A few days had passed since the movie night, and the two men were closer than ever. Draco was working fervently on his gift for Harry. Harry was becoming suspicious at the halt in communication (though they still spoke every day), but Draco reassured him everything was fine, even going so far as to ask Harry if he wanted the surprise ruined the last time they saw each other in person.

"Hey Scarhead?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you like surprises? I'm planning something for your birthday, but I don't know how you feel about surprises. I don't want to upset you if you don't like them."

"And here I thought you were cheating on me", Harry teased.

"As if", Draco replied with a snort. "I'm just trying to make sure you have the best birthday imaginable. But I don't want to upset you if you don't like surprises."

"Honestly? I hate surprises", Harry admitted. "Things would have been so much better if I had been given information up front and not surprised with it at the last minute. That being said, I trust you. So if you think it's best to keep this a surprise, then I'll go with it."

"You're sure you'll be okay with the surprise?"

"It's a good one?", Harry clarified.

"The best", Draco reassured.

"You let me lead you around blindfolded while I carried you for your birthday. The least I can do is allow you to finish carrying out your plans. Just don't make it a habit. The only surprises I need are when you come over to see me."

Harry's trust in him made Draco's heart soar, and he worked twice as hard to plan everything perfectly.

Currently, Harry was waiting for a response from Draco. He had an idea and wanted to construct a plan, but he needed Draco in on it. Feeling exasperated, Harry just decided to go to The Manor.

"Harry dear, I wasn't expecting you. It's always nice to see you. You must come over more often", Narcissa greeted him.

"I should", he agreed apologetically.

"Has the salve been working as it should?"

"Oh yes, thank you!"

That's how Draco came downstairs for a drink to find a shirtless Harry Potter in his kitchen. Narcissa knew exactly what she was doing. She was getting tired of the endless pining.

"Draco, I think it's time for another salve application don't you?", she asked coyly.

Harry looked over his shoulder and gave Draco that lopsided grin of his that drove Draco absolutely crazy.

"I suppose so. Hello Potter."

"Do stay for dinner Harry. It would be nice to have some more company."

"Of course, thanks."

Harry then handed her a tin.

"Brownies."

"That was very kind of you, thank you Harry."

Draco motioned for Harry to go up the stairs in front of him, swiping a brownie from the tin as his mother smirked at it. He hated feeling like others knew something that he didn't. Watching Harry walk up the stairs, shirt slung over his shoulder, Draco understood. His mother was a meddler, a true Malfoy.

"To what do I owe this wonderful surprise?", Draco asked as Harry collapsed onto his bed.

"You didn't write me back", Harry said with a pout.

"I didn't- oh!"

He had just noticed the small pile of notes, right next to Harry's birthday plans, which he quickly spelled away.

"Sorry Scarhead, I'm a bit in my own head over here."

Picking up the notes, Draco read them, letting his natural reactions show. Harry adored the soft smile that appeared on Draco's face when he began reading what Harry had written him.

"Any day that I see you is automatically a good day", Draco commented with a wink. "Now, before we get into the other thing, let me eat this, and then I'll wash my hands and take care of your back. You shouldn't need many more treatments."

"No more back rubs then?"

"Maybe it's time you give me a backrub hmm?"

"All you have to do is ask you git."

"You're going to call me names before I get that close to you are you?"

"I love to live dangerously, and you are my favorite vice sweetheart", Harry replied with a wicked grin.

"I'm fairly confident you are the 8th deadly sin. Especially with these baking skills, Salazar these are good. The cookies are still my favorite, even if they're now attached to more of my emotional trauma."

After washing his hands, Draco moved his pillows and sat down on the bed with his back against the headboard. He patted his lap for Harry to lay across to make it easier to apply the salve.

"Alright, I have lots of questions for you. We can start with what you wrote me about today, which is why I assume you came here today?"

"And to see my favorite person of course."

Draco smiled softly, and started working the knots in Harry's back.

"About time you admit that. Now, how do you propose we get those two together?"

"Neville is coming over again in two days. I say that you make plans with Blaise, and then we do something to make the two of them meet again, but this time officially."

"We need some sort of diversion then. We could do something about the potion? Or I still have the clothes I bought for you! I can tell Blaise I want your opinion on them and then bring him over with me?"

