As they materialised in front of Malfoy Manor Harry shot Hermione a questioning glance, but she seemed perfectly fine. In fact she turned and grinned at him as they joined the steady trickle of people walking up the front steps into the house.

"I feel like I'm in Pride and Prejudice," she told him and Ron happily. The boys exchanged a clueless look and shrugged simultaneously.

Flaming torches lined the way inside, and house-elves in neat tea-towel uniforms stamped with the Malfoy crest bowed and took Hermione's cloak.

"I hope they're treating them better than they treated Dobby," she hissed, her mood suddenly darkened.

"Oh no, Draco's quite a stickler for the sanctions you helped pass," Harry jumped in, then realised, once again, he was defending his ex a little more vehemently than he should have been.

He lamented sadly, at some point in the last few days, he had been mentally referring to Draco as his ex. It felt like hatchet in his chest, but it was probably best considering he was about to see him parading around with a girl he intended to marry on his arm.

He balked. This was a horrendous idea. He should just leave, now. But Hermione had taken his house-elf comment to heart, and slipped her arm through his and beamed at him.

Ron grunted and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Since when did he become Draco?" he asked them both.

"Because there are several Malfoys," said Hermione casually as they followed the crowd into the ballroom. "And it makes me think of his father. It feels more natural to call him Draco."

"Hm," was all Ron said.

They were soon distracted by champagne bought to them on trays, and vol-au-vents filled with all manner of delightful concoctions. Music from a string quartet filled the air, and Hermione was steering the two men around as she found several people she knew to introduce them to. She didn't seem bothered at all by being back in the Manor. Harry guessed it was maybe because it was the other side of the house where everything had gone down, but also perhaps because the entire place had been renovated and scrubbed clean of Dark Magic. It was part of the conditions of Lucius' release from Azkaban, but he'd heard it from Draco that Narcissa had been fastidious in the act of reclaiming her home back from the Death Eaters that had infested it.

"Luna!" Hermione cried in delight, and they made their way over to where their good friend was being twirled around dreamily by a bohemian looking chap who was regarding her with adoration.

"Hermione!" she beamed, spiralling out of the man's arms to embrace her. "Ronald, Harry." She hugged them with equal affection, and Harry felt himself calm for the first time all day. "I'd like you to meet Rolf, he's my dancing partner."

Rolf grinned. "Amongst other things," he grinned, and gave them all firm handshakes. "Rolf Scamander. Luna's vastly inferior other half."

Harry hadn't realised Luna had a boyfriend, but he had kind eyes that made Harry think she'd found a good one. The gaggle chatted amiably for a while, soon to be joined by Neville and his wife Hannah. Harry drained his champagne flute a little too quickly, and almost immediately found it replaced by an eager house-elf. He did a reasonably good job paying attention to the conversations going on around him, and allowed himself to be distracted by several work colleagues passing by wanting a quick catch up. But his eyes were obsessively scanning the room, looking for that beacon of shining blond hair. Draco's height normally made him pretty easy to spot in a crowd, but even when Harry suddenly did spy him he still wasn't ready.

After almost two and a half months Harry couldn't quite comprehend what seeing his former lover was doing to his body. He stiffened immediately, gripping the once again empty glass so tightly it was in danger of breaking. Draco was half way across the room, smiling and talking with guests, oblivious to the hole Harry was boring into his skull. On his arm was presumably Astoria Greengrass, but Harry could only catch glimpses of rich brown hair in ringlets as the people around them waxed and waned.

Another helpful house-elf switched over his glass, and he found his name being called to pull him back into the conversation, drawing his attention away from Draco but not dimming the pain in his chest much. He could feel Draco's presence behind him like a flame, hot on his skin. What was he going to say? Of course he would be attached to Greengrass the whole evening, what had Harry been thinking?

It was like being a part of a slow motion car crash. Is was only a matter of time before Harry was going to have to confront the man he loved and look his new girlfriend in the face. He bit his lip and blinked his eyes. He could do this, he would show Draco he was strong. He didn't want his fucking pity.

Luna spotted a friend of her father's and pulled Rolf over to say hi. Neville and Hannah chatted to Harry for a little while until Susan Bones came and dragged them away, leaving Harry with just Ron and Hermione again. He felt maybe they'd paid their dues; said enough hellos, shown their faces around the place. He was just about to voice that maybe they could call it a night, after all what good would really come from confronting Malfoy here in front of everyone? When Hermione's eyes went wide, looking just over his shoulder.

