A Priceless Gift

Chapter 25

"In five hours you will be a married man," Ron commented with a grin. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were sitting in the back garden sipping hot chocolate the morning of the wedding. It was cold, but not snowing, and they were bundled up in warm clothing. Everything for the Big Day had been planned and executed to the last rose petal, so Harry didn't have much to do the at that point except ensure he was dressed and ready to turn up at the alter on time.

"How are you feeling about it all, Harry?" Hermione asked curiously. She took Harry's hand and rubbed the back of it. He had been uncharacteristically quiet since he woke up.

"I'm excited. I truly cannot wait to marry Draco," Harry admitted with a happy blush. "I'm a little bit lost for words, actually. I'm a bit out of sorts, but not in a bad way. I appreciate you both being here for me this morning."

"Where else would we be?" Ron asked with a smirk.

"You alright today, Hermione? Will you be ok to get through the day?" Harry fussed.

"I have an awful backache, but other than that, I'm wonderful, Harry. I'll probably be tired by the end of the day, but Narcissa told me to feel free to lie down in one the guest rooms whenever I felt I needed it. I wouldn't miss today for the world," Hermione assured Harry and he nodded. "You're worried about him, aren't you?"

"Am I that obvious?" Harry laughed slightly.

"We can read you like a book, mate," Ron snorted.

"Yeah, I'm worried. But not because I think he won't be well today, just because I'm generally worried how he's feeling," Harry said and took another sip from his mug. "I can't stop thinking about him, actually."

"I spoke to Narcissa and she says he's fine; just a bit distracted and snappy," Hermione said with a grin. "Much like any other day!"

"Oh, just a bit?" Harry chuckled. "Must make a nice change."

"So, the Harry Potter is getting married. The Boy Who Lived and third sector of the Golden Trio is becoming a man?" Ron mused.

Harry snorted. "I became a man when I was fourteen, Ron. After the Yule Ball behind the green houses."

"You never did tell us who you lost your virginity to," Hermione pointed out again.

"No, I didn't, did I?" Harry said with a smile.

"Well?" Ron pressed. "You're about to be married! You have to say now!"

"Draco knows who it was," Harry commented.

"Well, that's not fair!" Hermione cried and Harry laughed at her.

"He's my lifelong partner. He knew about my sexual history - however limited it was - quite early on in our relationship, and vice versa."

"Please just tell us, Harry!" Ron pleaded. "At least say if it was a bloke or a girl."

"It was a guy," Harry said with a smile. "After that, I was a bit confused and it led to the whole Cho, Ginny et cetera debacle, which basically confirmed that was I as gay as they come."

"Aw, Harry. You fucking spoilsport," Ron whined.

Harry smiled again and then looked out wistfully over the garden. "I know who it was," Hermione said, breaking Harry's reverie as she squeezed his hand.

"Yeah, it's not too hard to figure out when you think about it," Harry agreed.

"Oi! Now you have to tell me if she knows!" Ron argued.

Harry sighed. "Cedric," he murmured.

"Whoa, fuck," Ron breathed. "That's... intense..." He sat back in his chair and watched Harry warily as if expecting him to start bawling or something similar.

"Is that why you were so upset when... you know..." Hermione said hesitantly.

"When he died?" Harry asked, not afraid to say the words. "Nah. I was upset because he was a good guy and didn't deserve to be, well... you know. My first time with him was hardly hearts and flowers. It was just a result of pent up emotions and frustration over everything going on with the tournament."

"Who, uh, instigated it?" Ron asked curiously.

"He did, of course," Harry chuckled. "I was just a kid back then. Highly curious and aroused, but a kid all the same. I practically gagged every time I had to try and find a date for the ball. Do you think I was up to instigating my first sexual encounter? And with a boy, no less?" Harry smirked lightly and shook his head. "No, it started on Cedric's advances. It was alright, but nothing special."

