The Only Thing to Give

Coincidentally, Tonks and Moody had been called back to the Ministry, so they were unable to stay for dinner. Dumbledore had to leave as well, saying he had urgent business to attend to at Hogwarts. Snape had decided, after a brief discussion with Draco, that he just didn't want to be caught up in an emotional display after the secret was out, so he left as well. In truth, the fact that none of them stayed made it easier on Harry even though Snape and Dumbledore already knew.

Dinner was going smoothly so far. Draco was sitting to Harry's left and Remus to his right. He was secretly thankful that Remus was sitting next to him. Harry needed all the moral support he could get. Ginny sat directly across from Draco and Hermione directly across from Harry. Ron was sitting to the left of Hermione across from Remus who was laughing quietly at a joke Sirius had made. All Ron could do throughout dinner was stare daggers at Draco and give Harry sympathetic looks. Sirius was seated at the head of one side of the table and Mr. Weasley was seated at the other. Mrs. Weasley had casually squeezed herself in to the left of Ron and was currently engrossed in what looked to be a highly interesting conversation with Sirius and Remus.

Once everyone finished eating Harry looked at Draco. Draco nodded knowing it was time and took Harry's hand under the table rubbing small, reassuring circles into Harry's palm with his thumb. Remus smiled at the subtle gesture of comfort Draco gave Harry. Sirius had noticed it as well and gave Remus a worried look, knowing what was to come next.

Harry cleared his throat rather loudly and everyone looked at him, knowing that he had something to say.

"Umm..." Harry stumbled with is words, everyone could hear the nervousness in his voice and sense the uneasiness in the air. "I...I have something important to tell everyone." Harry's voice became a little stronger as each sentence progressed. "I don't know how you all will react to the news, but..." Harry took a deep breath before continuing "I need to tell you because... because you are all my family, and I don't think it's right to keep secrets from family."

Everyone just stared at him, not knowing what to think until Mrs.Weasley spoke in her calm motherly voice. "Harry dear, whatever it is you can just tell us.... we'll love you no matter what you have to say." As she finished her features softened and a smile appeared. Despite Mrs.Weasley's attempts to ease the tension, Harry still felt uneasy. He wasn't sure she would feel the same way after the news was out in the open.

"I've been seeing someone... quite exclusively, actually." Harry looked down at the table. Everyone stared at him so he decided to blatantly clarify. "Umm...Well, I-I got married." As Harry said that a simple platinum wedding band materialized itself on Harry's left ring finger. No one seemed to notice, except Hermione who gave Harry a questioning look.

After the news sunk in, the look of shock on Mrs.Weasley's face was replaced with happiness and what looked like pride? "Oh, Harry dear that is wonderful news-" as Mrs. Weasley started with her string of congratulations everyone else seemed to ease into the idea a bit as well. Mr.Weasley had a look of enthusiasm and excitement as though he had just figured out how a Muggle radio works. Ginny was looking down at a knot in the wooden table as though she didn't know whether to hug Harry or cry, and Hermione looked as though she was deep in thought; probably trying to figure out what spell Harry had used to conceal his wedding band until the appropriate moment when he told everyone. Sirius had a look of satisfaction as though he had planned on Mrs.Weasley reacting as she did. But Remus, Remus still looked worried. He knew as well as Harry that the worst wasn't over. As for Ron, he seemed to have a blank look of confusion on his face as though he was tapped on the shoulder and he turned around to find no one there. His thoughts were interrupted by Mrs.Weasley who seemed to be speaking "-but that's ok...and even though you are a little young for marriage it's still wonderful that you have found your soul-mate at such a young age. By the way who is the lucky girl Harry?"

"Er...um...guy actually." Harry knew this wasn't the best way to out himself to everyone but it was all he could think of at the time.

"Oh Harry, is that what you were worried about, that we wouldn't approve of you being gay?" as Harry opened his mouth to answer Mrs.Weasley cut him off. "Being gay is nothing to be ashamed of, it's who you are Harry and we will only love you more for it." Despite Harry willing himself not to, his cheeks reddened at Mrs.Weasley's nonchalant way of talking about his sexuality.