"Harry Potter?"

His insides went cold.

He turned around and there she was – Astoria Greengrass. Her beauty up close was ethereal. Almond shaped eyes so icy blue they gave Harry a chill. High cheekbones, a heart shaped mouth, all framed by the lacquered chocolate ringlets that Harry had glimpsed from across the hall. Her pale lavender gown was exquisite and clinging to her figure in all the right places.

She was currently brimming with excitement as she dragged Draco over towards them, and Harry scrambled around mentally to try and collect his thoughts in time. The trouble was, he only had a matter of seconds to process what Draco was wearing; black shoes, charcoal trousers, white shirt, silver waistcoat, all of that was fairly standard.

It was the tailcoat robe in almost exactly the same design as Harry's that practically stopped his heart. Of course Draco would have bought one for himself, the only difference being his was a dove grey with jade and black running through the peacock feather pattern embroidered across the material.

They matched. They looked like a fucking couple.

If Astoria noticed though, she didn't say anything. She came to a halt in front of the trio almost out of breath from her exertion and grinning ear to ear. Draco gave Harry only the briefest of glances, but at least he had the decency to look mildly horrified.

"It's so nice to finally meet you!" Astoria cried, sticking her hand out for Harry to shake. He didn't really see much of an option other than to take it – she had a very firm grip. "I'm Astoria, though I suppose you've guessed that." She winked at him and squeezed Draco's arm, who gave her a pretty authentic smile back.

"Harry," he said softly to him.

"Draco," he managed in return, shrinking imperceptibly back towards Ron and Hermione. "It's a pleasure to meet you," he said to Astoria.

"Oh I've heard so much about you!" she enthused. "I know we were at school together for a while, but Draco talks about you all the time and it's different to finally have the chance to say a proper hello." Draco talked about him? Harry thought. All the time?

He wondered what the hell he had to do to get the ground to swallow him whole.

He tried his best to keep his breathing regular and gave Draco an appreciative smile, like they were just mates, and he was happy to be meeting his fiancé and that she'd heard a lot about him. He hadn't actually thought Draco would talk to Astoria about him though, did he even know he was doing it? Oh Draco, Harry thought, lump in his throat. Is this what you really want?

"I'm sure he told you all my terrible secrets," he said, and couldn't help feel a tiny bit of satisfaction as Draco's palled slightly. He instantly felt ashamed. He wasn't here to taunt Draco, he was just tormented by the idea of him chatting away to this girl about him, because he loved Harry but was still marrying her. It was fucked up, and Harry guessed he just wanted Draco to acknowledge that, even on a small scale.

"Oh no," she said sincerely. "It's all good, I promise." She scrunched up her nose and Harry tried his best to hate her, but she wasn't honestly what he'd been expecting. He'd been imagining some stuck up cow like Pansy Parkinson, not this energetic and affectionate girl.

She turned to Hermione and Ron expectantly. Harry thought she must have known who they were too, most people did, but she cast her eyes up to Draco and raised a brow.

"Darling," he said, recovering himself. "This is Ron Weasley, Harry's partner in the office, we work together occasionally."

She took his hand and shook it like she had done Harry's. "And your brother George runs that amazing shop in Diagon Ally doesn't he? I bet you boys were a handful for your mother!"

"You have no idea," Ron chuckled with her.

"And this is Hermione Granger," Draco continued, before raising is eyebrows. "Or is it Weasley now as well?"

Harry stiffened, eyes on Hermione for her reaction. "Well," she said graciously. "We are going to be getting married in a few months, but it'll be staying as Granger."

Draco smiled at her. Not that phoney crap he was giving most people Harry realised, but that look he let slip out when he was sincerely pleased. "As well it should," he said.

"How very modern of you," agreed Astoria. Harry was surprised. Most people gave Hermione an earful for that, telling her it was disrespectful to Ron, asking what would happen when they had children. Harry almost wanted to curse the pair of them for their understanding response.

Hermione was obviously pleased too as she smiled, taking Ron's hand to squeeze it. "Thank you," she said. "It's important to me."

"Well I'm glad you're doing it then," Astoria said. "Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. And Harry's going to be best man?" she asked Ron with interest.