"I thought he was with Cho?" Hermione stated.

"He was. She never knew. He wasn't gay, just bisexual. We just agreed to never mention it after that," Harry told them. "I guess it was a small part of the deciding factor in agreeing for us to touch the Goblet together."

"Do you regret it?" Ron pressed.

"Not particularly. I did a bit a first, I suppose. It wasn't how I pictured it at all. For one, we were both still fully clothed save for our pants pulled down just enough to gain access. It just started with some pretty heated kissing, then he asked he if could touch me and it went on from there. Don't get my wrong; I liked it. It felt great. It just wasn't how I pictured my first time. I am, however, thankful it was with someone who was really gentle and considerate with me," Harry finished softly. "But enough about this. I'm not going to get depressed just hours before my wedding."

"There's nothing wrong with having a little bit of history, Harry. It makes you who you are. But now, it's time to open the next chapter in your life. Marrying Draco and very soon becoming a father," Hermione said wistfully.

"Yeah," Harry nodded. "I must be the luckiest guy around at the moment..." He drained the rest of his cup and sat back to gaze at the clear blue sky, lost in his own thoughts.

o o o o o

"If you don't eat something, I will tie you up and shove it down your throat," Pansy warned, watching in exasperation as Draco picked at the toast in front of him.

"And you won't be getting away with just toast, either," Narcissa added as she pushed some fresh fruit salad towards him and spooned out some bacon onto his plate. "I'm not as soft as Harry is. You have a long day ahead of you. You need to eat a healthy breakfast."

"Urgh," Draco complained and sat back from the table away from the food. "Can't you both get off my bloody back? I'm glad I'm marrying Harry and not a woman who will turn into a nagging wife like you two."

"How do you know Harry won't turn into a nagging wife?" Blaise asked and shrunk back when Draco shot him a harsh glare.

"What do you think he's doing right now?" Draco wondered and a small, dreamy smile danced on his lips.

"Probably eating his breakfast like a good boy," Narcissa said pointedly and she, too, was shot the patented Draco Glare. "Come on, darling, just eat a little bit of each thing for me. You'll need your energy today."

"Do you all get off on watching me hurl or something?" Draco sniped. "I'm. not. hungry."

"Draco..." Narcissa said in her typical mother warning tone.

"No, Mum!" Draco cried. "I will throw up!"

"Don't you take that tone with me Draco Xav -"

"Oh, please, Mum. Not the middle names again. I'm not in the mood! This is my wedding day! I'm entitled to be a little out of sorts, so you can all just... get off my fucking back!" Draco huffed. "It's bad enough that I feel huge and ugly. I don't need the three of you nagging me!"

"Harry doesn't think you're ugly and huge," Pansy said in an attempt to soothe her friend.

"Oh, so you're saying you do?" Draco tossed back and frowned fiercely at her.

"Don't you pull the pregnant hormone thing with me, Malfoy," Pansy argued. "Aren't you at least a bit excited? If so, why aren't you bursting with it instead of snapping at everyone within tongue-lashing vicinity?"

"I can't HELP it!" Draco cried defensively. "And of course I'm bloody excited! Are you mental or something? Do you know how long we have waited for this?!"

"I was present at Hogwarts when you started shagging him, so yes, I do know how long you've waited for this. So just enjoy it, pet!" Pansy encouraged.

Draco looked like he wanted to protest further and the pursing of the lips indicated he was trying to hold his tongue. "You're right. I know I've been a dickhead. I am excited, but I'm also anxious and nervous. My inner bitch has just been overtaking more often than not lately. And I just wish there was no such fucking tradition that Harry and I couldn't see each other before the wedding because I really could use a shag right now."

"You could wank," Blaise supplied and Draco made an exasperated noise.

"Do I look like a common plebeian who needs to wank before his wedding? No. So unless you have something useful to say, just shut the bloody hell up!"

