1,032Chapter 12
"I have a gift for you in return for your stunning gifts," Rodolohus announced as soon as he flooed into Sirius and Severus' living room and spotted Harry there. He was wearing his scarf which made Harry smile before he registered the words.
"Dolohus I didn't give you the gifts to get… what is this?" he blinked stopping his protests as he looked at the papers Rodolohus was holding out to him.
"We have a viewing for this house in half an hour, I think this might be the one," Rodolohus grinned.
"This is… perfect, it is everything that we wanted," Harry said excitedly, sitting up even more as he leafed through the paperwork.
"Isn't it! There are a few things here and there,"
"But between us that shouldn't be a problem to fix, and we have enough time," Harry nodded. "Dolohus, this is…"
"A street over from Regy and Moira," Rodolohus nodded, "is that OK?"
"OK, no it's not OK!" Harry exclaimed making Rodolohus blanch before he caught the mischievous twinkle in Harry's green eyes, seeing his fiance had caught on Harry grinned. "It is even more perfect, we can be just around the corner from them and keep an eye on them without it being obvious,"
"Have I mentioned how lucky I am?" Rodolohus shook his head drawing Harry into a long, very drugging, very appreciative kiss. "I absolutely love my gifts, by the way, truly love them,"
Harry looked up at him shyly as they parted, the words making him smile, the truth clear in Rodolphus' tone.
"I wanted to show you what you meant to me," Harry admitted.
"Thank you," Rodolphus smiled kissing him again. "Now, go pop some robes and your cloak on and let's go see if this is the house for us," he nudged his partner gently.
"I hope it is!" Harry said excitedly before spinning and hurrying away, leaving his fiance pouting a little where he had been leaning in to steal one more kiss.
He glanced down when he saw some movement and smiled a little to himself when he saw Viktor looking around a little confused from the sun patch on the window seat where he was currently lounging.
"Hello, he will be down soon," Rodolphus told him, running a finger down Viktor's head.
"Dolphus! Did you see the garden?!" Harry called as he walked back into the room pulling his robes up over his shoulder with one hand while the other was holding the papers, still going through them.
"It is a fair bit overrun and uncared for," Rodolphus nodded.
"That is even better, I can start from fresh and not with someone else's layout and plants, I'm sure Moira would love to help as well," Harry smiled brightly. "And the kitchen, do you think we could knock through into this room and have a pantry? What?" Harry looked up from where he had been pointing at the papers to find Rodolphus' eyes on him and looking at him in a way that made his stomach clench in the best of ways, and his heart flutter.
"You really like the house and the idea of being close to Moira and Regy?" Rodolphus smiled.
"Of course," Harry titled his head.
"Have I told you how truly lucky and blessed I feel knowing that I am betrothed to you?" Rodolphus smiled cupping the back of Harry's head and tilted him back so that he could kiss him sweetly.
"What brought that on, I mean it is true, but what brought it on?" Harry asked, though the happy blush on his cheeks deterred from the cockiness of his words.
"It would have been lovely if you had just been happy to live there because it is somewhere you like, and you were content with my being so happy to be near to Regy and Moira, the fact that you care for them as much as you do, and want to be close to them yourself, and make sure that they are ok, that is everything to me," Rodolphus shook his head leaning down to kiss Harry again.
"Come on, let's go and look at the house," Harry grinned with his arms still wrapped around Rodolphus' shoulders.
Grinning in that way that made Harry's heart flutter Rodolphus wrapped his arms tightly around Harry's waist and apparated them out.
They landed on the familiar street up the road from Regy and Moira's, instead of turning left to their home the two of them turned right, and they made their way the short walk up the road towards the house that had who was clearly a real estate agent waiting outside of it.
"Oh! Lord Lestrange! Lord Potter!" The real estate agent's eyes widened when she realised who it was that she was meeting there.
