Time seemingly flew by after graduation. Draco and Harry had settled in together quite nicely, and Harry was so happy to be with his love. For his part, Draco was excitedly re-decorating parts of the house. There was a whole wall dedicated to the progression of his and Harry's year long relationship.

"It's wonderful, just like you my beautiful boy," Harry said softly, wrapping his arms around Draco and pressing a kiss to his cheek.

"Isn't it? Look at how far we've come my darling."

"And we still have so much more to go."

"I think we need a bigger wall."

Laughing, Harry just shook his head and smiled at his Draco. He allowed Draco to lead him into the kitchen, where he once again made sure they had everything they needed for tomorrow.

"What I do think, is you need to get ready for bed."

"I know, I know. I just want to make sure our housewarming party is perfect!"

"Draco you've worked so hard on this. We have worked so hard on this. It's just our friends."

"And our family! I know I'm being dramatic but I just love you so much, and I need it to be perfect!"

"You can stay down here and worry, or, you can take a shower with me," Harry invited with a wicked grin.

"But I still have so much to do! There's the dining room and the rest of the decorations and-"

Draco truly should have expected something like this. Harry had been giving him that amused look that slowly morphed into something else. That should have been his clue to stop talking. He blinked and suddenly he was covered in whipped cream.

"Potter!"

"Malfoy you're so messy," Harry tsked, "we must get you cleaned up."

"I cannot believe you- actually no, I can! You just- oh. Oh, yes. Point taken."

As Draco continued on, Harry was dutifully cleaning away all traces of whipped cream with his mouth.

"I always clean up my messes."

"Shower, now," Draco demanded.

"Yes my Prince."

After their shower, Draco was stretched languidly on the bed, and Harry was rubbing his shoulders.

"I love showering together."

"Took you long enough to agree to it today."

"I just need this to go well," Draco said quietly.

"It will. And if it doesn't? That's just another story to tell."

"You're right."

"I usually am," Harry replied cheekily, smacking Draco's arse. "Think happy thoughts. Remember your birthday party?"

"How could I forget?," Draco replied with a loving sigh.

Harry had made sure Draco's birthday was absolutely wonderful. He knew it would have been hard to top what he had done last year, but he would try.

At the stroke of midnight signifying the change to Draco's birthday, Harry had kissed him lovingly, and teasingly brought out his Gryffindor tie.

"What plans do you have for it this year?," Draco asked teasingly.

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Draco loved being surprised, and his birthday was no different. With his sight being blocked once more, Draco was ready to be brought somewhere. He hadn't expected to be pushed down onto the bed.

"Harry?"

"I know you've been wanting to try some new things. Happy birthday my beautiful Draco."

Draco put all of his trust in Harry, and he was not disappointed. Harry always made sure he was comfortable and that everything felt good. The lack of sight just amplified the pleasurable feelings, and Draco swore he blacked out.

When he came to, Harry had cleaned him up and was carrying him into the bathroom. Harry had set out and lit candles, and there was a bath bomb in the water that made the water a beautiful pink color.

"Oh Harry."

"Only the best for you."

Quiet moments like this where they didn't have to say anything were Draco's favorite. He could lay in Harry's arms and just exist. There were no pretenses to keep up, it was just them.

Harry had lovingly taken care of Draco, making sure he was clean. He dried him off, helped him get dressed, and then led him down to the kitchen. A cupcake was presented to Draco, and Harry sang happy birthday to him.

"Make a wish my beautiful boy."

"You make it hard to find new things to wish for my special boy."

Still, Draco knew what he wanted, and eyes closed, blew out his candles. After splitting the cupcake, they cuddled up on a bean bag chair and watched Tangled, a new tradition having been started.

"I love you Harry."

"And I love you Draco."

In the morning, Draco was woken up to breakfast in bed with his favorite chocolate waffles. He was preening under Harry's attention, and straddled him as soon as breakfast was done.

"Do we have time for dessert?"

"I can spare a few minutes."

Draco was positively giddy.

"When do you want your presents?"

"Can I have them now?"

"I can be persuaded."

"Can you now?"

"Come on love, they're in the living room."

