Burning For Gold
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
5
Views:
6,246
Reviews:
7
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Draco
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
5
Views:
6,246
Reviews:
7
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books and movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Part 5
A/N: Thank you to all those who took time to review this story. This is the last part.
Burning For Gold 5/5, a draco/harry fan fiction by clover71 [LiveJournal username]
Rating: MA/ NC-17, Warning: BDSM (specifically wax play), post-war
... continued
16 – price to pay
word prompt: limit
"It's just going to be for a week," Draco had said, but Harry felt like it was going to be longer than that and he… he really didn't want Draco to leave. He was worried, okay?
What if… what if Draco suddenly had the urges and needed Harry to do— well, THAT? It had happened once – twice, maybe, when Harry was away and Draco needed him and he wasn't… he wasn't there.
Harry had promised Draco it would never happen again, but now… now Draco was the one who left, said there was something urgent in the Ministry he had to deal with. Wasn't Draco supposedly on suspension?
"Would you stop? Please." Hermione grabbed him by the arm and forced him to take a seat.
"What if he left because he's mad at me for… well, since he now knows what happened more than a year ago and… what if—if he needs me right now?" Harry couldn't seem to form a string of words coherently enough and this made Hermione roll her eyes.
"Will you relax?" she said, her accent punctuating every word. "All aurors – whether on vacation or suspension or even on early retirement – have been called for an emergency gathering. It's confidential so that's all I could tell you."
Harry sprang back on his feet and began pacing. "I should've told him long ago, Hermione. I should've…" he said, nearly burning a hole on the floor.
Hermione looked at him as if he had grown another dozen of scars all over his face. "It probably wouldn't have made a difference, Harry. He still would have been fixated."
"Yeah, but…" But what? Harry lost the train of thought. His mind focused instead on a faded image of Draco, of Draco bent almost in half and clutching at his belly, face twisted in pain. "I uh…" He ran his hand through his face. "I shouldn't be thinking too much about it, right?"
"Exactly" was Hermione's prompt response. "I know a way to distract you," she said, tilting her head a little. "Why don't we go see this new film on the local theatre nearby? Since Ron's at the gathering, too, I could certainly use a company right now."
Harry conceded, thought that he hadn't exactly done anything muggle-like for the past five years, despite the fact he'd been living in a muggle community. He owed it to Hermione, at least. He hadn't exactly been a good friend to her as much as she had been there for him every step of the way.
17 – never been the kind to let go
word prompt: wires
It felt like… like there were wires tangled inside him, twisting around his entrails and—
Draco did his best to ignore the pain, willing it to ease up. He'd survived a week, not having Harry to help him, to feed his urges. He had bothered Harry long enough – five months, actually.
Besides, he was getting better. Maybe. The ache in his gut that came with the need to have Harry close had been bearable lately. He'd had trouble breathing a couple of times and it felt like his head would explode the other day when he craved to feel Harry buried inside him. But he survived.
The separation, though it was Draco's choice, was most likely worse than being in Azkaban, but…
Harry had given up too much, had set his own priorities aside for him and Draco couldn't ask for more. The guilt for having Harry shoulder the responsibility for this—whatever he was going through—churned in his belly. Harry had done his part and now it was time for Draco to deal with this on his own.
Dr. Chaturverdi did say he was almost clear (whatever that meant) when he had the tests more than a couple of weeks ago.
"You okay?"
Draco whipped around only to see the worry that was etched on Ron's face. He'd been too distracted that he hadn't heard Ron slip into the loo. His gaze snapped back to the mirror, his reflection taunting him.
"You look pale," Ron said and when Draco drew his eyebrows together, Ron quickly added, "Well… paler than usual."
"I'm fine."
Ron's lips twisted in a half frown and Draco could tell Ron knew he was lying. "Do you want me to call Harry?"
"NO!" Draco hadn't meant to yell. Really, he hadn't. But the thought of Ron dragging Harry back into Draco's dilemma ignited something in his chest, which made Ron cringe and take a step back. "Don't. Please," Draco said, his voice soft this time. "I'm okay, really. I can handle this." He had to. He. Had. To.
18 – miserable without you
word prompt: over
His digital clock read: 4:32 A.M.
Harry had been tossing and turning all night. Sleep eluded him. It had been three weeks and four days since Draco left. And Harry wasn't sure if he was ever coming back. He had thought of paying Draco a visit since Draco only lived on the other side of London but…
Maybe Draco was better now, no longer suffering from fixation. Maybe… maybe Draco no longer needed him.