"Hello," Harry smiled at her, he squeezed Rodolphus' hand in excitement as he looked past her to the house. It was beautiful, three stories it had a slightly younger feel to it than Regy and Moira's, but it still had that feeling of history, and the bright white stone front with ivy climbing up a part of the wall had a homely feel to it.
"Well, right this way!" The real estate agent looked delighted as she led them through the garden and towards the house, Harry was looking around eagerly at the overgrown garden, already imagining what he could do with it and the type of plants that would grow there.
The estate agent led them through the house with them following along behind her dutifully hand in hand, taking in room after room with hums and nods until they found themselves standing in the entranceway again.
"What do you think?" She asked hopefully.
"I'm not really sure Rodolphus, it has some potential, but the amount of work that it will need, and I am not sure it fits our needs," Harry sighed.
"Perhaps there is something that can be done with it though. May we have a little walk around again by ourselves?" Rodolphus asked the slightly deflated estate agent.
"Yes, of course, I will be right outside," she brightened a little with hope and stepped outside. She soon as the front door was shut Rodolphus cast a privacy spell over them.
"Oh my Merlin Dolphus it is perfect!" Harry beamed, spinning in a small circle as he took in the entranceway before grabbing Rodolphus' hand again and tugging him into the room on the right. "What would you think about knocking through this wall here and expanding the size of the kitchen but having a dining table in here for when we have friends and family?"
"I think that would be perfect, and we could have an extension against this wall to sit and relax, have tea or coffee, and look out over the garden, socialise afterward," Rodolphus nodded, motioning to the wall.
"Oh, it could be a conservatory! That would look so pretty!" Harry nodded.
"This could be the main living room," Rodolphus tugged Harry back through the entrance and into the other room. "Some nice bright colours, extend the windows…"
"Sash windows!" Harry agreed.
"Yes! Sash windows, comfy furniture,"
"The room at the back of the house for our library," Harry laughed and then tugged Rodolphus up the stairs. "This floor for our bedroom and your office, along with a more formal living room! And the guest bedrooms, and this one for a nursery," Harry smiled motioning to the room next to what could be their master bedroom.
"And the top floor for the children's rooms?" Rodolphus bit his lip turning to Harry.
"Yes," Harry smiled brightly, throwing his arms around Rodolphus' shoulders and kissing him.
"I want to have a skylight installed, something with blue and white roses, it would look stunning in the summer, and make the place brighter all year," Rodolphus said when they parted, looking over their heads to the roof.
"Blue and white…for our wedding, you romantic," Harry smiled softer, the beaming, excited grin easing for a much more warm and loving one, the way he looked at Rodolphus making the Lestrange Heir's heart do concerning things in his chest.
"Let's go and see how much we can negotiate her down," Rodolphus hummed, kissing Harry once more before they hurried down the stairs to the estate agent.
"Out with it," Renato huffed.
"What?" Rodolphus grinned at his father.
"You and Harry look as though you are both about to burst if you don't tell us whatever news that you have," Gillian laughed.
"If I didn't know you two better I would say that you are going to announce a baby," Rabastan chuckled and then huffed when Rodolphus threw a pillow at his face while Sirius and Severus' expressions went thunderous.
"No baby!" Harry laughed, holding his hands up.
"As of this afternoon, Harry and I are now the proud owners of our own house," Rodolphus announced.
"You managed to find somewhere? Oh, wonderful!" Regy cheered.
"Wow, you have been looking through places left right, and centre and then find somewhere you like so much you buy it right away?" Rabastan blinked.
"It was just perfect for us, it has everything that we want there," Harry smiled at Rodolphus.
"It needs a little work but that is better for us because we can make it as we want it to be," Rodolphus nodded.
"And, it comes with an added bonus," Harry smiled softly at Rodolphus who grinned back at him, reaching out to squeeze Harry's hand before he stood and withdrew the documents from his robe pocket and walked over to hand them to Regy and Moira.
