Small A/N: I needed to get myself caught up with my own timeline that works in sync with the real world. I meant to have Christmas then NY but I didn't. So here I am, writing more than 3000 words on January 2nd of 2020 pt II

I'm also using the book release date as the canon 8th year here (technically the release date was 2007, but after the great war (which I feel was in 2008 because school years SUCK) so the timeline is 2008-2009)

Hermione's dress is the picture at the top

Now onto the story!

It was New Year's Eve, and everyone was helping to put up decorations for the party. Harry had invited Ron and Hermione, mostly because he and Draco needed to tell them sometime. Harry knew they would be mad because they weren't the first ones to know, but this way was easier than sitting them down and saying that his enemy of 8 years was now his Boyfriend.

Draco insisted they kept up appearances until that night, so they kept their contact to a minimum, since everyone thought they were still avoiding each other, much to the chagrin of Harry (He had a hot boy, can you blame him). Harry still managed to sneak a few kisses and even dared a hip-check when walking past Draco. No one seemed to notice anything out of the blue, and soon the Great Hall looked absolutely gorgeous.

Everyone was free to socialize until about 9 when they needed to go down to get Ron and Hermione. Draco was a bit nervous since Hermoine was known around the eighth years as the only one brave enough to punch Draco. Harry assured him that he would hold Hermoine back if it had to come to that.

The dress code for the New Year's Party was formal wear, so they had to wear suits. Harry didn't have many clothes to begin with, so he asked Draco if he could borrow one of his, even if it didn't fit. Draco, being the gracious Boyfriend he was (and not AT ALL because he wanted to see his fit Boyfriend in his suit), let him borrow one of his nicer dark green ones. He wore a Carmine (look it up) suit that matched perfectly with Harry's, but only subtly.

"I always knew you'd look stunning as a Slytherin," observed Draco. The suit fit Harry almost perfectly, except it was a tad big (Draco is taller (only by a few inches), you can fight me, and because of the y'know, malnutrition on Harry's part).

"And I always thought you looked better as a Gryffindor. Had a big enough ego, at least." Harry walked over to Draco to wrap his arms around Draco's waist under his jacket. Draco started to protest, but Harry promptly shut him up with a kiss.

When they met up with Ron and Hermione at the gates, Harry and Ron' bro hugged', and he gave a proper hug to Hermione. Draco looked a bit uncomfortable but shook hands with both of them and formally apologized for his past actions. He explained that he was trying to be a better person and would appreciate a second chance with the two of them. Ron was skeptical, while Hermione started talking to him about what they were learning in their classes this year. Harry was amazed at how much like Hermoine his Boyfriend was.

"You trust him now?" Ron broke Harry out of his daze and thumbed over to Draco, talking animatedly about one of the new books he was reading.

"Yeah." Harry said, "I do. He's showed over the past few months how much he changed. He hasn't said anything terrible since this school year started. He was just a kid, too, y'know. Influenced unwillingly by his parents and the society he grew up in."

"When'd you get all philosophical 'n shit mate?"

"War does that to people, Ron, and so does 'dying.'" Harry slung an arm around Ron's shoulders and gestured for the 2 smartasses to follow them inside.

Harry complimented Hermione's dress she was wearing. It was a lovely light blue off the shoulder dress. Ron and Hermione both gasped as they walked into the Great Hall.

"It's only good because they forced the students to put it up this morning. Woke us up early too!" Draco whined. Harry elbowed him in the side,

"8:30AM is only early to you, Mr. Pureblood!" They both dissolved into laughter, and Hermione eyed them suspiciously (Hermione obviously can see romantic subtext when it's not hers).

They went to find a table in the Great Hall, and Draco and Harry made sure to guide them to a table at the front, so their plan would work. They ate and drank and caught up for a few hours, until 11:30. Their plan needed to be put in motion at just the right time, just after the teachers had finished their speeches and McGonagall let them get back to enjoying the party. Once McGonagall sat down again, Draco stood up on the table, cast Sonorous, and started his speech,

"Before everyone continues enjoying the amazing party that we students put together, I have an announcement. As I'm sure you all know, I came to school a bit...Different this year. I decided to change my habits and try becoming a nice person. It worked pretty well, and it helped that I had an amazing teacher." Draco gestured downwards and held his hand out for Harry to take.

"Harry helped me understand that how I was behaving was hurting people, and while I could blame it on my parents or upbringing, I'm not. I decided I needed to fit into the Pureblood society, even when it didn't feel right. Now, I've decided to live my life the way I want, not the way my parents want. Mostly because they ended up in Azkaban, and I'd like to be a law-abiding citizen." That got a few laughs out of the audience and made some of the Slytherins shift uncomfortably in their seats.

"I also have another announcement, which may upset a lot of you younger people. I also found someone I want to spend time with. I found Harry. My Boyfriend."

Gasps echoed throughout the Great Hall, and you could see the teachers all sliding money to McGonagall. Some of the younger years looked furious and disheartened to learn that the 'Chosen One' was both not playing for their team and taken. Harry kissed Draco on the cheek and motioned for him to wrap it up.

"I'm being told to wrap this up so we can enjoy the last minutes of this year, so Happy New Year, and Thank You for listening to me ramble!" With that, they both stepped down from the table and went to find Ron and Hermione.

"Why didn't you tell us, mate? We knew you were Bi since Cedric, but, no offense mate, but HIM! Of everyone at Hogwarts! I thought you hated each other!" Ron was taking this surprisingly well.

"None taken, I was surprised too," Draco said, sliding his arm around Harry's waist under his jacket. Hermione just had a knowing look on her face. "Is this why you've been asking so many questions about Charms and magical properties?" She narrowed her eyes at Harry so hard it felt like she was staring into his soul.

"Well...yeah." Harry blushed and turned into Draco's side.

"We didn't tell you because you were still getting the idea of Harry being friends with me, and if he just dropped a 'hey, remember that person who bullied us for a solid 7 years and called Hermione a you-know-what, very sorry for that by the way, terrible thing to do, you had every right to punch me. Guess what? We're dating!' in his letters, it would have been a lot more confusing and aggravating." Draco took over for Harry while he recovered.

"I wouldn't have worded it like that, y'know," Harry's voice was muffled by the jacket.

"Of course." Draco looked down fondly.

"If you hurt him-" Hermione started.

"I know, I know, you won't hesitate to punch me again. I'm well aware of your abilities." Harry had talked to Draco about the 'best friend talk.' Hermione nodded firmly and turned to Ron, who had been uncharacteristically quiet these past few minutes.

"If he makes you happy, mate, I'm fine with it. It may take a bit for me to get over what he's done, but I'll try." Ron seemed like he had made his decision. Harry lit up and stood up from Draco's jacket.

"I understand completely," Draco started, "I know what I did to you three over the years was awful, and I'm not expecting you to forgive me immediately. I know Harry considers you his Best Friends, and you obviously share the sentiment. I would like it very much if we could also become friends, not just for Harry's sake, but for my own. I may not have many friends after tonight's performance."

Just then, the entire Great hall began counting down from 20. The four started counting down with them, and as they got to 1, Ron and Hermoine shared a brief kiss, and Harry did something unexpected on impulse. He took Draco into a dip and kissed him soundly.

"Oi! You're going to be one of those disgusting PDA couples, aren't you!" Ron covered his eyes with his hand. Draco and Harry both laughed as they stood up.

"I assume so," Draco responded. Ron made a disgusted noise. All of them laughed together.