The mere thought of losing Draco dug a crater in Harry's heart. He felt so… so empty inside.
'Damn!' He should've told Draco, should've let Draco know how he felt about him. But he was too much of a coward, afraid that if he did, he might lose Draco. How irony worked against his favor. Now Harry wasn't sure if Draco would ever come back.
Two hours of trying to get into a comfortable position passed and Harry had to accede that it was pointless to try and get some sleep. He slid out of bed thinking that running might do him some good.
Harry rummaged through his wardrobe and until he found a pair of sweat pants and an old tee shirt. He tried to focus on getting dressed to keep Draco out of his thoughts, even for a while. After he had slipped his trainers on, he took his keys and dragged himself out of his flat.
The walk across the hallway had always been a burden. Passing by Draco's flat only reminded him of the silence vibrating within its empty walls. Like always, Harry paused in front of Draco's door, laid his hand on the carved wooden surface as if he would be able to feel Draco's presence.
Something nudged at him, urging him to go inside. His hand was shoved in his pocket, fingers feeling the cool metal of the keys in it. He pushed away every single thread of reluctance and unlocked the door. He hadn't been in Draco's flat for more than a week, even if he did promise Draco that he would water Draco's plants while Draco was gone. Every time he stepped inside, a flood of memories washed over him and it only made him twice more miserable.
This time, Harry braved to go further inside, striding as far as Draco's bedroom. He stood at the doorway, staring at the bed. Fragments of what they had done for the past months floated around his head, forming images that played like a faded movie before him.
Harry felt the smart deep inside his chest, the crippling ache spreading like a ripple and making it hard for him to breathe.
Draco's name fell from his lips. Like a prayer. Like a summoning charm.
An eerie silence was the only response he got and a voice inside his head telling him that it was over. Draco was gone. For good.
Harry dropped on his knees and lifelessly melted on the floor. Pain surged from his very core like a thousand double-edged daggers stabbed every inch of his body. He had no more tears left to shed. Instead, his head throbbed mercilessly.
Draco was gone. And he was left here to wallow in misery, spiraling into the deepest, darkest pit of anguish.
19 – this silver leaves me longing for gold
word prompt: follow
A month had passed since he left this place and Draco felt rather odd stepping back inside the pub. It was Saturday and Draco knew the place would be a buzz, always had been during weekends. He took advantage of this, thinking that maybe… maybe Harry would be too busy to pay him any heed.
He was startled when someone yelled, "Draco!" and he felt the pat on his shoulder before he had a chance to turn and see Tyler. "Good to see you, mate. Did you come by for your last pay check or are you coming back to throw me out of the bar?"
Draco knew Tyler long enough to know that Tyler's words were only meant as good-natured jests.
"I just came to pick up a few things I left behind" was the reason Draco thought would make the most sense. Truth was, he really didn't know what he was doing there, why he came in the first place.
Half of the time he was away, he realised he no longer had painful urges. Instead, he had plain urges and it burned a hole in his chest. The need to see Harry, to hold Harry close echoed in the hallow space of his heart.
He no longer felt the vicious twisting in his gut and in his chest for the past weeks but he still craved for Harry's warmth. The distance hatched a different kind of pain, one that made his eyes sting every time his mind lingered in the memories of the past months.
It wasn't until Ron found him crying in the loo the other day and gave him one bloody hell of a 'talk' that he never got from his mother, even during his teenage years.
Surprisingly though, a lot of things began to make sense after he and Ron talked. And Draco had accepted the fact that he would never be able to move on unless… unless he had some closure. He needed to see Harry one last time.
"Draco." Harry looked up from his desk as soon as Draco stepped inside. Something glimmered on Harry's eyes. But what Draco noticed the most was how Harry looked different somehow. A dark veil of sadness seemed to hang around Harry and a gray shadow danced across his pretty face.
It was such a heartbreaking sight. Draco had to swallow the lump that rose in his throat before he was able to utter Harry's name, to say, "Sorry I've been gone so long without a word."
"It's okay" slipped out of Harry's mouth like a breeze.
Harry opened his mouth once more but Draco cut him off, said, "I uh… I just came to thank you for everything you've done for me. I owe you one this time, I guess."
"No, Draco. You…" Harry pulled his glasses off and wiped it with the fabric of his shirt before slipping it back on then he cleared his throat, said, "you don't owe me anything. At all. Please."
