{A graduation gift from me to you to thank you all for your support and patience}

Malfoy was not one to have panic attacks. Draco however, was a completely different story. After having been in such close proximity to him over the years, Harry could understand Draco's emotions seemingly better than his own.

"Potter you don't understand, I can't do it."

"You can and you will."

"No, I can't!"

"Malfoy graduating is supposed to be the easy part," Harry replied with a laugh.

"Yes, well I'd much rather be with my specimens in a lab."

"Draco, you've worked so hard to reach this point," Harry replied gently, placing his hand on Draco's shoulder. "You deserve to celebrate your achievements."

"It's not that I don't want to celebrate, it's the fact that people still hate me. I don't blame them for it, they're justified by what I've done, but I don't want to ruin it for them."

"We've discussed this. You've done what you needed to do. You can't change the past, and in the end you chose the right side. At least you were fighting for something. Most of these people who have things to say were too cowardly and allowed children to fight their battles for them. Will you think about it at least?"

"Fine."

"Brilliant!"

"That's not a yes-"

"Close enough for me."

Harry walked out of the room feeling victorious, and Draco committed his happy smile to memory.

"I don't know why it matters so much to you," Draco muttered the next time the topic came up.

"Draco you've just found out you're graduating at the top of your class! Of course it matters, look at how amazing you are!"

"I'm not that amazing-," he started quietly.

"Of course you are, don't be daft! You went to school full time on top of working full time! You have so much to be proud of I don't even know where to start!"

"Thank you Potter," Draco said softly, turning away so that Harry wouldn't see the bright smile that took over his face.

He failed, and Harry spent a few moments admiring him, before getting back to work.

"Any time Malfoy."

It seemed as if Harry really meant it, because Draco realized he was being complimented a lot more than usual lately. He felt as if he was under more pressure than usual, so Harry's soft remarks left him feeling much more emotional than usual.

"Come here," Harry demanded, a week before Draco's graduation.

"Potter-"

"Malfoy," he mimicked with a sneer.

Sighing, he walked to Harry, who grabbed his wrist with one hand, and wordlessly packed his things with the other.

"I need to finish that!"

"Not right now you don't. Come on."

"You can't just decide that I'm done working!"

"I can actually, I already signed us out. Hold on."

The only thing that stopped Draco from complaining was the look of pure disgust on Harry's face after they apparated back to his flat.

"Serves you right," he huffed. "I'm a very busy man."

"Oh but you're never too busy for me," Harry teased with a wink.

"Because you take it upon yourself to clear my schedule," Draco said pointedly.

"Oh come off it, I know you secretly love it. Go change out of your robes."

"You're so demanding."

"I took notes from you."

"Flattery will get you nowhere Potter!," he yelled over his shoulder, but Harry knew that he was smiling.

That was the whole point of bringing Draco round. He needed to relax, and he was quite bad at it. Harry himself could use some time off, so it was a win-win scenario.

"What are we even doing?", Draco asked, emerging in one of Harry's shirts.

"Getting take away, talking, and maybe watching a film? I dunno if I've ever left early to do something fun."

"Probably not. You're very boring."

"Yet you still hang around with me."

"It's a long con, I'm trying to get some dirt on you to sell to the Prophet. All I have is that you don't like to match your socks, you have a lucky hair tie you always keep on your left wrist, and you use those muggle pens instead of quills because you kept chewing on the ends of them."

"Maybe you should go into the hair tie business and go for secret number two. You'll create a whole new industry," Harry said with a snort before calling to order the takeout.

Draco was glad that they could joke about things like this now. If Potter could get over their... history... he had small hopes that other people would eventually as well. He was lost in thought, and didn't notice Harry approaching him until he was quite literally on top of Draco.

"Potter move!"

"This is my couch, I'll do what I like."

"You're not on your couch you're on me!"

"Close enough," Harry teased, relenting slightly, and laying across Draco's lap instead.

"You're a menace."

"Only to you," Harry replied, grinning up at Draco.

"We need to find you a hobby."

"We need to get you to your graduation."

"Bloody hell Potter don't you have anything else to worry about?"

"I always worry about you, you prat."

"I can't tell whether it's sweet or annoying."

"A healthy combination."

"I'll go."

"Yeah?"

"Yes Potter."

"Oh it's going to be brilliant, I know it!"

"Let's hope in this case you're right."

"I'm always right," Harry replied smugly.

Draco would never admit it, but it seemed as if lately Harry was. It didn't start out that way however, and he was cursing his name as the day before his graduation Harry left work early without telling him. He had half a mind to tell him off, and he was planning on doing so when Harry showed up at the end of his shift.

"Oh look who decided to show up," Draco huffed. "Well, I'm going home."

"You're not actually. You're coming with me."

"Why are you so demanding! Just leave me alone Potter."

"You're upset that I left."

"Stop thinking so highly of yourself Potter," Draco sneered, but Harry could see right through it.

"Hey, I didn't mean to upset you. Come with me please?"

"I absolutely detest you."

"I'm well aware," Harry replied with an eye roll, apparating them to their intended location.

"Shit."

"Have a good time," Harry said sarcastically, leaving Draco behind to check in at the front desk.

Draco felt awful. Harry had made him an appointment at his favorite spa, and he was being a jerk.

