分卷阅读73（2 / 2）

Harry looked down at the snow as well. “We’re…not going to break it off though, right?”

Draco was silent for a moment. “I’ll explain my answer in two ways. Logic would remind us that even when we leave here, it will not change the fact that I am a Veriae and I am bonded to you. We will have to live together regardless, and would not be able to marry anyone else anyway. Therefore, there is no reason to break it off.”

Harry felt hurt by this explanation for a reason he could not fathom. He would have to live with Draco for the rest of his life, he knew that. But just having that as a reason behind engagement and then marriage…

But Draco did not give him time to finish that thought because he continued speaking.

“And for the second way…” Draco’s hand lifted Harry’s chin so that Harry’s eyes caught his own. The blond leaned closer to whisper in Harry’s ear. “I will remind you that it is I whom you are engaged to. And I would not allow anything to break our engagement.”

Draco’s mouth found Harry’s and Harry was lost in a tide of what made Draco…Draco Malfoy. Arrogant, possessive, self-assured, quick to anger, yet young, needful and Veriae. His arms wrapped around Draco’s shoulders, drawing him close. He could feel Draco’s hands slide down his cloak to rest at the small of his back, and he could feel the two rings Draco wore through his clothing as though they burned upon his skin. The Malfoy signet ring and the Malfoy engagement ring. The right one that, mirrored on his hand, marked him as Draco’s and marked Draco’s as his own.

Hermione looked up as Ron fell down into the sofa opposite her in the slowly emptying Gryffindor Common Room.

“I just sent Ginny to the owlery with the letters we wrote,” she told him.

“That’s good.” Ron’s voice sounded listless and uncaring. Hermione frowned, noticing his haggard appearance.

“What’s wrong?”

“Everything!” Ron shouted, startling the two first-years who were whispering to each other in a corner. He fell back deflated against the sofa’s back. “And nothing,” he whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”

Hermione moved to his side and held out her arms to him. As he fell into their security she pulled him close. “What happened?”

“I saw them. Harry and Malfoy.”

Hermione waited as Ron paused, not rushing his words.

“I don’t think…that they’re going to break off the engagement…ever.”

“What?”

“I saw them kissing—again—down by the lake. I know they’d have to keep up appearances but that was going too far. Whatever they’re feeling, it’s real, Hermione.”

Hermione rocked him slowly as he trailed off again.

“I don’t know what to think! I don’t know what to do! He’s my best friend, but it…it’s Malfoy!”