"Of course," said Ron proudly. "Only so many times a bloke can save your life without earning the right to tell embarrassing stories on your wedding day."

Astoria laughed and winked at Hermione. "Oh, that reminds me," she said, turning to Draco. "I was thinking, seeing as you boys get on so well, you should definitely ask Harry to be one of your ushers." She faced Harry again, eyes all eager. "I love that you two are friends now, and I think it would be good to shake up the wedding party with at least one non-Slytherin, who better than Gryffindor's most famous alumni!"

Harry was pretty sure this was what being hit by a wrecking ball felt like. He couldn't help but flick his eyes up to Draco, who had lost all composure and looked like he might be sick. At least he and Harry agreed on one thing, but Astoria was waiting for an answer, hands clasped in front of her chest.

"Of course," he stuttered. "I'd be honoured."

His eyes couldn't seem to leave Draco's as she squealed in happiness. He wasn't sure if Hermione and Ron could see it too, the hurt, but Harry could. There was something like an apology hanging there, but Harry didn't see what else he could say.

He had just agreed to be a groomsman for Draco Malfoy. Draco, who Harry had shared a bed with almost every night for over half a year. Draco, who had told him secrets that he'd never told anyone else, who bought Harry silly presents for no other reason than to see him smile, who wrote him poetry and bought him roses and made him tea and had let him shag him six ways from Sunday and begged and pleaded for more. Draco Malfoy, whom he loved.

Draco looked like he might have wanted to say something, but Astoria's head whipped around, and Harry blinked and realised Narcissa Malfoy had just called her son's name. "Oh your mother wants you," said Astoria, before turning back to Harry and the others. "It was so lovely to meet you all," she said, already pulling Draco away. "We'll come back later for a proper chat, I promise."

Harry managed a stiff nod, as Draco let himself be steered away, giving Harry one last look over his shoulder. That was it then. It was over, done. Harry could feel his insides collapsing like a house of cards.

Hermione waved at them as they were swallowed up once more by the crowd, and Ron blinked, perplexed. "Well, that actually wasn't horrible," he said. "Malfoy was civil and that girl seemed pretty cool."

Hermione however, dropped her smile as soon as they were out of sight and spun to catch Harry's arm, eyes wide with concern as she took a breath in and out. "If you want to get out of here, we'll cover for you."

"W-what?" Harry stammered, looking between her and the point at which Draco had slipped away from view. "What do you mean? I'm fine."

She glowered. "Harry," she said firmly, but there was kindness there too. "You have never treated me like an idiot before, please don't start now."

He held her eyes for a few seconds, then could feel what was left of his resolve crumbling away. She knew. Hermione knew. How much, for how long and what precisely, Harry wasn't sure, but enough that she understood what was left of his heart was breaking into dust.

There was a tinkling of a spoon on glass, and they looked up to see Draco and Astoria had joined Narcissa and Lucius on the stage where the string quartet had been playing. They were quiet now though as the elder Malfoy called for everyone's attention, and began to make a toast.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered to Hermione.

"You've got nothing to be sorry for," she insisted, looking up at Draco then back to him. "But tormenting yourself is only going to make it worse."

Ron frowned at them, diverting his eyes away from the stage. "Hey," he said, concerned as Lucius droned on about family pride. "What's going on? Harry, you alright?"

He swallowed. He could feel the wetness pricking at the edge of his eyes, and he clamped his jaw together to stop it from trembling. If he walked out of here, that was it, it was all over, he might as well admit defeat. But what was his other option? he reasoned as he looked up at the stage, seeing Draco's hand wrapped around Astoria's. She seemed like a lovely girl, and he wanted what was best for his family.

Harry should just get out of there, remove the complication, let them have their happy ending. He thought ruefully back to his and Draco's final argument, how Draco was convinced if they broke up Harry would just pick up and move on with his life, while Draco's would be ruined.

It very much felt like the other way round at that moment.

He looked back at Hermione, and gave her a single nod, closing his eyes in a meagre attempt to halt the grief from washing over him. He felt Hermione throw her arms around him and he returned the embrace one handed, the champagne flute still gripped in the other.

"Harry," Ron whispered as they pulled apart, his face awash with concern. "Mate, what the hell's going on?"