The older couple, along with the rest of them in the room, looked between Harry and Rodolphus a little baffled as Regy pulled his glasses out of his pocket and put them on to squint at the paperwork. He and Moira reached the address at nearly the same time as their eyes widened, and then tears filled Moira's.
"Boys, this is…oh…you haven't bought the house for this reason have you?" She asked concerned looking between them.
"No, the house really is perfect, the location just makes it even more perfect," Harry assured her, knowing that the concern was mainly that he wouldn't be happy. "Being this close to you both would be wonderful,"
"Where is it?" Percy asked with a knowing smile on his face.
"About a ten minute walk from Moira and Regy's," Rodolphus grinned.
"Oh, boys!" Moira tugged them both into a tight hug, Regy quickly joining in once he had placed the documents safely to the side.
"Wait till you all see it, it is just wonderful," Harry enthused, kneeling beside where Moira was sitting on the sofa and taking her hands. "There is a whole floor for our children, space for a nursery by our bedroom, we can have dinner parties, and we plan to have a conservatory built that will be perfect for breakfast and coffees in,"
"You really love this house?" Severus smiled as he stepped up behind Harry to take the documents from Moira to look over, combing his fingers through Harry's hair as the younger man beamed up at him.
"It is perfect!" Harry nodded.
"Well then, when do we get to see it?" Sirius smiled softly, with a little bit of sadness in it, as he stepped up beside Severus.
"We should get the keys in the next couple of days, and then we want to show you all it," Rodolphus said with an understanding look for the Black Heir.
"We can't wait, it sounds like you have big plans for it already," Renato squeezed his son's shoulder.
"I am looking forward to seeing it as it is now, and when you have finished it," Gillian nodded.
"It is going to…"
"Let me guess, perfect?" Percy laughed finishing for his best friend, who stuck his tongue out at him as everyone else laughed.
"This is wonderful," Moira breathed out, squeezing Harry's hand which was still holding hers, a truly joyful expression on her face as she turned to smile at Rodolphus as well.
"When you said it needed some work you weren't kidding," Rabastan whistled as they walked up the driveway to what was now officially Rodolphus and Harry's home.
"I believe Harry has a plan of attack for the garden already, and Moira is being roped in," Rodolphus said.
"Am I now?" Moira laughed, turning to look at Harry who fluttered his eyelashes at her. "It will be fun!" she nodded.
"I was hoping that I could take a few cuttings from your garden once this place is cleared out and ready for planting so that part of your garden will be here in ours as well," Harry asked her slipping his arm through hers.
"That would be lovely Harry," She sniffed a little patting his hand.
"If that isn't ok…" Harry said concerned as Regy and Rodolphus came over.
"No it is just…oh it was silly, but we were so worried that whoever Rodolphus married wouldn't want to be around two old fuddy duddys much, and that we wouldn't see him as often. Now you're literally down the road, and you are including us in your life, in your home, as much as Rodolphus is, I'm just so happy," Moira admitted.
"I really care for you both a lot, you mean a lot to Rodolphus so I would always have tried, but as it is I am coming to love you both as well. I want you to be an integral part of our lives, you're family," Harry tried to explain.
"Thank you," Regy pulled Harry into a warm hug as Severus and Sirius exchanged proud looks from where they had overheard the conversation.
"You did a good job with him," Renato said softly to the two men.
"I think it is more that we just encouraged him to flourish and be who he was, and now we get to be proud of the results," Sirius said before laughing when Harry raced over to him and snagged his hand, tugging him towards the house.
"Wait till you see the Entrance Siri!" Harry said excitedly, leading the party up the steps and then through the front door. They all paused and then started laughing when they saw it. Right above the large fireplace in the entrance hall was a carved marble mantle, and the decorations on either side of the fireplace in the mantle were two proud dogs.
"I love it," Sirius laughed wrapping his arms around his grinning godson.
"We are going to have a skylight put in to brighten it up a little more," Rodolphus motioned above them.