Draco meant to argue but the resoluteness that settled on Harry's face pushed the word back on his tongue. He nodded, shoved his hands in his trouser pockets and rocked on the balls of his feet.
'Say it. Say it, stupid.'
"I um… I came to get some of my things from my flat" was what flowed out of Draco's mouth in one breath.
"You're—" A look of hurt flashed across Harry's face and this yanked really, really hard at Draco's heartstrings. "You're not staying?"
Draco found it hard to speak, afraid that he was making things worse for him and for Harry, but he couldn't stop himself from saying, "There's no reason for me to stay anymore, Harry. I had my tests this morning and Dr. Chaturverdi says I'm all clear." 'Unless you ask me to' was what he wanted to add, but didn't.
"Okay" was Harry's perfunctory return, but what Draco saw in Harry's eyes was completely the opposite of 'okay'.
"This isn't really the place for me, Potter. I will never fit in." Draco didn't miss the way Harry winced when he called Harry by his last name. "They uh… they gave me my old job back at the Ministry. So I'm… I'm going back home."
This wasn't exactly how Draco wanted to end things but he couldn't let himself fall for Harry because… because Harry would never feel the same way for him. It just hurt too much. It was wrong for him to want more from Harry, so the only option he had left is to push Harry away. He hoped this would make it easier for him and for Harry to move on.
"I'll uh… I'll leave the keys with Mel once I'm done collecting my things," Draco said, no longer able to look Harry in the eye. "Thanks again" were Draco's last words before he turned to leave Harry's office. Deep inside, he hoped that Harry cared enough to follow him, hoped that Harry felt the same way he did.
20 – second place has never carried me home
word prompt: destiny
The houses along Carterhatch Lane looked fairly alike and Harry felt utter relief when he finally found the one that bore the address Hermione had given him. Forty Hill was hardly the place where he expected Draco would live. It wasn't exactly a neighborhood for the rich and pure-blooded but it seemed peaceful and simple. He wasn't at all surprised when Hermione told him that several wizards had formed a community in this area.
Harry parked his hatchback along the pavement, took a long, deep breath before stepping out of the vehicle. Draco's house seemed empty but Harry still tried to ring the doorbell. When there wasn't any response, he decided to settle on the top step of the stairs and wait.
It wasn't long before he heard a 'poof' sound, faint but perceptible, like someone had apparated inside.
Harry bolted up on his feet. Thrill coursed through his body, making his heart race. Too excited to think, Harry ended up rapping on Draco's door.
The expression that rolled out on Draco's face was priceless when he finally pulled the door open and saw Harry outside – most likely looking like he just fell off of his broom.
"Harry? What the—"
"I had to see you" slipped out of Harry's mouth before he could even compose himself, cutting Draco off in the process. "I just—I…"
"Come inside," Draco said, jerking his head. His face was a perfect dichotomy between calm and confusion.
Harry's eyes swept around the small living room area, cataloguing the simple yet beautifully crafted furniture, and said, "I'm sorry to come unannounced." He heard Draco snort behind him.
"Yeah, because that's my job" was Draco's reaction and he sounded amused more than sarcastic. "You want to take a seat?"
That wasn't probably a good idea. It would only provoke Harry's nerves so Harry shook his head, said, "No thanks, I…" The words swam in Harry's head as if they had been caught in a whirlpool and Harry couldn't form a phrase in his mind coherent enough for Draco to understand so he stumbled around and stuttered, "I uh… Well, I came be-because… Y-you know, I um…"
Harry had been too focused on trying to utter what the bloody hell he meant to say that he hadn't notice Draco took a few steps closer. He only noticed their close proximity when he felt Draco's hot breath against his face and Draco's cool fingertips against his chin.
"I'm listening" was all the encouragement Draco had to offer to help Harry strip off every layer of uncertainty.
After a few calming breaths, Harry sank on the couch, propped his elbows on his knees and said, "I left the wizarding world five years ago because some time after the war, when you helped us reform the school, I uh… I fell in love with you."
Harry looked up in time to see Draco's eyes widen but his bewilderment didn't last long. Draco's lips soon stretched into a lazy smile. "You fell in love with me?"
