Truly Madly Deeply

Chapter Nine - Draco's Letter

~ The Great Hall ~

Harry sat amid his friends as they ate dinner, half listening to Dean telling the story of how Ginny made him tell her exactly what he really thought of her, which was that she was incredibly sexy and that he was falling in love with her. It was all very cute but Harry was about to throw up if anyone else declared their undying love for someone. He was happy for his friends but he was a little worried about Draco. His lover had not come in for dinner and Harry's concerned eyes kept straying towards the Slytherin table.

About ten minutes later Harry noticed Draco slip into the Great Hall and sit down at the end of the Slytherin table. He winked at Harry and turned his head towards the teacher's table. Harry followed his gaze and was startled to see Dumbledore standing before them, waiting to speak. Soon the hall was silent.

"It is not often that I have the pleasure of making such an announcement but today two of our students got engaged to be married. Those students are Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. I wish them a lifetime of happiness together."

Dumbledore started clapping and the entire school joined in. Harry's shocked eyes snapped over to Draco who was grinning delightedly. So that's where he had been all afternoon, chatting with Dumbledore.

"Harry, look at Snape!" Ron said, nudging Harry with his elbow. Harry turned to see what Ron was going on about. The Potions professor looked like he was going to have a fit. His plan had obviously backfired, as all the students, but especially Harry and Draco, had ended up having a great day, rather than the miserable one Snape had intended. Snape's face was contorted in shocked fury, which he masked only moments before Dumbledore turned around to return to his seat.

~ Gryffindor Boys Dorm ~

Later that night, Harry lay in his bed listening to the gentle snores of his roommates. He had found Draco's letter in his pocket when he had changed into his pyjamas but he wanted to wait until he wouldn't be interrupted before reading it. He still had an hour before he was to meet Draco in the Astronomy Tower. With a whispered 'Lumos' Harry unfolded several pieces of parchment and started reading.

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Dear Harry,

I know things have been strained between us recently and I know you are wondering why. Please trust me when I say that it is all for the best. There are some things that even you, Wonder Boy, can't change. I'm handling the situation the best way I know how and all you have to worry about is what delightful things you are going to do to me with your talented tongue. God, I'm getting hard just thinking about it...

What was I writing about? You have a way of pushing all rational thought out of my head. I need to be near you. It would be enough just to hold you in my arms and feel your arms around me. I wish we could spend a whole night together. I want to wake up with you beside me.

God, wouldn't that be something! I could watch you sleep and gently brush your hair off your face. You know, I've never seen you sleep. Our meetings are always in clandestine places and always far too short. Your idea of living together is not without merit. At least we would be together without having to sneak back to a dorm full of teenage boys.

Have I ever told you how much I love your eyes? So expressive, so pure. Your eyes truly are the windows to your soul. Sometimes I don't think I deserve to be with you. You are so full of the light and I am being dragged kicking and screaming into the dark. When I start thinking like that it makes me wonder how we ever got together in the first place. I still remember our first kiss - do you?

We had detention together in the Potions dungeon. I was going on and on about how I couldn't believe that Snape had given his star student a detention although secretly I knew I deserved it, after all I had taunted him just enough so he would give us both detention but not enough that Slytherin would lose house points.

You told me to shut up or you'd make me shut up. How? I challenged gleefully. You're so hot when you're pissed off. Then you kissed me. I was so shocked at first that I couldn't move, let alone respond. Then my instincts took over and I kissed you back. Needless to say, no cauldrons were cleaned that night. Well, not manually anyway. Thank god for magic. And we were so out of breath when Snape returned that he never suspected that we hadn't done the job as he'd intended.

So many memories. One of my favourites is when the entire school became aware of our relationship. We'd barely been 'together' for a week when I noticed you walking towards the Slytherin table in the Great Hall. You had that look in your eye, that predatory you're-mine look. I love that look. It makes me melt.

Anyway, you were walking towards me and suddenly you winked at me. I got the message loud and clear as I struggled to keep from grinning insanely. I stood up and walked towards you. All heads swivelled towards us, spoonfuls of cereal frozen in mid air. The tension was palpable but little did they know it was sexual tension.

I'm sure everyone though we were going to duel, right there in front of the teachers and Dumbledore. We gave them the shock of their lives when you pulled me into a long passionate kiss. I purposely allowed you to pull me into the kiss, I didn't want anyone later accusing me of forcing myself onto you. I wanted the entire school, hell, I wanted the whole world to know that Harry Potter wanted me of his own free will.

To be perfectly honest, I was surprised how long it took Ron and Hermione to accept us. I didn't think we would ever be friends but I thought they would support you in anything you did. After all, you are their best friend, and, well, I won't mention that nickname you hate so much, let's just say you are not dead. It really did surprise me that Ron, Hermione and I eventually became friends. I think Hermione is a calming influence on Ron, which helped. I'm glad, because I know it wouldn't have been fun for you if your boyfriend and your best friends were constantly at each other's throats.

You take my breath away, Harry. You give me reason to keep on going, to never give up hope. After everything that has happened to you in your life (I want to kill those muggles you live with), you still view the world through rose tinted glasses, ever the optimist. I envy your ability to shrug off the world's expectations and live your life your way. I hope you know how much you mean to me and what I would do to protect you. I love you.

Love always,

Draco

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Harry furiously blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. To hell with it, he thought, no one can see. He allowed the tears to flow freely as he stared down at the blurring words written lovingly by his beloved boyfriend. Draco could be so sweet when he wanted to be.

Draco had written this letter before they took the Veritaserum, meaning that his ambiguous words, which now had meaning, were never meant to be literally understood. If it weren't for Snape and that potion, Harry would probably never have known the truth about Lucius and Draco's little deal.

The memories described by Draco had come rushing back. They had been so caught up in the day to day act of living that they had forgotten the fun, hedonistic early days of their relationship. That had to change. Their recent seriousness was not really in character for them. Harry prepared for his meeting with Draco, thinking over what he was going to say to him.

Chapter Nine - Draco's Letter