"And the bitch is back..." Pansy muttered under her breath.

o o o o o

Draco sat on the edge of the bed in his childhood bedroom at Malfoy Manor. He drew a deep shaky breath and pressed the heel of his hand into his temple.

It was only a short time until the ceremony, and Draco wasn't feeling well at all. His back was aching terribly along with his head, his stomach uncomfortably upset, though he didn't feel nauseous, and he felt weak and shaky. He loosened his tie slightly as Narcissa swept into the room followed by Blaise and Pansy, who were his attendants.

"What are you doing?" Narcissa cried. "I had that perfect!"

"I feel sick, Mum," Draco muttered and looked up at his mother.

"It's just nerves," Narcissa dismissed. "Now, quickly. We need to get your hair brushed and your shoes on. Harry is all ready and waiting."

"It's not nerves!" Draco protested weakly. "I think it's something to do with the Couvade. I... I just don't feel right. I can hardly move. My head feels like it's going to split open and my back is agony." Narcissa knelt down in front of him and felt his forehead. "There won't be a fever."

"You look terrible, Draco!" Narcissa said and tutted softly. "How long have you felt like this?"

"An hour or so now..." Draco told her. "Is Harry ok?"

"He's fine, love. He'll be beside himself if knows you aren't well," Narcissa stated, brushing some stray hair off Draco's face.

"Don't tell him! Can you get some potions off Sev or something? Even just ones that work temporarily so I can feel fine for the wedding?" Draco pleaded.

Narcissa pursed her lips in reluctance but finally nodded. "Blaise?" Blaise nodded and raced out of the room. Draco pressed his stomach with his finger tips. "Is it nausea, sweetheart?"

"No. Just funny sharp pains. I feel sick but not throw-up sick," Draco tried to explain. "Is Hermione alright?"

"As far as I know, my darling. She seemed well when I spoke to her about fifteen minutes ago. She was fussing over Harry's hair," Narcissa said with a smile.

"At least someone is there to do it in my absence," Draco chuckled weakly.

Severus came striding in with his wand already drawn. He didn't even ask Draco before he performed some spells over him and then frowned deeply. "There is nothing wrong with him," he said firmly.

"He thinks it's the Couvade Syndrome, Severus. Can you give him some potions just to stave off the symptoms to get him through the ceremony?" Narcissa asked fretfully.

"Explain the symptoms," Severus requested and Draco explained everything he was feeling. "I can assist with the headache and back ache but I advise against any potions for the stomach as I do not know what is causing the discomfort."

"I can handle the upset stomach if you can help me with everything else," Draco said. "But just hurry. I'm not going to be late. Harry will freak if I am. He'll think I've done a runner."

"I will Floo to my lab and return briefly," Severus told them and disappeared up Draco's Floo with a loud roar.

"Pansy, can you start doing his hair while I get his shoes on? Blaise, can you bring a cool, wet face cloth so Draco can wipe his face? We'll be all ready to go once you take the potions, darling," Narcissa soothed. Draco nodded and allowed them to fuss over him. He didn't have enough energy to protest.

Severus came back about five minutes later and swooped upon Draco. "Drink these and then lie down. You will feel faint and nauseous briefly whilst they work." He handed three different coloured potions to his godson.

"You just couldn't bring any without side effects, could you?" Narcissa complained. "We just got his hair perfect and you want him to lie down? Must you always be such an arse?"

Severus smirked at her as Draco flopped back onto the bed with a groan. "Sick," he whined and Pansy started stroking his head.

"These are not side effects, Cissa," Severus intoned. "They are just a result of a rapid working tonic. He will be fine in minutes. As for his hair, I'm sure he would prefer it to be a little ruffled as opposed to vomiting his entire stomach contents rather violently all over his wedding attire."

"Don't mention puke," Draco moaned. "I want Harry. I don't give a fuck about tradition!"