"Can I open the biggest one first," Draco asked, eyes lighting up.

"I expected that. Go for it Sweetheart."

Draco gasped as he tore off the paper.

"Harry!," he said in surprise. "A slushie machine?!"

"We can make purple anytime we want now."

"You're never leaving me, I hope you know that," Draco said seriously.

"Not once have I ever thought of leaving you."

"What else are we doing today?"

"Once you finish opening your gifts, we're going on a drive. Your day is full of surprises."

Surprise number one was a wine tasting. Draco knew so much about wine and grapes, even the woman leading the tasting was impressed. Harry didn't say much because all of the wine tasted very similarly to him, and he didn't want to offend anybody.

They had a wonderful lunch at Draco's favorite cafe, and then Harry dropped Draco off at The Manor to spend some time with his mother. Harry had a lot to finish in a short period of time, and was thankful to have the help of his friends to do it.

When Narcissa brought Draco home a few hours later, he found a sheepish looking Harry standing on the front walkway.

"What did you do?," Draco asked with a loving sigh.

"I may or may not have blown the breaker?"

"What did I tell you about using so much magic in the house? Come on my darling, I'll reset it again."

"What would I do without you?"

"I shudder to think of what you would have become. Honestly Scarhead-," Draco continued, opening the door.

"Surprise!"

"Harry?," Draco asked in confusion, rounding on Harry.

"Happy birthday my dearest Draco."

Draco's hand flew to his mouth, tears in his eyes as he took in all of his friends and family in their home. The living room had been transformed, and it was beautiful. There were soft glowing orbs of light everywhere and the room was draped in purple.

"You did this?"

"With some help."

"He's a nightmare to work with in regards to you Draco, everything had to be perfect," Pansy drawled with an eye roll.

"He deserves nothing but the best!," Harry argued, nuzzling his face in Draco's neck when he came to hug Harry.

"That's why I have you. I love you, and I am so, so surprised Harry," Draco said, pulling away with a laugh after kissing Harry.

He thanked everyone for coming, and was very excited to sit down for his favorite dinner.

"You've been feeling cunning, have you Potter?"

"I'm feeling very prideful now Malfoy-Potter," Harry replied with a grin.

Draco was so full of love, he was practically bursting, just like the fireworks display Fred and George had set off in his honor. After that had wound down, Harry led him to the dock with a glowing smile.

"We're changing it up this year," Harry said with a grin, hanging Draco paper and a lantern. "We're all writing wishes and releasing our lanterns up together."

"Harry, I don't even know how you did all of this."

"I can't reveal my secrets," Harry teased. "So much planning went into this but you deserved all of it. You deserve the best, and I will continue to give it to you."

When writing his wish, Harry hoped that their love would continue to grow stronger each day. Draco hoped that they would always remain this open to the other's needs. Their lanterns went into the sky first, followed by those from their friends and families. They shared a sweet kiss, and Draco was oh so in love and he had no qualms letting everyone know about it.

After the cake, Narcissa, Molly, and Arthur headed home once the alcohol began to flow. Pansy definitely had a few too many drinks, and Ginny wasn't too far behind.

"We should swim in the pond!," Pansy slurred.

"Why should we do that?," Draco asked, wrinkling his nose in confusion.

"Why shouldn't we?," Ginny retorted, kissing Pansy and allowing herself to be dragged to the pond.

Dean and Seamus cheered as they stumbled their way outside, and Neville pinched the bridge of his nose as Blaise dragged him out behind them.

"I'll get towels," Harry said with a sigh, making his way upstairs.

Draco followed, cornering Harry in their bedroom.

"Going somewhere?," Draco teased, pinning Harry's arms above his head.

"I'm going to be smart and put my bathing suit on before going into the pond."

"Let me help you change then," Draco replied with a grin, getting onto his knees and slowly pulling down Harry's shorts.

"Everyone is waiting outside."

"You'll be quick for me then yeah? I've wanted you for hours. Besides, everyone is drunk," Draco murmured, kissing the insides of Harry's thighs.

Harry let his head drop back against the door.

"Be good and look at me yeah? It's my birthday and there's one treat I've been dying to have."