"I was scared, alright? I didn't expect I'd feel that way. I was afraid you would just laugh at me if you found out," Harry said abruptly, heat spreading across his face. "I uh… I managed to move on, lived a normal life, until… until you showed up at my place." His ears felt as if they were on fire. "And somewhere along the bonding— your healing process, the feelings that I thought were long gone returned. And…and…"
"And I was the one who left this time because I fell in love with you and was afraid you wouldn't feel the same way." Draco listlessly dropped on the spot next to him.
"Right. That's why I had to see you, to tell y—" Harry whipped his head so suddenly that he could have had a bad case of whiplash. His eyes grew wide behind his glasses. "Y-you what?"
"You heard me, Potter. You are not going to make me say it again." The look on Draco's face might have morphed into a smug façade but the smile that sat on his lips seemed genuine and weren't feigned at all.
The room started to move out of Harry's focus and there was this fistful of air that blocked his eardrums, which made him feel like he was underwater or… or something. "I uh… Maybe I should leave."
Harry bolted out of the couch but barely managed to go far when Draco grabbed his wrist, said, "No! Please just…" and the tide of emotions that flowed through Draco's gray eyes made it hard for Harry to resist. "I… I know it's a huge decision to make, Harry, but…" Draco leaned closer and literally breathed down Harry's neck. "You can think this through, of course, but maybe you'd like to consider coming back, work for the Ministry like you planned before and… and maybe come live with me?"
"I…" Harry's heart hammered violently against his chest. With the last shard of courage, he met Draco's eyes and their gazes locked. The sincerity that undulated on the surface of Draco's gray orbs was overwhelming enough to chase away the shadows of trepidation and uncertainty that cloaked Harry's heart.
Harry raised his hand – no longer weighed with the obligation of helping Draco heal or… or not even with the fear of consequences – and pressed his palm against the side of Draco's face, stroking Draco's cheek with his thumb. He wanted to tell Draco 'I love you', but his tongue felt so thick that the words refused to form.
Draco likewise lifted a hand, brushed away the strands of hair that fell over Harry's forehead and caressed Harry's cheek with the back of his fingers. Harry wasn't sure if it was only his imagination, but he felt the touch of Draco's mind, could almost hear Draco saying 'I love you, too', could almost see the shafts of green and gray entwining like two souls meant to be one.
When their lips met in an unhurried kiss, a sense of security enveloped Harry in a warm embrace. For the first time in many months, since Draco walked back into his life, Harry felt that he was finally home.
~ the end ~
Burning For Gold 5/5, a draco/harry fan fiction by clover71 [LiveJournal username]
Rating: MA/ NC-17, Warning: BDSM (specifically wax play), post-war
... continued
16 – price to pay
word prompt: limit
"It's just going to be for a week," Draco had said, but Harry felt like it was going to be longer than that and he… he really didn't want Draco to leave. He was worried, okay?
What if… what if Draco suddenly had the urges and needed Harry to do— well, THAT? It had happened once – twice, maybe, when Harry was away and Draco needed him and he wasn't… he wasn't there.
Harry had promised Draco it would never happen again, but now… now Draco was the one who left, said there was something urgent in the Ministry he had to deal with. Wasn't Draco supposedly on suspension?
"Would you stop? Please." Hermione grabbed him by the arm and forced him to take a seat.
"What if he left because he's mad at me for… well, since he now knows what happened more than a year ago and… what if—if he needs me right now?" Harry couldn't seem to form a string of words coherently enough and this made Hermione roll her eyes.
"Will you relax?" she said, her accent punctuating every word. "All aurors – whether on vacation or suspension or even on early retirement – have been called for an emergency gathering. It's confidential so that's all I could tell you."
Harry sprang back on his feet and began pacing. "I should've told him long ago, Hermione. I should've…" he said, nearly burning a hole on the floor.
Hermione looked at him as if he had grown another dozen of scars all over his face. "It probably wouldn't have made a difference, Harry. He still would have been fixated."
"Yeah, but…" But what? Harry lost the train of thought. His mind focused instead on a faded image of Draco, of Draco bent almost in half and clutching at his belly, face twisted in pain. "I uh…" He ran his hand through his face. "I shouldn't be thinking too much about it, right?"
"Exactly" was Hermione's prompt response. "I know a way to distract you," she said, tilting her head a little. "Why don't we go see this new film on the local theatre nearby? Since Ron's at the gathering, too, I could certainly use a company right now."
Harry conceded, thought that he hadn't exactly done anything muggle-like for the past five years, despite the fact he'd been living in a muggle community. He owed it to Hermione, at least. He hadn't exactly been a good friend to her as much as she had been there for him every step of the way.