"Umm...thanks, but I wasn't worried about how you would react to me being gay, it's more... who I married that I'm afraid everyone won't accept. You see, his and your family doesn't really get along very well. Actually, I think it's safe to say that you hate each other."

After a long silence Mr.Weasley spoke this time with a confused look on his face. "I'm sorry Harry, but I really can't think of anyone we don't get along with. We're friendly with just about everyone." Mrs.Weasley smiled and Ron made a face of disgust. He could think of one person he didn't get along with and he was sitting right next to Harry.

Just as Harry opened his mouth to speak, Ron spoke cutting off Harry's un-started sentence. "Wait Harry, shouldn't we make Malfoy leave before you say anything else? I really don't think any of this concerns him." His words were dripping with so much loathing and disgust that the floor would have to be mopped after he was done.

"Well, you see Ron-" Harry began, "it does concern Draco because-" as he said this he grabbed Draco's right hand and entwined their fingers so that everyone could see. "- Because Draco is.... Draco and I... we're married," Harry finally finished.

As soon as Harry revealed the secret a ring appeared on Draco's left ring finger just as it had on Harry's.

Harry glanced around the table to see five very shocked faces staring back at him. Then he looked at Draco. As he looked into the blond's gray eyes he saw an emotion that made Harry's stomach twinge.... hurt. Draco gave him a weak smile before pulling his hand away from Harry's. "Harry... maybe I should leave," Draco said in a weak voice as he started to rise from his chair.

"You're not going anywhere. Sit down Draco." Molly waited for Draco to re-seat himself before speaking again. "First of all," Mrs.Weasley said in a voice too calm for comfort. "How long?"

Harry knew exactly what she meant by that question. "Er...eight months." Mrs.Weasley exchanged looks with Remus who nodded and then with Mr.Weasley who smiled warmly.

"Right then," Mrs. Weasley said getting up from her seat and walking around the table to where Draco and Harry sat. "Congratulations Harry!" She leaned down to hug Harry and kiss him on the cheek. Then she walked around to where Draco sat and looked him up and down before smiling. She leaned down and hugged him. As she did she whispered, "Be good to him Draco, he seems to be happy with you, but if you hurt him you will have me to deal with... far worse than any unforgivable curse." Silently Draco put a little slash mark on the tally-board in his head underneath the column that read 'Death Threats from Weasleys'.

As if on cue everyone else got up to congratulate the newly married couple.

At the exact moment that Mr.Weasley offered his hand to Draco, Ron pushed out of his chair with such force that it flew back and fell with a loud bang causing everyone to jump. Mrs.Weasley stared at him as though she was going to curse him into next week. Ron just narrowed his eyes, turned on his heel and stomped out of the room.

As Harry watched the retreating figure, he felt a pang in his heart as though someone was trying to hack through it from the inside out. All Harry wanted was for the people he cared about to accept him and Draco, but it didn't really matter if they didn't because he knew deep down they would, eventually. The only person who he was worried about was coincidentally the person whose opinion was valued most among everyone else's; Ron's. He knew that his best friend would react this way, he had mentally prepared for it, so why did it hurt so much?

As if hearing the other boy's thoughts Draco intertwined his fingers with Harry's and gave the raven-haired boy's hand a comforting squeeze. Harry smiled inwardly at Draco's consoling gesture. He was glad that he finally had someone to pull him back right before he fell over the edge.

After being quizzed over dessert on every intricate detail of his and Draco's relationship, Harry felt like he was going to pass out from exhaustion. So Harry bid everyone goodnight and asked Draco to walk him upstairs before leaving. Draco happily agreed and took Harry's hand before being led out of the room by his lover. Right before they reached the stairs they heard Sirius's voice calling them in a low whisper, trying not to wake up the portrait of his old bat of a mother.

"Harry wait!" Harry and Draco stopped to let Sirius catch up; once he did he looked at Draco. "If you want to..." he cleared his throat, "spend the night you can stay in the room across from Ginny's. I know you two have a lot of... catching up to do." Draco looked at Harry who was looking at his feet and blushing madly at what Sirius was insinuating. He smiled and thanked Sirius before going upstairs with Harry.

*~*~*~*~*

"Harry, have you seen my wand?" Draco asked as he was searching through the pockets in his cloak that was draped over a chair. Harry turned around to see that Draco had disheveled the bedroom that they had only been in for about twenty minutes.

