Draco insisted that he didn't wear rings. He didn't really like it. He had never been fond of jewelry, and if Harry was going to insist on formality for the rest of their marriage, then he got to not wear a wedding ring.
So Harry wore one, a simple black metal one, thin and unassuming. Most days, he didn't even remember it was there. But he liked when it caught the like and his eye got drawn to it. He liked the look of the ring, showing that someone had claimed him. It looked nothing like the rest of his rings that we wore, and that made it special.
After their first year of teaching, Harry had popped the question. Draco had cried and hit him in the arm a few times before saying yes. They had a small summer ceremony in the backyard ofand hit him in the arm a few times before saying yes. They had a small summer ceremony in the backyard of Andromeda Tonks. It was a small and beautiful affair and at the end, they were married. Husbands. Some days, Harry still couldn't believe it. It had been a little over a year since then, and he was still not over it.
They were in their third year of teaching, having settled into routine and consistency. Harry loved teaching and he loved being at Hogwarts. He was unsure of why he had fought it so hard in the beginning, but decided not to worry. He was meant, at that moment,to teach students. Harry felt very lucky.
Draco and he had moved into one of the housing quarters in the castle, since Draco was the head of Slytherin. He needed to be near in case of emergencies. And Minerva had attended the ceremony, so there was nothing to worry about in terms of propriety. So they had settled quite comfortably into the castle, not really flaunting their marriage, or even really discussing it.
It turned out that this would be their downfall.
Harry was sitting on his desk, watching Gilfrey, a little pigeon-like bird that had the ability to speak in complete sentences, fly about in circles around the ceiling. He had offered to care for the bird, since Minerva wasn't a big fan of him in her office. He liked the small creature. He always kept him entertained between classes, repeating some of the things the students said. As he stared up at the ceiling, he almost missed the movement of his husband walking into his classroom.
"Hello love," Draco said, his face warm.
"My darling! Welcome to your least favorite room in the castle."
"Thank you kindly. It does have a certain... air about it. One of superiority and aggression. So many terrible memories within these walls."
"Hmm," Harry hummed. "I could say the same about your room."
"Is that why you never come down to say hello?"
"That, and I wouldn't be able to help myself. What with all the colorful potions and the dark lighting."
"Disgusting," Draco laughed. "I would never allow such a thing." The two were smiling widely at each other and Harry wrapped his arms around his husband's waist, pulling him between his thighs. Draco let his shoulder rest against Harry's chest and looked up at Gilfrey. "I don't know why you like this bird so much, Harry. He's just like a tiny gossip. He doesn't even really do anything beyond repeating words."
Harry gasped, as if affronted. "Gilfrey, please let Mr. Malfoy know how we feel about that." But the bird just chirped and landed on his little bed, ignoring them both. Draco laughed, as if victorious, and his husband grumbled, pulling him in nice and close. "He's a good bird, Draco. I like him. That's enough."
"Alright, my love. Whatever makes you happy."
"You make me happy."
Draco gazed at him through slitted eyes. "Don't start that, Potter. You know how insufferable I find you when you try to be charming."
"I was paying you a compliment!" Harry argued, trying to hide his smile. "In fact, I was simply stating a fact."
"I will make you sleep on the sofa if you say anything even remotely romantic again for the rest of the night. Do you understand?"
"Yes, professor," Harry chuckled, pulling Draco in and giving him a soft kiss. As he was about to deepen the kiss, the door to the room started to swing open.