"It was Rodolphus' idea, blue and white roses," Harry smiled wrapping his arms around Percy's.
"Like the wedding huh, you're a romantic," Percy chuckled.
"You can tell you two are best friends, that is exactly what Harry said," Rodolphus snorted.
"This place needs work, but I can already see it matching the two of you somehow," Percy said, waving off Rodolphus' comment as Harry stick his tonge out playfully at his Fiance.
"I'm in love with it," Harry looked around smiling happily.
"Show us your plans for the kitchen," Severus huffed out as though put out, but Harry just laughed and took his hand and Percy's and towed them through excitedly.
"It really does match the two of you," Renato patted his son on the shoulder as they followed at a much more sedate pace.
"I can't wait to see it coming together," Rodolphus admitted.
"It is going to look good, especially when you two put your heads together," Rabastan looked around at what Harry was describing.
"I know some brilliant construction wizards," Sirius said.
"I would love to have their addresses, I want to get work started as soon as possible," Rodolphus turned to him. Sirius nodded and scribbled down the information for him.
"And a table here! We can have family meals here together," Harry waved to the area.
"And the conservatory on this wall," Rodolphus motioned.
"It will be perfect for coffee and breakfast in the mornings if you want to pop over," Harry continued with an excited nod.
"Who?" Gillian asked looking around at the little group.
"Any of you," Harry said simply in answer before linking his arm through Moira, "wait till you see the back garden!"
"You did a really good job," Renato patted Sirius and Severus on the back before they followed the two out to the back where they were already eagerly talking about what could be done with what currently looked like a jungle.
"Harry?" Rodolphus popped his head into what they planned on being the master bedroom and smiled when he indeed found his fiance there. "Hey, I was wondering where you had gotten to," he said walking fully into the room.
"I wanted to pop in here and have another look," Harry smiled turning away from the large French windows that led onto a small balcony outside the room overlooking the back garden.
"Everything alright?" Rodolphus asked concerned.
"Better than. It all feels even more real, and even better than I remembered from seeing it a week ago. I just keep thinking what an amazing home it is going to be," Harry smiled slipping his arms around Rodolphus' waist.
"I know what you mean, seeing it, showing it to the others, talking about what we will be doing with it instead of what we could do with it makes it all so real," Rodolphus smiled wrapping his arms around Harry and hugging him close.
"Happy?" Harry asked, but the look on Rodolphus' face answered that question anyway.
"More than," Rodolphus sighed out anyway before pressing their lips together gently.
"I can't wait to move in, to see our home coming together," Harry sighed happily, pressing his cheek to Rodolphus' chest and looking out through the doors again. "It feels like years ago that I was absolutely terrified to meet you and felt as though it was the end of my life having to agree to a marriage because of my parents. I actually feel grateful to them for being such terrible people," Harry laughed.
"Really?" Rodolphus asked surprised, and Harry moved so that he was resting his chin on Rodolphus' chest looking up at him with a soft smile and a gentle look in those stunning green eyes that made Rodolphus fall even more for Harry every time he looked into them.
"Yes, I was thinking about it standing here. As shit as it has been, at the same time I wouldn't have the relationship with Sirius and Severus that I do, and as much as I wish James and Lily had been propper parents to me, I don't think…no, I couldn't give up the amazing parents that Sev and Siri have been for that and the relationship that we have together. Also, I don't think I would have been marrying you, our lives would have crossed that way, it was the desperation of the situation that threw us together, and I think I am going to thank Merlin, Morgana, and Circe, even Hecate, that we were in that desperate situation. I have Rabastan who treats me like his little brother. I'm really coming to care for your mum and dad and am looking forward to having them in my life. I wouldn't have met Moira and Regy and I absolutely love them to bits. But…"
Rodolphus leaned down as Harry paused in his thoughts and kissed him sweetly, outside the door to their bedroom Sirius and Severus exchanged a soft, slightly teary look from where they had paused in looking for Harry themselves when they had heard him speak. They turned and quietly slipped down the stairs leaving the two alone to their conversation.