"I'll explain later," Hermione told him softly as Harry thought fuck it all, and downed his champagne in one. He would find a house-elf to give the empty glass to on the way out.

"Thank you," he said thickly to Hermione, then gave Ron's shoulder a slap. He hated not explaining to his best friend, but he couldn't, not right now. Hermione would fill him in on whatever she knew, and then tomorrow he could spill his guts to them both and hope they didn't think he was the world's biggest fool.

He started pushing his way through the throng back towards the exit, the only person apart from the staff moving, everyone else giving their full attention as Lucius made them laugh with some quip about grandchildren.

"WAIT!"

The voice rang out like a bell, and the ballroom really did fall deathly silent, even the house-elves stopped what they were doing to look up. Harry's blood ran cold as, a few seconds later than everyone else, he too came to a halt. Fear prickling up his spine, he slowly turned around, unsure of what he would see.

Draco was staring directly at him. He had dropped Astoria's hand and was now instead half reaching forward.

Reaching for Harry.

His heart exploded in his chest. What was happening?

"I'm sorry," Draco said. His voice wasn't loud, but the atmosphere was so tense a pin could have been heard dropping. Harry felt fresh pain flicker through him, assuming Draco was talking to him, but in the next heartbeat he turned to look at Astoria and his parents.

Lucius was forming a very dangerous frown, but Draco didn't address him. Instead he took his mother's hand, holding it across Astoria. "I'm so sorry," he said, shaking his head. "I just wanted to do what's right, I wanted to make you proud, but I can't, I can't do it, I'm sorry."

He inhaled and grabbed Astoria by the shoulders as Harry watched on in mute horror that he daren't let blossom into hope. "You deserve so much better," he said, planting a swift kiss on her cheek. "I'm so sorry."

In one fluid motion he spun and leapt off the stage to a chorus of gasps. The room was silent no more as voices began hissing whispers and calling out questions. "Draco!" barked Lucius aghast. "Draco get back here this instant!"

But Draco wasn't listening. He was marching through the crowd that was parting for him like the red sea as he picked up his pace. Marching straight towards Harry.

He didn't allow himself to think. He could only feel his feet as they started to move of their own accord, propelling him towards the direction Draco was headed. More voices began to shout as they got faster, the glass slipping from Harry's fingers and fracturing on the ground as Draco pushed through the last few bodies, and went crashing straight into Harry.

The cacophony of sound that assaulted Harry's ears might have been deafening in any other instance, but Harry barely noticed a thing as he kissed Draco with such ferocity he could feel his teeth bruising his lips. Hands in hair, bodies entwined, wet tears glancing off of skin.

It only lasted a second, before Harry felt Hermione yank him away. "What are you waiting for!" she yelled, half angry, half delirious as the two men spun apart. Lucius was clambering down the stage, ranting and raving. Everyone around them was hollering in shock and disgust, camera flashes were going off and Ron looked like he was about to pass out. And on the stage, Narcissa had grabbed Astoria's shoulders, hugging the girl to her body as she looked like she was about to cry.

But Astoria...Astoria didn't appear all that unhappy. In fact, she caught Harry's eye as he stared up at her. And she winked.

Hermione's voice brought him back to reality. "Go!" she shrieked, shaking his shoulders with a manic grin on her face. "Get out of here, now!"

Harry didn't need telling twice. He grabbed Draco's hand and raised his eyebrows. Draco nodded once.

The pair tore through the ballroom, running past most people too surprised to stop them amidst a hail of outrage and one or two wolf whistles. "Whoops!" he heard Hermione cry loudly behind them, and he spared a second to look round and see several floating platters of entrees and trays of champagne had flipped over spectacularly, covering multiple guests with their contents, causing them to flail around in revulsion and block Lucius' attempts to reach the two fleeing men.

Harry burst through the ballroom doors, their boots clattering across the entrance hall as he gripped Draco's clammy hand for dear life and hauled him out the front door. Several house-elves squeaked in their wake, and a couple who had snuck outside for a cigarette jumped in alarm, but Harry didn't even think about pausing until they had ran far enough to apparate away from Malfoy Manor.

"Home?" he gasped, wrapping his arms around Draco's waist as he placed his hands on Harry's chest. He looked shell-shocked and trembled against Harry's body, but he managed to nod in reply.

"Home," he said, his face splitting into a smile full of relief.