"Don't you spoil this for him, Draco," Narcissa said firmly. "You both want the day perfect. Please just ride it out for a few minutes while it works. You both wanted certain traditional elements for your big day and this was one of them. I will not allow -"

"It's ok, I'm feeling better now," Draco interrupted. "You're right, Mum. I'm sorry." He could feel the effects of the potions rapidly working now and he sighed in relief. The strange stomach pains were still there, but without the back ache and headache, he felt he could take on the world compared to how he felt before.

o o o o o

On the other side of the Manor, Harry was pacing back and forth across one of the guest rooms and anxiously looking at his watch every thirty seconds.

"Nervous, mate?" Ron asked sympathetically.

"Why would I be nervous?" Harry shot back sarcastically. "It's only my wedding day, after all. Fuck, I didn't worry this much when I was about to battle a dragon!"

Hermione sat in an armchair by the window with her hands folded protectively across her ample stomach as she shifted uncomfortably. "Phew, your little one is kicking up a storm today!" she said. "Must know his or her daddies are tying the knot!"

"Can I feel again?" Harry asked.

"Please do! Maybe your touch will be a calming influence," Hermione laughed. "I'm completely exhausted and we have barely started the day. Not to mention this irritating back pain."

"Do you want me to rub it?" Ron and Harry offered at the same time and then laughed.

Hermione giggled. "Thank you, my knights in shining armour, but the pain is deep inside. Rubbing will be pointless."

Harry came over and rested his palms on Hermione bump, grinning when he felt the distinct movement. He knelt down and put his ear near Hermione's bellybutton.

"Can you hear me in there, little one? Your Daddy and I can't wait for you to come out and say hello. It feels like we've waited forever for you to arrive... I guess we have waited forever in a way... we already know you're beautiful. We're going to love you so much, sweetheart...." Harry murmured and by the time he stopped cooing softly, Hermione was bawling her eyes out.

"Oh, now look what you've done! My mascara is running! I must look like I've been thumped!" Hermione fretted and patted her eyes with a tissue.

Harry laughed. "I'm sorry. I just needed something to calm me. That was surprisingly helpful."

"I told you to try it sooner," Hermione pointed out. "At least you have another three or four weeks to get many long chats with the bump in now."

"Maybe I just will," Harry said with a smile.

"Alright, Hermione, you better fix your make up, love," Ron told her. "We have to get a move on. Ceremony starts in ten."

o o o o o

Harry stood outside the marquee in the vast gardens of Malfoy Manor. The decision to have the wedding at the Manor had been for various reasons. The first and foremost was that Draco wanted to get married in his childhood home as it was a long-standing wizarding tradition for a family heir to get married on family property.

The second reason was the venue restricted access to anyone who was specifically invited and therefore, only personally selected members of the press were invited to take brief notes and limited photographs of the couple for a short period between the ceremony and reception, and nothing else.

An official representative from the Department of Magical Births, Deaths, and Marriages at the Ministry was invited to take as many official photographs as required and was granted an interview with the couple following the ceremony to celebrate and mark the first official same-sex marriage in Wizarding Britain. Special Ministry endorsed editions of the Daily Prophet would be released that same evening.

Draco and Harry had agreed on a red, black and white theme and the marquee erected in the vast gardens was decked accordingly. It was lit by dim lights and an isle of deep, red carpet ran up the middle. Each seat was covered in red silk with a black and white bow, and at the end of each row stood topiaries of red rose buds and baby's breath.

Harry looked down at his white robes, black silk shirt, and red tie, gulping as he wiped his hands on the tissues in his pocket that Hermione had given him for that very reason. He adjusted his corsage of three rose buds and a single white lily, to honour the memory of his mother. He heard the music start and his stomach flopped nervously.

First Narcissa would walk up the isle, looking stunning, no doubt, in her bright peacock blue chiffon gown. Then Hermione and Ron would make the trip, Hermione in her red bridesmaid dress and Ron in a black suit and white tie. Then Pansy and Blaise dressed the same as Ron and Hermione were.