"But?" Rodolphus asked softly when they parted, pressing their foreheads together.
"But as much as I am grateful for getting to have Rabastan, your mum and dad, Regy and Moira in my life, if James and Lily hadn't been the way that they are, I wouldn't be standing here, in our bedroom, in our house, waiting to marry you so we can properly start our lives together. I wouldn't be looking forward to our life in this house, I wouldn't be here in your arms," Harry reached up and stroked his hand over Rodolphus' stubbled jaw, keeping their foreheads pressed together as he spoke.
"Harry you are…amazing, I…just when I think it isn't possible I…" Rodolphus took a breath as warm green eyes opened again to look at him curiously. "I find myself falling more and more in love with you each day," he breathed out.
The joy on Harry's face when he said it released the nerves that he had been holding in at saying what he had been thinking in the last week, and he cupped Harry's beautiful face in his hands and kissed him again, a little more heat and passion in this kiss than the sweet kisses they had been exchanging so far, but more than anything there was a sweet undertone of emotions that they were both feeling, tasting it on each other's lips.
"I am falling in love with you as well," Harry admitted against Rodolphus' lips when they parted for air before pressing into the kiss again.
"I am relieved, I hoped I wasn't but I was worried that I was the only one falling in love," Rodolphus laughed quietly when they were finally able to pull apart from the kiss.
"I was worried about the same," Harry smiled, a weight feeling as though it had been lifted from his chest now that he was finally able to say those words.
"I am forever grateful that you accepted our proposal," Rodolphus sighed before pulling Harry against him again for another kiss.
"We really don't want to interrupt, but we're going to, you have left us down here looking at your new house while you're canoodling up there, and there isn't even anywhere for us to bloody sit!" Rabastan shouted up the stairs.
Breaking apart with a laugh they pressed a few more light, almost fluttering excited kisses to each other's lips, tuning out Rabastan complaining from down the stairs before they turned and headed down to their family.
Rodolphus narrowed his eyes as he watched an all too familiar blond heading right toward where Harry was sitting looking over the menu.
"Hey are we not heading over to surprise Har…you have got to be kidding!" Rabastan growled when he saw what Rodolphus was looking at, he went to step forward but paused when Rodolphus held his arm out and stopped him, "Dolphus what?"
"Just hang on," Rodolphus said leaning against the wall and casting a notice me not spell over them.
"Do you mind if I take a seat?" Harry looked up in time to see Lucius already sitting down.
"Yes, I do," Harry said, narrowing his eyes. He was faintly amused to see Lucius looking shocked that he had not just gone along with it considering Lucius was already seated.
"Just a small moment of your time," Lucius waved him off.
"Why? So that you can try and worm your way between me and Rodolphus for the third time? You didn't succeed the first two times, just give up," Harry rolled his eyes, picking up his menu again.
"I am simply trying to look out for you, that is all," Lucius said in that low, soft tone that Harry knew worked so well with so many people. He lifted his green eyes from the menu and looked at the Malfoy Lord utterly unimpressed.
"No,"
"No?" Lucius blinked, looking baffled at his response.
"No. You want me as some sort of sex toy and trophy, you have absolutely no interest in 'looking out for me'" Harry snorted.
"That is highly inappropriate!" Lucius narrowed his eyes.
"And so is your insistence on bad-mouthing my fiance and his family and continuing to chase me when I have made it clear that I am absolutely not interested,"
"You are making a mistake," Lucius hissed angrily, leaning closer into Harry's space.
"And so are you, if you don't stop this, and bugger off and leave me alone, I will make sure you regret it," Harry snorted, once again going back to the menu.
"You will regret this! You are turning me down for Lestrange?!" Lucius hissed right in his ear this time, and Harry saw red from the way that he said Lestrange.
