Love Bites (Harry Potter: Official Dragon Tamer, Part One)

Not All Ghosts Are Dead: Part I

Saturday Afternoon
31 October 2009
Draco's POV

Fleur and I had just finished preparations for the Sacre du Voile ceremony, the potion happily bubbling away on the stove despite the appearance of, and offers of help from, Victoire and Dominique, who had appeared midway through our preparations, claiming that the adults outside were talking about "stuff that makes you cry."

I assumed this had meant they were setting up the table of remembrance and looking over photographs of all their fallen comrades, and, despite how well I was getting along with everyone, I was suddenly glad not to be out there right now.

Sure, the photos would all still be there later tonight, and, if the veil really was as thin as Fleur was predicting, some ghosts as well, but I thought for the group to set up the photos and have some time without, well, me, there was a good idea.

"Fleur, Draco," Molly called from the kitchen. "Be a dear and go fetch the others for lunch, will you?"

Fleur and I ambled outside and looked over at the tent and tables set up in the clearing.

Harry, Ron, Hermione, Charlie, Ginny, and Micah were all sitting at the table, laughing at something Harry had just said or done, and I couldn't help but smirk as I imagined Harry navigating conversation and appearing normal before his mates with his new toy nestled up his arse.

The group rose and made their way over to us, seeing Fleur raising her hand in greeting, still talking and laughing as we descended the stairs to greet them.

I was about to fold Harry into my arms and ask him quietly how he was doing when I noticed his t-shirt.

I hadn't even realised that my jaw had dropped and the rest of my face had morphed into a ridiculously pleased, gigantic expression of delight until everyone burst out laughing and Hermione said:

"See, Charlie, told you it was more a present for Draco."

"My birthday's not until June, but you're welcome to give him a second for the occasion," I assured Charlie, staring in absolute child-like glee at the scene looping across Harry's chest.

"And I hope you understand, Potter, that you are definitely wearing this when we officially come out to the public," I added, tugging Harry into my arms at last and grinning into his hair, eyes sparkling with laughter at the Weasley clan surrounding us.

"Oh? And what will yours say?" Harry countered, pushing back and grinning up at me from arm's length. "Property of Harry Potter, keep off?"

I thought for a minute, then grinned back.

"Hogwarts motto, then 'nisi forte electus ex milibus' scrawled beneath."

Hermione rolled her eyes at me as we were met with mostly blank stares.

"Honestly, did none of you pay attention in Latin?"

"I'm sure Bill did," Charlie piped up. "Comes in useful for his job and all."

"Never tickle a sleeping dragon unless you're the one chosen from amongst thousands," Hermione translated, and Harry faltered for a second as his eyes met mine.

"Did you really just make the bloody school motto romantic?" he demanded, tucking his head into the crook of my shoulder and snuggling in, inhaling the scent of my cologne as he always did.

As the rest of the group made their way inside, I wrapped my arms around Harry to pull him closer, bending my head to bury my nose in his thick locks, one hand travelling up his back to tangle into the curls at the back of his head as I tilted his head up to capture his lips with my own.