Harry coughed to clear the lump forming in his throat and rubbed at the back of his neck.

And then it would be his and Draco's turn. They would meet at the end of the isle and walk the length together hand in hand before reaching an alter adorned with candles.

The whole wedding had been charmed by some Ministry experts to allow Muggle guests to be invited without them realising they were actually in attendance at a magical wedding and surrounded by witches and wizards. Harry felt guilty about hoodwinking his Muggle guests, but knew the charms were highly necessary. To the Muggles, it would merely look like Harry and Draco were having civil union ceremony.

Harry heard the part of the music come that signalled that it was time. He took one last deep breath and then stepped out onto the edge of the isle and came face to face with Draco, his husband-to-be, looking as stunning and as beautiful as ever. Harry had to mentally restrain himself from grabbing Draco's face and snogging him senseless.

Draco was dressed identically to Harry, but his blond hair seemed to glow against the stark contrasting red, black and white of his wedding attire. He reached up reflexively and stroked Harry's face, almost as if he was checking the moment was real.

A wide grin spread over Draco's face and Harry knew that it matched his own. He took Draco's hand and gave it a firm squeeze and was reassured, if slightly amused, that Draco's hand was just as sweaty as his own.

Draco mouthed 'I love you' to Harry before they started walking slowly up the aisle together, smiling at all their guests and both shocked at just how many people were squeezed into the marquee.

The whole first part of the ceremony went by in a blur for Draco. He could feel the eyes of their five hundred plus guests boring into the back of his head. It was all so overwhelming and he could see that the Ministry-chosen celebrant was droning on about something, but if anyone asked later, Draco wouldn't have been able to tell them what he was saying. Before he realised it, the middle-aged bald guy was asking him if he was ready to say his vows.

Draco cleared his throat. "Yes," he croaked, realising his mind had gone blank and his back was starting to sweat ominously. The cramps in his stomach intensified. Just as he was about to have a nervous breakdown and admit he'd completely forgotten his vows, he felt Harry stroked his palm with his thumb and the words came rushing back.

Draco smiled and gazed directly into Harry's eyes. "Harry, I want to be with you always just as you are. I choose you above all others, to share my life with me in marriage. I love you for yourself, and I want you to become all that you can be. With your help I will be a better person tomorrow than I was yesterday. I promise to honour this pledge as long as I live."

"Harry, are you ready to pledge your vows of marriage to Draco?" the celebrant asked.

"Yes," Harry answered. He ghosted his fingers over Draco's wrist. "Draco, I want to be with you always just as you are. I choose you above all others, to share my life with me in marriage. I love you for yourself, and I want you to become all that you can be. With your help I will be a better person tomorrow than I was yesterday. I promise to honour this pledge as long as I live."

"The rings, please?" the celebrant requested solemnly. Ron and Blaise stepped forward to hand Harry and Draco each identical white gold wedding bands.

"Draco, do you take Harry James Potter to be your lawfully wedding husband as long as you both shall live?"

Draco gave a weak smile and tried to shake off the unwell feeling creeping back over him. The potions were wearing off and he was beginning to feel light-headed. "I do," he said and slipped the ring onto Harry's finger.

"Harry, do you take Draco Xavier Carston Regis Jestyn Malfoy to be your lawfully wedded husband as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Harry said immediately, causing a few sniggers around the marquee. He slid the ring onto Draco's long, elegant finger and grinned.

"By the power vested in me by the Ministry, I know pronounce you lawfully joined in matrimony. You may now kiss to signify this union!"

Cheers erupted around the marquee and as Harry leaned in to kiss his new husband, Draco paled dramatically and pitched backwards in a dramatic faint. Harry grabbed him before he crumpled to the floor just as Hermione let out an ear-piercing scream followed by a harsh declaration of "OH MY FUCKING GOD!" before she doubled over in agony.