17 – never been the kind to let go
word prompt: wires
It felt like… like there were wires tangled inside him, twisting around his entrails and—
Draco did his best to ignore the pain, willing it to ease up. He'd survived a week, not having Harry to help him, to feed his urges. He had bothered Harry long enough – five months, actually.
Besides, he was getting better. Maybe. The ache in his gut that came with the need to have Harry close had been bearable lately. He'd had trouble breathing a couple of times and it felt like his head would explode the other day when he craved to feel Harry buried inside him. But he survived.
The separation, though it was Draco's choice, was most likely worse than being in Azkaban, but…
Harry had given up too much, had set his own priorities aside for him and Draco couldn't ask for more. The guilt for having Harry shoulder the responsibility for this—whatever he was going through—churned in his belly. Harry had done his part and now it was time for Draco to deal with this on his own.
Dr. Chaturverdi did say he was almost clear (whatever that meant) when he had the tests more than a couple of weeks ago.
"You okay?"
Draco whipped around only to see the worry that was etched on Ron's face. He'd been too distracted that he hadn't heard Ron slip into the loo. His gaze snapped back to the mirror, his reflection taunting him.
"You look pale," Ron said and when Draco drew his eyebrows together, Ron quickly added, "Well… paler than usual."
"I'm fine."
Ron's lips twisted in a half frown and Draco could tell Ron knew he was lying. "Do you want me to call Harry?"
"NO!" Draco hadn't meant to yell. Really, he hadn't. But the thought of Ron dragging Harry back into Draco's dilemma ignited something in his chest, which made Ron cringe and take a step back. "Don't. Please," Draco said, his voice soft this time. "I'm okay, really. I can handle this." He had to. He. Had. To.
18 – miserable without you
word prompt: over
His digital clock read: 4:32 A.M.
Harry had been tossing and turning all night. Sleep eluded him. It had been three weeks and four days since Draco left. And Harry wasn't sure if he was ever coming back. He had thought of paying Draco a visit since Draco only lived on the other side of London but…
Maybe Draco was better now, no longer suffering from fixation. Maybe… maybe Draco no longer needed him.
The mere thought of losing Draco dug a crater in Harry's heart. He felt so… so empty inside.
'Damn!' He should've told Draco, should've let Draco know how he felt about him. But he was too much of a coward, afraid that if he did, he might lose Draco. How irony worked against his favor. Now Harry wasn't sure if Draco would ever come back.
Two hours of trying to get into a comfortable position passed and Harry had to accede that it was pointless to try and get some sleep. He slid out of bed thinking that running might do him some good.
Harry rummaged through his wardrobe and until he found a pair of sweat pants and an old tee shirt. He tried to focus on getting dressed to keep Draco out of his thoughts, even for a while. After he had slipped his trainers on, he took his keys and dragged himself out of his flat.
The walk across the hallway had always been a burden. Passing by Draco's flat only reminded him of the silence vibrating within its empty walls. Like always, Harry paused in front of Draco's door, laid his hand on the carved wooden surface as if he would be able to feel Draco's presence.
Something nudged at him, urging him to go inside. His hand was shoved in his pocket, fingers feeling the cool metal of the keys in it. He pushed away every single thread of reluctance and unlocked the door. He hadn't been in Draco's flat for more than a week, even if he did promise Draco that he would water Draco's plants while Draco was gone. Every time he stepped inside, a flood of memories washed over him and it only made him twice more miserable.
This time, Harry braved to go further inside, striding as far as Draco's bedroom. He stood at the doorway, staring at the bed. Fragments of what they had done for the past months floated around his head, forming images that played like a faded movie before him.
Harry felt the smart deep inside his chest, the crippling ache spreading like a ripple and making it hard for him to breathe.
Draco's name fell from his lips. Like a prayer. Like a summoning charm.
An eerie silence was the only response he got and a voice inside his head telling him that it was over. Draco was gone. For good.
Harry dropped on his knees and lifelessly melted on the floor. Pain surged from his very core like a thousand double-edged daggers stabbed every inch of his body. He had no more tears left to shed. Instead, his head throbbed mercilessly.
Draco was gone. And he was left here to wallow in misery, spiraling into the deepest, darkest pit of anguish.
