{Happy New Year everyone! I wish you all a safe, happy, and healthy 2022 filled with love. This was a double update so please be sure to read Chapter 28. Sending you all of my love as always, J}

They did not, in fact, tell their friends at Christmas. Both men had all intentions of doing so, but so much other news was shared that they didn't want to upstage or overshadow anyone else. Instead, Harry spent most of his time with Teddy.

Teddy had been very curious about Draco at first. He looked at Draco with his wide eyes, and Harry watched as Draco fell in love for a second time. The first time Teddy had changed his hair color to Draco's, Draco cried. Harry now had lots more pictures of his family to add to his scrapbook.

The first ones to share their news were Neville and Blaise. It was right after everyone had arrived at the Burrow on Christmas Eve that Neville blurted out that he and Blaise were dating. Their news wasn't the most surprising.

That went to Ginny and Pansy who announced that they were also dating on Christmas morning. Everyone knew that they had gotten close, but not that close.

The time in between Christmas and New Year's was spent amongst friends, with Draco and Harry sneaking away for a few private moments whenever they could.

Now, it was New Year's Eve, and there seemed to be a conspiracy going against the two men. Harry and Draco were apart more than they were together at this point, cleaning up rooms in the Manor for all of their guests to share.

Draco was feeling a tad anxious as this many people hadn't been staying over since Voldemort took it over.

"Breathe sweetheart, it's okay. This house is going to be filled with so much love that anything dark that somehow remained will have no choice but to finally be gone for good."

"I love you Harry."

"And I love you my beautiful boy."

After a sweet kiss they once again parted ways, and didn't meet up again until right before dinner.

"Draco, Harry's in the kitchen", Ginny instructed, nodding towards the doorway.

As if Draco hadn't seen the mistletoe tucked away in the corner.

"Draco?"

"Here Harry."

Their steps were timed perfectly so that as Draco entered the kitchen and Harry left, they weren't under the mistletoe at the same time. Both men heard Pansy's frustrated huff, and Harry had to turn around so he could laugh.

When they tried the trick again, Draco had unenchanted the mistletoe and he and Harry purposely got "stuck" underneath it. Harry just kissed Draco on the cheek before going back to the kitchen. The enchantment was placed back on it, and soon Pansy and Ron were the unfortunate ones to get caught underneath it as Draco snickered in the corner. 

Dinner went off flawlessly, and Narcissa was very pleased. Her and Harry had been practicing to make the dishes from scratch, and they had received many compliments by the end of the night.

Once dinner was done, they all piled into the movie room. After debating what movie to watch for 20 minutes, Draco just told Harry to pick a movie that they would all enjoy. He decided on Mulan, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The twins had to be talked down from recreating certain scenes of the movie.

There were a few more attempts at getting Harry and Draco to kiss, but they easily avoided them. A simple brush of the hand would alert the other to whatever ploy had been noticed. Their friends weren't satisfied with them cuddling on the movie chair.

At this point, the two men were just stretching it out for laughs. They purposely disappeared close to midnight huddled together underneath the invisibility cloak behind a tree. Half of them went to find Draco and the other half Harry, but they came up short as one would appear and then disappear back under the invisibility cloak when their backs were turned like a game. It was quite comical really. Luna was the only one who seemed to know exactly where they were, and she could be seen waving at the empty air on multiple occasions that night.

At 11:58, everyone had given up on the two men and instead held their significant others close, watching the sky where the twins would be launching fireworks soon. This was when Harry dropped the invisibility cloak and stared lovingly at his Draco.

"This is the way I want to start off every single new year."

"With our friends trying to make us kiss?", Draco teased.

"With the love of my life in my arms, surrounded by our friends and families."

"I love you so much Harry."

"Do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"I think it's time I started wearing this properly", Harry said, undoing the clasp of the chain holding his matching ring with Draco.

"You're sure?"

"We've been together for 6 months as of yesterday Draco. I'm sure."

