Series: The Music Box
Part 5: Love Is A Symbol Of Eternity
Author: Lady B
Character(s): Draco, Harry, Ginny, Hermione
Rating: PG13
Summary: A wedding.
Challenge: IJ/LJ AWDT Valentine's Quickies #14: Love & Marriage
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.


Love is a symbol of eternity. It wipes out all sense of time,
destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.
~Author Unknown

There was a knock on the door and Hermione opened it to see Harry standing there, looking very nice in his midnight blue robes.

"Harry! Come in!" she smiled, pulling him into the room, "Let me look at you. My goodness, you clean up nice."

"Thanks, Hermione. Is she ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." Ginny replied, stepping out of the bathroom in her wedding gown. She and Luna were mixing muggle and wizarding wedding traditions when Ginny had mentioned she always wanted to wear a wedding dress.

"Ginny!" Harry exclaimed, "You look like a dream!"



"Thank you." Ginny smiled, fighting back her tears. Hermione stepped in immediately.

"No tears today! We spent hours getting your hair and make-up just right."

"Sorry." Ginny grinned. Harry smiled at the two girls, forever friends and found his thoughts turning to Draco. He'd been invited to the wedding, Ginny had told him so, but had politely declined. He was still Persona Non-Grata after all these years in some circles and chose to avoid conflict when possible. He didn't notice when Hermione stepped out of the room to check on some last-minute details until Ginny touched his arm. He looked at her.

"Where were you?"

"No where in particular." Harry sighed.

"Harry how long have we known each other?"

"Since you were eleven."

"Don't you think I know by now when your thoughts are somewhere else?"

"You know me too well." Harry smiled for her benefit.

"Harry, what's wrong? You seem so sad." She reached up to brush his hair away from his faded scar, a dim reminder of dark days.

"I've found the one person I want to be with, and I don't know how to tell him."

"Oh, Harry." Ginny sighed, "You need to go to him, immediately, before it's too late."

"I can't."

"Why not?" she demanded.

"I promised you and your father to walk you down the aisle today. I can't just abandon my post." Arthur, as Minister of Magic and father of the bride, wanted to personally perform his daughter's bonding ceremony.

"Harry James Potter, I have more than enough brothers who would be glad to walk me down the aisle today. You need to go to Draco and tell him how you feel." Harry stared at her in shock.

"How did you know it was him?"

"Pansy told me her suspicions the day after you had dinner with him. You really should stop using her as your confessor. She tells me everything." She giggled. Harry rolled his eyes.

"I can't Ginny. He has no reason to feel the same about me. Please, don't ask it of me."

"I can't force you to go, but you're going to regret it in the end." she sighed. She hoped he changed his mind. He hoped she wasn't right.

Hermione came back into the room and Harry focused his attention on the happy day it was supposed to be.

"Ready, Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"I've been ready." she smiled. Harry held out his arm and led her from the room.

- - -

As they walked down the aisle in the pavilion that had been set up on the Quidditch Pitch at Hogwarts, Harry's thoughts turned once again to Draco, wondering what he was doing at that moment, if he was missing Harry as much as Harry was missing him. He didn't realize he'd stopped walking halfway up the aisle until Ginny whispered his name. He looked down at her, apologies reflected in his bright green gaze. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek.

"Go to him, Harry. Go get your man." she smiled, completely understanding.

"Thanks, Ginny. Happy Valentine's Day." he whispered in her ear after he kissed her cheek.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Harry." she smiled. She released his arm, and he turned and practically flew back up the aisle. He turned the corner into the main entrance as he heard Ginny shout out, "George Weasley, come down here and walk your sister down the aisle! Harry's gone to catch himself a dragon!"

Harry laughed, a carefree sound that hadn't been heard in some time. He made it to the Headmistress's office in record time and activated the floo.

"Good luck, Harry!" Dumbledore shouted from his portrait.

"Yes, Potter. Do be kind to my godson." Snape smirked.

Harry waved to them both and shouted out the address before stepping into the green flames, and hopefully, his future.

- - -

Draco admitted to himself that he was lonely, and missing Harry like crazy. He wondered if Harry was enjoying himself at the wedding.

"He's surrounded by his friends. Of course he's having a good time." he mumbled to himself, turning to stare out the window.

"I was having a miserable time actually." came a voice behind him. Draco whirled around, hand over his rapidly beating heart.

"Harry! What are you doing here?"

"There I was, walking my best mate's sister down the aisle to get married. Supposed to happy and smiling and whatnot...and all I kept thinking about...is you." As he was talking, Harry moved closer and closer to Draco, who couldn't move from his spot unless his life depended on it.

"Harry, I-"

"Shut it. I'm not done." Harry whispered. Draco's mouth snapped closed and he gulped.

"Why are you here?"

"Because I missed you. I left Ginny in the middle of the aisle and came here because I missed you like crazy."

"Harry! Are you insane?"

"For the first time in my life, I'm completely sane." Harry reached out and touched Draco's cheek. "I don't know what the future will bring, but I know I don't want to go on without you. I love you, Draco Malfoy." And with that, Harry grabbed Draco and kissed him without restraint. Draco didn't remain passive for long and gave as good as he got.

When they finally came up for air, both were breathless and laughing.

"I love you too, Harry." Draco whispered as their foreheads touched.

Harry wrapped his arms around him and began to sway to music only they could hear. Ilsa poked her head in the doorway and smiled at the two of them. She snapped her fingers and the soft melody of "Love Me Tender" echoed about the room.

Draco rested his head on Harry's shoulder, content that his life, his future, was secure in Harry's arms.


The End