The Next Hello

the next hello

I'm so rushed off my feet

"We're going to miss it!" Harry yelled as he jumped around in the back of the Weasley twins' car.

Looking for Gordon Street

"There!" Hermione pointed. Bells were ringing loudly from inside the church. "Good luck, Harry," she said, squeezing his hand that was gripping hers tightly. He was rapidly turning white.

So much I need to say

"What do I say?" Harry asked as he turned the colour of the bright white gates opening into the churchyard.

I'm sorry that it's on your wedding day

"The truth," Ron replied quietly. The twins, Hermione and a vapid Harry turned to him. He was still getting over the idea of Harry being completely and utterly in love with Draco Malfoy.

'Cause he's so right for me

"Have fun, mate." Ron offered a hand and Harry shook it solemnly. Ron's acceptance (or denial) meant a lot to him. He leapt out of the car and burst into the church, Hermione, Ron and the twins sharp on his heels. A low rumble ran through the hall as all of the distinguished guests turned at the sound of an arrival. The guests were all from the darker side of the wizardkind: all of Draco's Slytherin schoolmates, half of the teachers, several important Ministry members and - Harry gulped - Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, who was standing up in the front row, clutching a thin gold cane. Harry vaguely remembered something Draco once said about a pimp stick.

His daddy disagrees

Lucius eyed Harry suspiciously.

He's always hated me

"So," he said stiffly, turning to his son. Harry's heart leaped: Draco was standing at the front on his own in a smart black suit. His skin was paler than Harry had ever seen it. "You invited him?"

Because I was The Boy Who Lived, you see

A few Slytherins in the large seating area snorted with laughter and Harry heard a familiar voice. It was Parvati Patil.

"Harry," she was hissing at him. Everyone in the church was too busy watching Draco cower under his father's obvious anger, so Harry swept over to where Parvati was.

"Harry, he doesn't want to go through with it." His heart leapt again.

"How do you know? Wait - first, why are you here?"

"Well, he is marrying my twin sister."

Harry felt a wave of shock and nausea hit him. No wonder the Patil twins had been so secretive and giggly around everyone in the last few days of their seventh year at the school.

"Harry, you were good friends with him at school, weren't you?"

"Erm, you could say that," he replied quietly.

"Well, go and sort him out! I won't have him ruining my sister's big day!"

Harry straightened and looked to the front. Lucius muttered something to Draco who blanched and then the entire assembly turned to stare at Harry again.

Now he's mine

It was now or never.

In a few swift strides, Harry was storming up the aisle. Lucius's hands were fiddling with the pimp stick and then he had his wand in his hand and was pointing it at Harry and-

"Stupefy!"

- and Lucius collapsed on the floor. He grinned as he kept walking, Hermione had saved him once again.

He got to the front and Draco was standing there, his blond hair slightly ruffled just as Harry loved and his lips were pink and soft and parted in his continuing surprise and Harry suddenly felt nervous and as if he were anticipating the worst.

"Hi, Draco," Harry said breathlessly. And then, wondering if they were his last words, he leant forward and kissed him.

And I'm glad I crashed the wedding

It's better than regretting

There was instant uproar but it faded and blurred around Harry and Draco as they stood awkwardly with their lips pressed together as if they were the only people who mattered.

I could have been a loser kid

And ran away and hid

But it's the best thing I ever did

Harry heard another thud behind him and smiled into Draco's lips when he realised it was probably Ron.

'Cause true love lasts forever

Harry began to laugh against Draco's mouth.

And now we're back together

As if he never met her, so looking back

I'm glad I crashed the wedding

There was a scream behind them.

"Draco! You bastard!" Harry felt something inside him plummet as Draco pulled away and rushed forward to his wife-to-be. Padma Patil looked incredible, Harry realised sadly.

"It's over," Draco was muttering. Harry's head snapped up. "I... I'm sorry, Padma."

"I cannot believe you." That was Parvati, Harry recognised. There was a loud slap and a gasp rippled through the guests. "Oh, shut up. I hate you, Draco Malfoy!"

And Harry saw Padma kneeling on the ground, sobbing loudly, her sister with her arms around her in some attempt at comfort.

Draco looked at Harry and shrugged, smiling slightly. Harry was overwhelmed with relief and rushed over to him.

"I... I'm so sorry," he whispered and buried his face in Draco's neck. He remembered the way they fit so closely together and loved recognising Draco's musky smokey smell.

The next time their lips met in a soft, passionate kiss it was a mutual motion and instead of sitting in polite silence, the Slytherin guests stormed out.

The teachers spread the word

And my friends cheered when they heard

I stole my man away

From everybody gathered there that day

Just in time

And I'm glad I crashed the wedding

It's better than regretting

I could have been a loser kid

And ran away and hid

I said I'd do it and I did

'Cause true love lasts forever

And now we're back together

As if he never met her

I'm glad I crashed the wedding

Don't waste time being mad at me

For taking him away

'Cause anyway he didn't want to stay

So please believe me when I say

He's glad I crashed the wedding

It's better than regretting

The ring he gave was lame

He couldn't take the pain

Didn't want to share his second name

'Cause true love lasts forever

And now we're back together

You might aswell forget it

And walk away

He's glad I crashed the wedding

When Harry and Draco walked out of the church, side by side, hand in hand, numerous things were shouted at them. An old member of the Ministry bumbled up to them and asked Harry pompously what had happened, as he was hard of hearing.

"We're back together," Harry explained.

"It's better than regretting," Draco added.

"The ring he gave was lame," Harry heard Parvati telling her sister who was still sobbing uncontrollably.

"She cannot take the pain," one Ministry member commented to another.

"She didn't want his silly second name!" Parvati said loudly to a Slytherin who asked if Padma would recover. Draco smirked and Harry looked at him happily.

"I wouldn't mind your silly second name," he said softly and felt his heart swell with pride and happiness and love and lust as Draco kissed him again, tasting of fresh rain mixed with strong liquor. Harry drank in it gratefully, ignoring the people complaining around them.

'Cause true love lasts forever

And now we're back together

You might as well forget it

And walk away

It was almost a week later when the latest witch's magazine The Next Hello's star reporter, Rita Skeeter, convinced Harry and Draco to allow her to do a small report on the whole matter.

"Front page stuff," Draco insisted whilst Harry tugged his sleeve pleadingly until they both settled for The Less Important Gossip This Week on page forty-two.

"So, Draco," Rita said, smiling widely as if she had managed to trap an unpleasant fly and was thinking up nasty ways to torture it. He smiled back politely.

"How do you think your father feels about the whole affair?"

Draco and Harry smiled at each other before Harry answered for him.

"He's glad I crashed the wedding."

And they both roared with laughter whilst Rita sat, happily scribbling notes but feeling slightly confused as Draco twiddled between his fingers what he liked to call his father's wedding present:

A nice, shiny, gold pimp stick.