19 – this silver leaves me longing for gold
word prompt: follow
A month had passed since he left this place and Draco felt rather odd stepping back inside the pub. It was Saturday and Draco knew the place would be a buzz, always had been during weekends. He took advantage of this, thinking that maybe… maybe Harry would be too busy to pay him any heed.
He was startled when someone yelled, "Draco!" and he felt the pat on his shoulder before he had a chance to turn and see Tyler. "Good to see you, mate. Did you come by for your last pay check or are you coming back to throw me out of the bar?"
Draco knew Tyler long enough to know that Tyler's words were only meant as good-natured jests.
"I just came to pick up a few things I left behind" was the reason Draco thought would make the most sense. Truth was, he really didn't know what he was doing there, why he came in the first place.
Half of the time he was away, he realised he no longer had painful urges. Instead, he had plain urges and it burned a hole in his chest. The need to see Harry, to hold Harry close echoed in the hallow space of his heart.
He no longer felt the vicious twisting in his gut and in his chest for the past weeks but he still craved for Harry's warmth. The distance hatched a different kind of pain, one that made his eyes sting every time his mind lingered in the memories of the past months.
It wasn't until Ron found him crying in the loo the other day and gave him one bloody hell of a 'talk' that he never got from his mother, even during his teenage years.
Surprisingly though, a lot of things began to make sense after he and Ron talked. And Draco had accepted the fact that he would never be able to move on unless… unless he had some closure. He needed to see Harry one last time.
"Draco." Harry looked up from his desk as soon as Draco stepped inside. Something glimmered on Harry's eyes. But what Draco noticed the most was how Harry looked different somehow. A dark veil of sadness seemed to hang around Harry and a gray shadow danced across his pretty face.
It was such a heartbreaking sight. Draco had to swallow the lump that rose in his throat before he was able to utter Harry's name, to say, "Sorry I've been gone so long without a word."
"It's okay" slipped out of Harry's mouth like a breeze.
Harry opened his mouth once more but Draco cut him off, said, "I uh… I just came to thank you for everything you've done for me. I owe you one this time, I guess."
"No, Draco. You…" Harry pulled his glasses off and wiped it with the fabric of his shirt before slipping it back on then he cleared his throat, said, "you don't owe me anything. At all. Please."
Draco meant to argue but the resoluteness that settled on Harry's face pushed the word back on his tongue. He nodded, shoved his hands in his trouser pockets and rocked on the balls of his feet.
'Say it. Say it, stupid.'
"I um… I came to get some of my things from my flat" was what flowed out of Draco's mouth in one breath.
"You're—" A look of hurt flashed across Harry's face and this yanked really, really hard at Draco's heartstrings. "You're not staying?"
Draco found it hard to speak, afraid that he was making things worse for him and for Harry, but he couldn't stop himself from saying, "There's no reason for me to stay anymore, Harry. I had my tests this morning and Dr. Chaturverdi says I'm all clear." 'Unless you ask me to' was what he wanted to add, but didn't.
"Okay" was Harry's perfunctory return, but what Draco saw in Harry's eyes was completely the opposite of 'okay'.
"This isn't really the place for me, Potter. I will never fit in." Draco didn't miss the way Harry winced when he called Harry by his last name. "They uh… they gave me my old job back at the Ministry. So I'm… I'm going back home."
This wasn't exactly how Draco wanted to end things but he couldn't let himself fall for Harry because… because Harry would never feel the same way for him. It just hurt too much. It was wrong for him to want more from Harry, so the only option he had left is to push Harry away. He hoped this would make it easier for him and for Harry to move on.
"I'll uh… I'll leave the keys with Mel once I'm done collecting my things," Draco said, no longer able to look Harry in the eye. "Thanks again" were Draco's last words before he turned to leave Harry's office. Deep inside, he hoped that Harry cared enough to follow him, hoped that Harry felt the same way he did.
20 – second place has never carried me home
word prompt: destiny
The houses along Carterhatch Lane looked fairly alike and Harry felt utter relief when he finally found the one that bore the address Hermione had given him. Forty Hill was hardly the place where he expected Draco would live. It wasn't exactly a neighborhood for the rich and pure-blooded but it seemed peaceful and simple. He wasn't at all surprised when Hermione told him that several wizards had formed a community in this area.
Harry parked his hatchback along the pavement, took a long, deep breath before stepping out of the vehicle. Draco's house seemed empty but Harry still tried to ring the doorbell. When there wasn't any response, he decided to settle on the top step of the stairs and wait.
