Hex Me or Kiss Me Book One

Snake In A Lions Den

May 8

Harry couldn't believe what McGonagall had told him after class. Draco Malfoy staying in Gryffindor? In Gryffindor? Merlin, so many things were wrong with that. It made Harry sort of happy to know that they would be able to stay back in his common room; he had been missing it, and he'd been missing seeing Hermione at least. What would she have to say about all this? What would Ron have to say? Harry winced at the thought of that. But worst of all, what would Draco have to say? Harry was sure he wouldn't be happy. He finally reached the door to Draco's hospital room and opened it. He stepped inside quietly and shut the door behind him.

Draco sat cross-legged on the bed, surrounded by books and parchment. He had finished his homework by noon again and had spent the afternoon researching magical binding agreements. He smiled when Harry came in, but spent a moment finishing the notes he was taking. There was a smudge of ink on his lip where he had obviously been tapping the quill against it while thinking.

Harry couldn't help but smile a little at the sight of Draco. The ink on his lips made him chuckle. He walked a bit closer to the bed and dropped his robes off to the floor. "Hey," he said, reaching in and ruffling Draco's hair.

Draco rolled his eyes. "My hair's going to look like yours if you keep doing that." He reached a hand up, grabbing Harry's and pulling him down for a kiss.

Harry smiled against Draco's lips. "Did you make good progress today?" he asked, pulling away and moving to lean against the wall. He would put off telling his news for a bit.

Draco leaned back on his arms and cocked his head, smiling. "Well, there is a lot of documentation to what I told the old man. And a lot about how to set up these bindings. They used to be used as marriage contracts. Still are in some families."

"Wow," Harry said, eyebrows high on his forehead. "We're not married though ... right?"

Draco raised his eyebrows and looked at Harry for a moment. "What is your definition of marriage, Potter?

"Erm, being together forever?" Harry said slowly.

Draco sighed. "Like I said last night, what we did seems to most closely resemble a concubine contract. Which makes someone the sexual servant of the other." He frowned. "It does not give the servant the usual rights of marriage though. No right to inherit. No mutual bind on the other person."

Harry frowned too. "Well, what if we really got married? I mean -- we could -- I mean, but -- not right now -- I mean, you know, just like -- maybe later?" he stammered.

Draco looked up. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open. "You would want that?"
he asked.

Harry bit his lip. "Yeah," he said quietly.

Draco's chin dropped to his chest. He was breathing hard suddenly and squeezing his eyes shut not to start bawling again.

Harry's eyebrows pulled together, and he moved forward quickly. "Draco?" he asked quietly, reaching out a hand to touch him.

Draco shuddered and a couple tears escaped after all.

Harry bit his lip again and dropped onto the bed, scattering papers. He pulled Draco to him and held him tightly. "Would you marry me?" he whispered into his ear.

Draco shuddered, giving over to the crying instead of fighting it. He gripped the other boy's shirt tight. "I wish I could," he managed to whisper.

Harry's eyes fell closed as they welled with tears now too. "I will marry you," he said fiercely. "I swear I will."

"Smiling, Draco managed to pull himself together. He took a deep breath and wiped his face with the edge of the bed cover. He smiled softly at Harry. "So, how was your day?" he asked, needing a change of subject.