Rodolphus and Rabastan tensed when Lucius got right into Harry's space, saying something into his ear, but before they could do anything however Harry suddenly lunged to his feet, ensuring that he knocked over his chair on his way up and bumped into the table, making so much noise that the restaurant went quiet as nearly every eye in the restaurant was on him and an utterly lost looking Lucius.
"Lord Malfoy! I can not believe that you would make such suggestions to me! I am engaged to be married! Saying such…such inappropriate things to me! I am shocked!" Harry gasped, and right away the muttering started around them.
"I didn't, that wasn't…I didn't say anything like you are insinuating!" Lucius spluttered.
"Your son is my best friend, Lord Malfoy! I honestly never thought you would say something like that to me!" Harry shook his head stepping away when Lucius tried to grab his arm.
"I…this wasn't what it looked like!" Lucius spluttered standing up and looking around at those seated at their own tables watching them.
"I did hear Lord Heir Potter saying no when you asked if you could sit down and you stayed sitting anyway," the gentleman from the table next to theirs said, and the muttering picked up again.
Lucius looked around before turning to sweep out of the restaurant, and that was when Rodolphus allowed the notice me not spell to drop off of himself and his brother, smirking as Lucius swept past them with as much dignity as he could manage.
"Harry! Are you ok, we were about to join you when Malfoy sat down!" Rabastan said hurrying across the restaurant.
"Rabastan? Rodolphus?" Harry looked confused for a second before a distressed expression was quickly arranged on his face. "Thank Merlin you are here!"
"Did he hurt you?" Rabastan swept Harry into his arms, rubbing his back gently as Harry pressed into the hug.
"No, he just startled me with…with what he suggested, I can not believe that he did that, especially knowing that I am engaged!" Harry shook his head.
"It is alright, I am sure that Lord Malfoy will not make such a mistake again," Rodolphus said cooly before cupping Harry's face when he looked up from Rabastan's shoulder. "As long as you are alright, that is all that matters. Do you want to leave?"
"No, I have been looking forward to having lunch here, will you join me?" Harry asked quietly but his green eyes were sparkling when they met Rodolphus' blue ones.
"Of course, we will," Rodolphus picked Harry's chair up for him and seated him again before sitting next to him, throwing up a couple of privacy spells up around themselves with a nod of appreciation to the gentleman that spoke up for Harry at the next table. Everyone turned their attention back to their own tables, though eyes drifted over to them with interest.
Rodolphus reached out where he was sitting next to Harry and cupped his face, with a concerned and sober expression on his face he said, "That was absolutely bloody amazing and you are bloody amazing,"
"He ticked me off," Harry said with a slightly spooked expression on his face.
"I love you more and more," Rabastan said, throwing his arm around Harry's shoulders from his other side.
"I would be worried if I didn't know better," Rodolphus nodded. "Wait till Sirius and Severus hear about this one,"
"And mother and father," Rabastan fought to smile.
"He said your name really insultingly, and he interrupted my meal, I have been looking forward to the ham, egg and chips all morning," Harry huffed.
"Are they good here?" Rabastan perked up.
"Percy brought Penelope here and said that they were," Harry nodded.
"Let's order," Rodolphus snorted, waving for the waiter.
"Hello?" Harry called as he walked into the shop, grinning as he looked around the store that was coming together.
"Harry!" George cried poking his head out of the back of the shop.
"Our favourite business partner!" Fred called.
"I could choose to be offended by that, you know," Rodolphus snorted, walking in behind Harry.
"Ah Harry will always be our first," Fred grinned.
"You're lucky I don't hex you," Rodolphus rolled his eyes wrapping his arm around Harry's waist but he was looking around the shop impressed. "You have done well here,"
"Thank you, a little bit longer and we are all good to go!" George grinned walking over to them, "it is just brilliant seeing it coming together, and having the workshop area in the back has been heaven!"
"We have had so many new ideas," Fred said enthusiastically.
"That is very good to hear," Renato said as he, Gillian, and Percy walked in.