It wasn't long before he heard a 'poof' sound, faint but perceptible, like someone had apparated inside.
Harry bolted up on his feet. Thrill coursed through his body, making his heart race. Too excited to think, Harry ended up rapping on Draco's door.
The expression that rolled out on Draco's face was priceless when he finally pulled the door open and saw Harry outside – most likely looking like he just fell off of his broom.
"Harry? What the—"
"I had to see you" slipped out of Harry's mouth before he could even compose himself, cutting Draco off in the process. "I just—I…"
"Come inside," Draco said, jerking his head. His face was a perfect dichotomy between calm and confusion.
Harry's eyes swept around the small living room area, cataloguing the simple yet beautifully crafted furniture, and said, "I'm sorry to come unannounced." He heard Draco snort behind him.
"Yeah, because that's my job" was Draco's reaction and he sounded amused more than sarcastic. "You want to take a seat?"
That wasn't probably a good idea. It would only provoke Harry's nerves so Harry shook his head, said, "No thanks, I…" The words swam in Harry's head as if they had been caught in a whirlpool and Harry couldn't form a phrase in his mind coherent enough for Draco to understand so he stumbled around and stuttered, "I uh… Well, I came be-because… Y-you know, I um…"
Harry had been too focused on trying to utter what the bloody hell he meant to say that he hadn't notice Draco took a few steps closer. He only noticed their close proximity when he felt Draco's hot breath against his face and Draco's cool fingertips against his chin.
"I'm listening" was all the encouragement Draco had to offer to help Harry strip off every layer of uncertainty.
After a few calming breaths, Harry sank on the couch, propped his elbows on his knees and said, "I left the wizarding world five years ago because some time after the war, when you helped us reform the school, I uh… I fell in love with you."
Harry looked up in time to see Draco's eyes widen but his bewilderment didn't last long. Draco's lips soon stretched into a lazy smile. "You fell in love with me?"
"I was scared, alright? I didn't expect I'd feel that way. I was afraid you would just laugh at me if you found out," Harry said abruptly, heat spreading across his face. "I uh… I managed to move on, lived a normal life, until… until you showed up at my place." His ears felt as if they were on fire. "And somewhere along the bonding— your healing process, the feelings that I thought were long gone returned. And…and…"
"And I was the one who left this time because I fell in love with you and was afraid you wouldn't feel the same way." Draco listlessly dropped on the spot next to him.
"Right. That's why I had to see you, to tell y—" Harry whipped his head so suddenly that he could have had a bad case of whiplash. His eyes grew wide behind his glasses. "Y-you what?"
"You heard me, Potter. You are not going to make me say it again." The look on Draco's face might have morphed into a smug façade but the smile that sat on his lips seemed genuine and weren't feigned at all.
The room started to move out of Harry's focus and there was this fistful of air that blocked his eardrums, which made him feel like he was underwater or… or something. "I uh… Maybe I should leave."
Harry bolted out of the couch but barely managed to go far when Draco grabbed his wrist, said, "No! Please just…" and the tide of emotions that flowed through Draco's gray eyes made it hard for Harry to resist. "I… I know it's a huge decision to make, Harry, but…" Draco leaned closer and literally breathed down Harry's neck. "You can think this through, of course, but maybe you'd like to consider coming back, work for the Ministry like you planned before and… and maybe come live with me?"
"I…" Harry's heart hammered violently against his chest. With the last shard of courage, he met Draco's eyes and their gazes locked. The sincerity that undulated on the surface of Draco's gray orbs was overwhelming enough to chase away the shadows of trepidation and uncertainty that cloaked Harry's heart.
Harry raised his hand – no longer weighed with the obligation of helping Draco heal or… or not even with the fear of consequences – and pressed his palm against the side of Draco's face, stroking Draco's cheek with his thumb. He wanted to tell Draco 'I love you', but his tongue felt so thick that the words refused to form.
Draco likewise lifted a hand, brushed away the strands of hair that fell over Harry's forehead and caressed Harry's cheek with the back of his fingers. Harry wasn't sure if it was only his imagination, but he felt the touch of Draco's mind, could almost hear Draco saying 'I love you, too', could almost see the shafts of green and gray entwining like two souls meant to be one.
When their lips met in an unhurried kiss, a sense of security enveloped Harry in a warm embrace. For the first time in many months, since Draco walked back into his life, Harry felt that he was finally home.
~ the end ~