Harry looked at Draco with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Draco... I haven't seen your wand in two months. But I'd be glad to get re-acquainted with it."

Draco laughed as he realized the sexual innuendo. "I would love for you to get re-acquainted with my wand," Draco said with a seductive smile as he walked over to Harry, stopping when their faces where only inches apart. Wrapping his arms around his partner's waist, Harry leaned in and nibbled on Draco's ear.

"You left it on the bench in the kitchen," he whispered as he moved down to kiss the soft spot behind the blond's ear. Draco let out a raspy moan as Harry moved down to lick the warm skin near Draco's pulse.

"Actually, I think I left it in the sitting room," Draco said in a husky voice.

"No, you left it in the kitchen," Harry said as he sucked on Draco's neck. Draco was in no state to argue.

"Harry, what's wrong?" Draco finally said, noticing Harry's sad state when the raven-haired boy was looking out the window earlier. Harry just placed light kisses along the blond's jaw.

"What do you mean? Nothing's wrong," Harry finally said while he continued kissing down Draco's jaw-line until he captured the blond's supple lips with his own for a soft but passionate kiss.

"I mean. You. Staring out. The window. Like. A. Lost puppy," Draco said in-between soft, sweet kisses.

Harry pulled away and sat on the bed. "I'm fine," he sighed, "Why don't you go downstairs and get your wand." Draco gave Harry a worried look before nodding and opening the door.

Just before he walked out he turned to Harry who was staring at the floor looking deeply disheartened. "Don't worry, Harry. If Ron really cares about you he'll accept us, just like everyone else has." Harry nodded and gave a weak and unconvincing smile and with that Draco turned and left.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As Draco was climbing up the stairs, wand in hand, he heard two people yelling from the room at the end of the hall, right next to the stairs that lead to the third floor. He couldn't make out the words at first but as he got closer they became clearer.

"-------But he's obviously changed!" as one of the voices screamed.

"I don't care! He's a selfish, fucking git who doesn't deserve Harry!" the second voice screamed.

"Well," the first voice said in a bitter tone, "I'm not going to try and change your mind because we've already established that it's a lost cause, but is this really worth losing Harry over? Do you want to lose your best friend just because of some stupid grudge you have against Malfoy? Well I'm not going to let it happen, you can take your pride and shove it up your arse Ronald Weasley because I'm not going to be stuck in the middle of you two like in our fourth year, because of your stubborn pride!" and with that a very angry looking Hermione stormed out of the room and stomped up the stairs to the third floor, obviously to irritated to notice Draco standing right there.

A second or two later a very bewildered and infuated looking Ron walked out of the room as well. His face reddened in fury as he noticed Draco standing on the first step to the third floor. "What the fuck are you doing here Malfoy? I thought you left," Ron spat.

"Listen Weas-Ron, I think we should resolve at least try to tolerate each other, if not for us than for Harry," Draco said in a calm, somewhat sincere voice.

"Like you really bloody care what Harry wants, this is probably all part of your plan to break Harry! So why don't you just go back to You-Know-Who and kiss his arse like your father does, you fu-" Ron was cut off by Draco grabbing him by his shirt and painfully pinning him to the wall.

"Listen Weasley," Draco had a murderous glint in his eye, his face only inches from Ron's. "I don't give a shit what you think about Harry and my relationship, but for some strange reason Harry does and his happiness is my first priority. And I swear to Merlin that if he's unhappy because of your stupid fucking pride I will find you, and hurt you so bad that you will wish that Voldemort had gotten to you first, do you understand?" Ron winced at the mention of Voldemort's name before he continuing to struggle to get free from the blond Slytherin's grip. Draco, getting impatient slammed Ron against the wall, harder this time causing Ron to hit his head. Ron groaned in pain. "I said do you understand?" Ron narrowed his eyes and gave a weak nod. "Good, I'm glad that we see eye to eye." Draco said in an eerily calm voice as he let go of Ron and brushed some invisible dust off the read-head's shoulder. "Sleep well Weasley." Draco said before slowly walking up the stairs leading to the third floor. To busy reveling in his triumph, Draco didn't notice the bushy head sticking out of a door further down the hall.