"Don't worry, we have enough up here to last decades," George tapped his and Fred's forehead at the same time.
"There will be no end of pranks," Percy snorted. "Speaking of," He grinned looking at Harry standing in Rodolphus' arms, his friend's face switching to looking as innocent as possible in a second.
"What did you do?" George mock whispered.
"I am not sure, but I deny everything," Harry trilled.
"So you don't have the Wizarding community muttering about Lucius Malfoy propositioning you in a restaurant?" Percy raised a red eyebrow.
"Oh, that was me," Harry waved his hand.
"Yes, Rodolphus and Rabastan were telling us all about it, very well played Harry," Renato chuckled and Gillian and Percy went over the books at what would become the till of the shop.
"He is really starting to annoy me," Harry huffed leaning back into Rodolphus.
"WHAT?!" Percy's shout made them all jump, spinning to see him looking wide-eyed at Gillian.
"Perce?" Harry asked concerned.
"You…but…I…that…what?" Percy stammered holding a slip of paper in his hand in the air and staring at that instead of Gillian.
"Oh, have you asked him?" Renato smiled walking over.
"Asked him what?" Rodolphus asked curiously.
"We have offered Percy a job working for us. He is extremely talented, and it sounds as though his talent is being wasted and taken advantage of in the Ministry," Gillian explained.
"But…this is double the wage that I am already on," Percy choked.
"And you are worth that wage, we are getting an increase in business already with Harry's name being tied to ours, and we are fully expecting it to get busier after the wedding, we need good, smart, hard-working people with us to make sure that we make the best of this," Gillian explained.
"I…"
"Perce, you deserve this," Harry moved over to his best friend's side and wrapped his arms around Percy's, jiggling him to get him to look his way and away from the impressive salary on the piece of paper. "This isn't because of me, this is because you have shown them how smart and capable you are, and you deserve better than working for that insidious, slimy man who takes all the credit for your hard work,"
"It definitely does not have anything to do with Harry, and everything to do with how impressed we have been by you and your work," Gillian assured Percy.
"I…it feels like I am giving in," Percy admitted quietly.
"It isn't giving in, it is finding somewhere that you are appreciated and is a better option for yourself, if it is what you want. If it isn't and you want to carry on at the Ministry then that is absolutely fine as well," Rodolphus reassured Percy.
The redheaded man looked at the piece of paper in his hand again and looked at Harry who just smiled supportingly at him.
"I accept, thank you so much, I won't let you down!" Percy started smiling brightly.
"We know you won't, you're a hard-working young man," Renato patted Percy on the shoulder.
"Congratulations," Harry grinned, squeezing Percy's arm and then hugged his friend tightly.
"Thank you!" Percy smiled brightly.
"You're more than welcome," Gillian squeezed his shoulder.
"Congratulations," Fred and George thumped Percy on the back.
"I know you're going to blow their socks off," Harry said surely, making his friend blush happily.
Harry and Percy flooed into Sirius' house to spend a little time together, Sirius and Severus were out on a date so Harry quickly knocked them together something to eat and they got comfortable on the sofa together.
"How are you feeling?" Harry asked after a few moments.
"Shocked I think…and relieved," Percy admitted with a sigh. "It is like a weight I both knew was there and didn't know was there has been lifted, I can't wait to start and work hard, and be appreciated and recognised for what I do,"
"I am so happy for you, I have hated seeing you so down," Harry nudged their shoulders together.
"Did you have anything to do with it?" Percy asked.
"No, I think the only thing that I said was that who you worked for treated you badly and took credit for your work, that was it. Gillian and Renato have clearly been impressed by you," Harry assured him.
"I will be able to get Penny a ring," Percy said softly.
"She is definitely going to say yes," Harry grinned at him.
"We can have a proper life together, a good one," Percy laughed.
"Here is to a good future," Harry raised his glass.
"To a good future," Percy clinked their glasses together and they settled into a night of talking together and discussing how their future was now looking.