"Perfect! I already added him and Parkinson into the wards."

"You did? Really?"

"Well, yeah. They were nice to me and they're your friends. I was thinking at one point I could have everyone over for a dinner at mine."

"You are absolutely perfect. You know if you're not comfortable you never have to see them again?"

"I'm comfortable wherever you are, Prince. Especially right here. But they're actually really nice company."

"As long as I'm your number 1 I don't care. It's great that you brought it up though because they were asking about your birthday."

"They know when my birthday is?"

"Potter the whole wizarding world knows when your birthday is. I'm surprised it's not a holiday yet."

"I think they wanted to? I dunno, I ignore all of the mail I get from the Ministry. It doesn't feel right."

"I'm going to ignore that for the time being. What do you normally do for your birthday?"

"Nothing. I had to flee for my life on my last birthday and start horcrux hunting. The Dursleys didn't care about me so we didn't celebrate, I didn't get anything. The first birthday cake I remember getting was from Hagrid. It's just a normal day honestly. If the Weasleys ended up kidnapping me from that house then we'd just do a birthday dinner.

Honestly Draco if you just took me out for a walk around the gardens here I'd be happy. We could watch paint dry together and I'd just enjoy being with you."

Draco was in absolute shock.

"I swear to you this will be the best birthday of your life Harry."

"I don't need anything extensive, but I'm going to save my breath because I know I can't talk you out of it."

"Absolutely not. If anything I'm tripling my efforts. I can invite Pansy and Blaise over tomorrow under the guise of planning a party for you, which I'm doing now by the way. I don't think you'd take too kindly to being led into a dark room and having everyone yell at you so that won't be a surprise.

Then, when Blaise and Longbottom are finally talking to each other instead of about each other, we can invite him to one of our sleepover nights. We'll do one the night before your birthday, here of course. That can be the test. We need to find someone for Pansy though or she'll kill me for leaving her alone."

"I think you're more excited about my birthday than I am. As long as this doesn't stress you out, do whatever you want. I think I have someone for Pansy though. I'll think on it until I see you again", Harry conceded.

"I hate to ask you this because I know it's a sensitive subject, but I need to know before I start making more plans. Are Granger and the Weasel coming back for your birthday?"

"Probably not. If they do I'll just say I was with Nev. It's not a lie and frankly I don't care anymore. I heard from Mione two days ago. Their memories are returning which is wonderful. She has to take it slowly so that they don't go insane. It's important, I understand that. Just another sacrifice from the war."

"It will all work out in the end darling. You need to focus on you. I can tell you have been."

Harry laughed quietly.

"Working out is a great stress reliever."

"I'm not one for getting all sweaty in that manner. I'll take your word for it."

As they fell into a comfortable silence, Harry found himself beginning to doze off.

"Should I be offended that you always sleep in my presence?", Draco teased.

"On the contrary. You make me feel safe and secure enough to be able to fall asleep somewhere else that isn't my bed."

How on earth is someone supposed to respond to something like that?

"The salve is applied. Let me wash my hands and then we can take a nap, okay?"

After doing so, Draco set an alarm and climbed into his bed next to Harry. Immediately, Harry snuggled up into Draco's chest because he had to lay on his stomach so the salve could be absorbed.

"Sweet dreams darling, see you in an hour."

Sleep never found the two men quicker than when they were together. They fell into their routine, and when they woke up and Harry went to shower, Draco firecalled Pansy.

"Hey Draco, what's going on?"

"Is Blaise with you?"

"No, he's not. Why?"

"I just talked to Potter-"

"You mean your husband", she deadpanned.

"Yes, my husband. I want to plan him a birthday party. Can you come over in two days so we can prepare?"

"He actually enjoyed spending time with us?"

"Yeah, he did. He said he'd like to spend his birthday with everyone."

"Wonderful. You know I love an excuse to shop. I'll meet you at yours in two days. Say hi to loverboy for me. Ta ta darling."

Blaise also agreed to meet him, and Blaise was almost as excited to plan the party as Pansy was. Draco however had the bigger picture in mind, his surprise for Harry. It was going to be absolutely perfect, Draco knew it. Harry deserved the world, and Draco would be damned if he didn't give it to him.