Harry didn't last long at all, and Draco was pleased he could still have this effect on Harry.

"Let's make sure no one drowned in our pond, yeah?"

"That's a good idea," Harry replied breathlessly, kissing Draco one last time.

"Did you need me to-"

"All taken care of. Come on my darling. I'm worried for Pansy."

Getting changed into their bathing suits, they walked outside to a lot of splashing. Seamus and Pansy were playing chicken against each other and Harry was wondering just how deep the pond actually was on their property.

"Should we set up the guest rooms?," Draco asked, leaning against Harry as he put his feet in the pond.

"Already done, my Prince."

"I love you so much."

"I know," Harry replied with a grin, kissing Draco quickly. "I'm reminded of that every time I look down."

Harry had decided that instead of doing something majorly sentimental on the official day of their first anniversary, that he and Draco would do something on the one year anniversary of Draco writing to him. Draco took them out for lunch, and Harry brought them to see Luna, much to Draco's surprise.

"Draco, you know that you're the love of my life," Harry began.

"And you're the same for me," Draco said suspiciously.

"We already have these rings from our one month, I wanted to commemorate our one year with something else. I thought we could get another tattoo."

"Oh Harry," Draco replied softly, pulling his boyfriend in for a kiss. "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking about getting our symbol tattooed somewhere."

"Where?"

"Maybe my ring finger? I was thinking under the ring so that when I'm baking or doing something and I have to take it off you're still with me."

"I'll do the same. Maybe I'll get something else too, who knows?"

"They always say you can't get just one tattoo."

"I've lost count of all of your tattoos."

Upon graduation, Harry had gotten his tattoos for his parents, Sirius, and Remus, and was very quickly nearing a full sleeve. His latest addition had been "my darling" written in Draco's handwriting circling the inside of his wrist.

"You love them."

"Oh you know I do. There's nothing better than finding out just how sensitive the magical ones are."

"My darling absolutely loves your touch."

"It recognizes my magical signature," Draco replied, teasingly running his fingers over the words on Harry's wrist as he shivered.

"Maybe I'll get a snake next time and teach you some parseltongue."

"I like the sound of that."

Harry had the sketch ready for Luna and soon enough he and Draco had another set of matching tattoos.

Draco was happy to have the permanent reminder of their love on his finger. He wasn't as into tattoos as Harry, but he liked them when they were tasteful and had great meaning.

After Draco's birthday came their first anniversary which they spent in a much similar fashion to Harry's birthday. They arrived back in England on Harry's birthday, where Draco sucked up his pride and took Harry camping at their picnic spot. It didn't take long for Harry to realize they would never be doing this again, but he enjoyed his time with Draco nonetheless.

That brings them to the present day where Grimmauld Place had finally become a home. The rooms were redone and the backyard had become completely transformed. Harry was amazed at just how much life Draco brought to their home. Even something as simple as getting dressed in the morning made him smile when he had to sort through his and Draco's combined clothes.

A knock at their door brought Harry back to the present.

"Are you ready?," Draco asked, holding out his hand for Harry's. 

"With you, I'm ready for anything," Harry agreed, lacing his fingers with Draco's.

And I'll be your memories
Your lullaby for all the times
Hoping that my voice could get it right

Together, Draco and Harry did get it right. 

{A/N: almost one year later, here's the last chapter of I Swear This Time I Mean It, posted July 28, 2023. Thank you all for sticking with me and my stories, it means the world to me. It's been two years since Ghosts ended and just about one year since this story ended, and your constant support encourages me to keep writing. Ghosts has over 800K reads and it absolutely blows my mind.

I have so many ideas to write still, so I hope you continue on this journey with me. Next up for completion is I Don't Care. Check out my Drarry Drabbles book for potential future stories!

All of my love,

J <3 }

List of my Drarry stories as of 8/29/23:

Piece of Your Heart

Ghosts

I Swear This Time I Mean It

Forever Halloween

Paint You Wings

Therapy

Late Night Talking

Copy of a Copy of a Copy

Just Evans

Lost Boy

I Don't Care

Drarry Drabbles