"Marry me?"

When Harry had imagined being proposed to, it had definitely not been this. Granted, he had not really thought he would be the one on the receiving end before he started dating Draco. But after a few months, Harry had allowed himself to fall into reveries about candle-lit dinners and flowers and Draco in a black suit on his knees looking nervous and perfect like an angel fallen freshly from heaven.

It had not been this; Harry with blood all over him and Draco covered in soot in the middle of some random living room, a Dark wizard dead at their feet.

Somehow, he loved this more.

"Ah, shit!" Draco tore his hands through his hands and paled. "This is not - I mean, please forget I - I'm so sorry - "

Harry felt something twist in him. "You didn't mean that?"

His boyfriend nodded frantically, grey eyes wide. "Yes! I mean, no I didn't! I am so sorry, Harry, it was really a spur-of-the-moment thing, I swear, you just looked so - Harry?"

Something acute to anger and humiliation pooled inside Harry and took over him. He squeezed his eyes shut and turned around. He was sure if he clenched his fists any tighter blood would start to drip from them, but he didn't care.

"What's wrong? Are you upset about it?" A tentative hand was laid on his shoulder, but Harry shook it off. "Merlin, Harry, it was a mistake! I swear!"

"Proposing to me was a mistake?" Harry whispered.

"Yes! How many more times do I have to tell you?" Draco forcefully turned him back around. Harry glowered at him.

"Geez, didn't know marrying me is such a terrifying propsect," he said coldly. "And whatever, it wasn't like I was going to say yes."

That was a lie. Harry had been forming the word when Draco had his mini breakdown.

Malfoy frowned. "Wait, what?"

"You said it was a mistake to propose to me!" Harry accused, pointing a finger at him.

Understanding dawned on Draco and he began to laugh. He laughed so much that tears welled in his eyes. And this did nothing to pacify Harry.

"Go ahead, laugh it up!" Harry spat.

"Harry... you're so..." Draco said between laughs. "Bloody... ridiculous!"

Harry made to Apparate but Draco caught him in his arms and kissed his forehead as he wheezed. "You're killing me!"

The other man tried to get himself free, but Malfoy held him tight until he calmed down, panting lightly. "It wasn't a mistake in the sense that I don't want to marry you, Harry!"

"Then what?" Harry asked angrily.

"Oh, I don't know," Malfoy drolled sarcastically. "Maybe because we're on an Auror mission, filthy, and there's literally a dead man on the floor? Not exactly screaming romance."

Harry looked down at the offending man as if remembering him again. Then he looked up and blinked owlishly. "Oh."

"Yes, oh!" said Malfoy. "And perhaps because there is no ring? Have you heard of a proposal with no ring, Potter?"

"No, but - "

"Exactly!" Malfoy exclaimed, rolling his eyes. "Honestly, Potter, always thinking the worst."

Harry sighed and put his head on Draco's shoulder. "Sorry. I just - I was just about to say yes, you know."

"Really?" He could hear the grin in Draco's voice as he gripped him tighter. "Thought you said you were going to say no?"

"Oh, well, I guess if you don't want my agreement then - "

"Shut it you." Harry grinned.

Malfoy was quiet for a moment before pulling back to look at him. "Can you hold onto that "yes"? Until I find a time to actually do it properly?"

Harry laughed and nodded. "Or unless I do it first."

"Absolutely not, Potter!"

Harry laughed some more, thinking it was probably best not to mention the ring box in his drawer.