"I'm sorry."

"Enjoy."

Frowning, Draco allowed himself to be led away.

Back at home, Harry was kicking himself for overstepping boundaries. Maybe all of his planning was a bad idea, and he was forcing Draco into something he truly didn't want to do.

Writing Draco a quick note, he sent it through the floo, and continued with his preparations, much more unsure of himself than he was previously.

While Draco was mostly relaxed after the trip, that was certainly not cheap considering he seemed to be the only one in every area of the spa he entered, he still felt awful for the snide comments he had made towards Harry. He didn't mean to, they just slipped out sometimes. The note he saw when he got back home made his heart sink further.

"I'm sorry if you feel as if I've been forcing you to go through with something you have no interest in. Don't go on my account, go because you want to.

Potter"

"He's pissed," Draco said out loud to himself, running a hand down his face.

He always signed his messages off with "Harry", never Potter unless it was work related.

"I'll see you tomorrow," came Draco's reply, and that was that.

Draco was a nervous wreck when it was time to line up. As he was graduating top of his class, he was responsible for leading his fellow graduates out to the seating area, but he would be recognized for his academic achievements and would be sitting on the stage platform.

It wasn't until he was sitting on stage that he finally saw Harry, who was smiling so widely at him that he knew Harry's face just hurt. He had Teddy on his lap, and was sitting next to Andromeda, who was seated next to his mother.

When it was time for Draco to be recognized, he knew there might be an adverse reaction. Whatever negative things that were said were drowned out by Harry and Teddy screaming and making noise for him.

"Go Draco!"

Harry knew this would be all over the Prophet tomorrow, but he didn't care. He would support Draco forever in all of his future endeavors, especially when he would be helping people in his future career.

"I'm so proud of you," Harry mouthed.

It brought tears to Draco's eyes that he knew he would be teased about later, but for now, it was all worth it. His family had come to celebrate him, and that made it all worth it.

Once the ceremony was over, Draco scrambled to find them. When he saw Harry, he ran at him, and Harry caught him easily, spinning him around by the waist.

"I'm so proud of you Draco!"

"Thank you for coming."

"I wouldn't have missed it for anything."

By this point, Harry's presence was well known, and people were looking at him, pointing, and whispering.

"Let's take some pictures before the crowd comes over here," Andromeda said, positioning Harry and Draco, and then the rest of the family afterwards for more pictures.

"Let's get out of here before people start asking you for autographs," Draco teased. "I can't believe you sat in the front," he continued once they had made it outside.

"I wanted to be front and center for you."

"I'm sorry about yesterday-"

"It's okay. I'm sorry I was pushy."

"You just want what's best for me and I'm a brat."

"Yeah, you are, but I put up with you anyway," Harry teased, slinging his arm around Draco's shoulders.

"You better."

"Hey, did I leave my jacket at your flat? The leather one?"

"You might have? I'm not quite sure."

"Can I check? That's the one Sirius got for me."

"Of course, let me just say goodbye to everyone."

Harry said his goodbyes as well, and shakily returned Narcissa's knowing smile. It was time.

"I'll apparate us. Give me your hand."

Harry took it with a grin, and soon the two were at Draco's flat.

"Honestly Potter you need to keep better track of your things," Draco chided, opening the door. "I-"

"Oh there's my jacket," Harry said cheerily.

"Harry... what is this?"

"Congratulations Draco, I'm so proud of you," he said softly, wrapping his arms around Draco from behind.

"You didn't need to do this."

"I wanted to. You deserve the absolute best."

Harry had covered practically every surface of Draco's house in arrangements composed of his favorite flowers.

"This is beautiful."

"I hope you're hungry. Go change, I'll finish setting up."

Draco was positively glowing when he came out of his room to see that Harry had prepared his favorite meal.

"This is why you left early yesterday."

"It was yep."

"And I was a complete tosser."

"I was expecting a reaction yes, just not one as angry as that."

"I felt betrayed that you left me alone knowing I was stressed out, but you got me a spa day instead. I wish you had stayed with me."

"I thought about it, but I think we both needed some time."

They talked, ate, and laughed together for hours, and Draco didn't want the night to end.

"What are you thinking?"

"That I don't want you to leave."

"I can spend the night-"

"No, I don't want you to ever leave Harry."

"Oh."

"I'm not very good with this, and maybe I'm taking this the wrong way, but you seem to care for me."

"Merlin Draco that is the understatement of the year," Harry cut in with a snort.

"Will you shut up and let me speak?"

"You really aren't good with this."

"Why do I have feelings for you?"

"Why do I return them?," Harry retorted sassily.

"You do?"

"If you think I would go through all of this effort for just anyone you're absolutely mental."

"You're absolutely mental for just liking me."

"I think we may be a little bit past that stage at this point," Harry murmured, brushing some hair away from Draco's eyes.

"Prove it."

Harry did just that, kissing Draco with everything that he had in him. So many years of tension had finally begun to melt away as the much awaited moment ultimately arrived.

"Looks like my studies aren't the only thing that's finally moved to the next level."

"You were free to make a move at any time."

"Oh, but this was much more enjoyable. I can only think of one thing that's better than this."

When Draco's lips met Harry's again, Harry had to agree.