With slightly shaking hands, Draco slid the ring onto Harry's finger.

"This will be replaced someday", Draco promised as the countdown from 10 began.

"I'll wear this one forever. It's our first."

As midnight hit, both men wished each other a happy new year and lost themselves in the embrace of the other. The firework display lit up their kissing silhouettes, and Pansy's yell of "what the fuck?!" could just be heard over the loud booming display. 

They kissed for much longer than necessary, happy to finally be out to all of their friends. Foreheads leaning against each other, Harry couldn't help but kiss Draco's nose, laughing as his face scrunched up.

"I love you."

"I know", Draco teased, kissing Harry again, just because he could.

"Should we join them?", Harry asked.

"I don't know, I think we may get yelled at."

"Come on my Prince."

Grabbing Draco's hand, Harry walked them over to their group of gawking friends. Everyone except for Neville, who was giggling hysterically, looked confused.

"Spill", Pansy demanded.

"Did you two just get together?", Hermione asked.

"We are together", Harry confirmed.

"We need details", Ginny pressed.

"After the fireworks", Draco promised, looking only at Harry, who couldn't help but to kiss his boyfriend again.

"I am never going to get used to that", Ron said, shaking his head. "I'm happy for you mate. Really. The both of you."

"Thank you Ron."

As soon as the fireworks were over, both men were dragged inside.

"What did we miss?", Fred asked.

"Did you like the fireworks?"

"The finale was sick! I liked the ones at the end that became shooting stars", Harry praised.

Draco also provided his opinion, extending the conversation even more.

"Enough with the fireworks talk! Yes, they were very nice, but I want to know how Harry and Draco got together finally!", Ginny cut in.

"You're together?", the twins asked in sync.

"Oh I took this lovely picture of them with your fireworks in the background."

"Scrapbook material", Harry whispered into Draco's ear.

"What is going on in here with all of the yelling?", Molly asked. "The new year just started!"

"Harry and Draco are together!"

"Oh that's wonderful news!", Molly cheered. "Welcome to the family officially Draco dear, we are always so happy to have you."

"Thank you very much Molly."

Molly happily went into the kitchen to share the news with Arthur.

"When did this happen?", Blaise pressed.

"Six months ago", Draco said casually.

"No the fuck it didn't", Pansy interrupted.

Draco and Harry raised their intertwined hands, showing off their matching rings.

"Draco's been wearing that since Harry's birthday", Blaise noted.

Harry pulled the chain out of his pocket.

"I wore mine around my neck, until tonight."

"You hid your secret relationship for half a year?", Hermione asked, clarifying the timeline.

"We got together on July 30th", Draco confirmed.

"I don't know whether to be offended or impressed", Ron remarked.

"And no one knew?", Ginny asked.

"A few people did", Harry admitted.

"My mother and Luna figured it out."

"They told me when I needed advice. You were speaking from experience", Neville spoke up.

"We were. There have been plenty of ups and downs these past few months, but we wanted a no pressure relationship. Blaise I love you dearly but I didn't want anything to slip until we were both ready. It felt wrong telling only one or two of you, and we weren't ready to tell everyone."

"I wanted to tell you when we started talking again Mione, but Ron was still in his protective phase, and I didn't want you to have to hide something from him like that. It wouldn't be fair to either of you. But I hope we're all okay?", Harry finished.

"Salazar I'm just so happy for you both! We need drinks to celebrate!"

Ginny went off to help Pansy, and Harry just wrapped his arms around Draco.

"I had my suspicions", Hermione commented. "I just didn't think you were this far along in your relationship. It makes sense though. You both make sense."

The rest of their night was filled with drinking, junk food, laughs, and kisses as it always should be. The happy atmosphere was contagious, and the uplifting mood lasted the rest of their winter break. They were all ready for the excitement that the new year would bring, and the group of friends would be ready to handle whatever was thrown at them, together.