensively for it. But enough of the past, you taught me that, the past is behind me, and I need to let go, but I will never forgive myself, nor do I want you to forgive me.

I want you to know how much I love you. I love your dorky glasses and your overrated scar, which I know you're going to use against me in future fights (which I can't wait to win). I love your hair, which, let's face it, is as hopeless as you are... but I'm not mentioning it again, and know I am further denying it for future reference. I love your undeniable and undeserved loyalty towards me.

I love your smile, and your laugh. Since I heard it the first time back in fourth year, I'd believe an angel received its wings the second you started. I still believe that. Every single time. And I love your lips, your sweet, sweet lips. I love your body, and how it fits directly to mine. I love it when we hold hands, and yours is just a little sweaty, not like the awkward sweaty, but like the "You make my heart race because I make your heart race" sweaty.

Disregard that last...

Anyway, I love how you treat me, even though I could never live enough life times to earn it. I love how you know absolutely everything about me, where to kiss me, what to do when I'm angry or upset. You snap me out of it, and I want to be snapped out of it when I'm with you.

There is so much more to be said, and so much more you do that I love, but what I'm trying to say is that I love you.

I love you endlessly and hopelessly and I absolutely cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Only you.

And I know you love me too.

Love,

Your love."