Harry took a step back, away from the fire's heat. That was not possible. "We are friends," he said stubbornly.

"Yes," said Draco kindly, with the assurance of a man who knew his mind. "I would hope I could never love someone I could not call friend first."

"I am concerned," Harry said, anger bubbling under his words. "That you speak of such love that brothers share. And I would never dismiss or belittle this love Draco, but the reason I had to abandon you was that I had stirrings in that stable of a very different kind of love. The love," he said, faltering as he bit back tears. "The love that a man should feel for a women. I speak of something unnatural and unclean and I would not taint you with it!"

He did not strive to stem the flow of tears as they sprung from his eyes, knowing his humiliation was complete, and Draco would only see him with abhorrence from now on. But his to utter surprise, Draco only stepped nearer to him, and, with tentative and shaking movement, gently took Harry's hand in his own.

Harry gasped, in fear, in shock, and stared down at the intimate connection.

"Harry," Draco said to him softly. "I know exactly of the love you speak. I have held it dear in my heart for many years, knowing it was too precious, too fragile to let the world see it lest it might harm it. But I let my actions runaway with me that day, and I saw – at least, dear God I hope I saw – that you carry the same love too. Even if you did not realise it until that moment."

Harry had no words to offer, he merely remained staring at their hands, until the moment where Draco lifted his other one to hold both of Harry's, to hold them tight and secure.

"In the eyes of the law, I know this is wrong-"

"It is wrong," Harry argued in disgust, but Draco did not let him deter him.

"But not in the eyes of God I say it is not!" he cried, and Harry finally risked a glance up at his animated face. "God made us in his image Harry, we are perfect, just as he intended. And my love for you is as pure and natural as the love between my own mother and father, I cannot see it any other way, I will not!"

Harry was dumbfounded. Draco was really declaring that he had the same regard for him that Harry held for Draco. That he felt there was nothing wrong in it! "You...love me?" he choked out.

"Most ardently," Draco replied in haste. "And I will not have you scared away again, I want to discuss...a proposal. Something I have been concocting for quite some time now."

"A proposal?" Harry repeated, feeling a fool for reusing all of Draco's own words, but his own mind was dull from tiredness and astonishment.

Draco nodded, and bid them to sit on the couch alongside each other, their hands still very much entangled. "I had to be sure, that your feelings reciprocated mine," he began. "For this is no small matter we are dealing in. So I will ask you once more Harry, are you sure of your love for me, now that you know I cherish you above all others?"

Harry gave the question grave consideration. He had felt as one with Draco since they had met, preferring his company above all others, and when they were parted it had been like a half of his own self had been devoid. He loved his temperament and his kindness, his brash wit and quiet contemplation. "I do believe," he said carefully. "That there is no other on this Earth that can make me as content and happy as you do, Draco Malfoy," he said, his body trembling at his own audacity to voice the words out loud.

Draco exhaled a gasp that could have been mistaken for a sob, and released one of Harry's hands to cup his face in such a tender motion Harry felt his own tears spring to life again. "Marriages have been formed on far less," he said, delight plain on his face.

Harry swallowed, not wanting to dash his love's hopes – not when he had just come to know that he was indeed his love! But he felt reason must interfere. "We cannot marry though," he said sadly, and was confused to see Draco's delight only widen.

"You have not yet heard my proposal though," he said eagerly, so Harry nodded, his confidence unwavering and his hope kindling.