Truth and Love
Revised thanks to my beta: SanaPet
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter the only thing I do own is my character Serenity.
….
Harry had finally defeated the Dark Lord, but had lost many friends during the battle even Ron, Fred, Neville, and Ginny were some of the few that had died to bring Voldemort down. Hermione had admitted her feelings for Ron and just before the fight found out that she was pregnant, Ron and Harry both had made her promise to stay out of the fighting, promising they would look after one another for her. The guilt of his failed promise ate at Harry; it finally became so bad that he stopped talking to Hermione.
But not only her, Harry stopped talking to everyone, there was no face that didn't make the guilt grow. All those that knew Harry before the battle tried to get him to talk but nothing seemed to work, they didn't know how to talk to this new silent version of their old friend. Even Hermione failed to convince him it wasn't his fault that his friends had died but Voldemort's. A large source of Harry's guilt came from the fact that he had thought Ron had hated him because he left Gryffindor for Slytherin. Harry had even had the unpleasant shock of finding out that he wasn't a Potter. But Ron had died saving Harry from a hex while he had been battling Voldemort.
Harry sat at the Slytherin table surrounded by Draco, Blaise, and Pansy. The school was just finishing a memorial service for all the victims Voldemort had killed in the final battle; family and friends were all there to mourn the losses. After the ceremony ended Harry quickly fled the press of bodies, escaping to the Slytherin common room. Draco noticed and followed Harry; he didn't need to be alone right now. Both Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall had told Draco that Harry need some time to recover emotionally and shouldn't be left alone. Draco understood they were trying to tactfully tell him that Harry might be suicidal. He didn't believe them though. Draco knew Harry was traumatized at the loss of so many friends and needed time to accept everything that had happened. Harry entered the Slytherin common room, closely followed by Draco, and sat on the couch. Draco sat across from him and remained quiet while he collected his thoughts.
Finally, "Harry, are you alright?" Draco questioned, breaking the silence.
Harry looked away from Draco, his eyes shining with tears nearly brimming over. "Why… Why do people keep dying because of me?" Harry finally wept his voice cracking under the strain of his tears. Draco looked at Harry before he stood and walked over, kneeling in front of him to meet Harry's watery gaze.
Harry's eyes meet his and Draco flinched at the pain he saw in those eyes.
"It's not you. You did nothing wrong. It was Voldemort; he did all this not you. You saved a lot of people Harry and those who died would want you to live." Draco paused to make sure he was getting through to Harry, "Think for a moment; if you had not fought Lord Voldemort, people would have been made slaves and he would have killed all your friends, but Harry, you fought and saved those people." Harry reached for Draco and pulled him closer leaning into Draco's body.
"Thank you." Harry croaked out. "I needed to hear that. Everyone kept say it wasn't my fault, but didn't explain why and I couldn't help but think that they were just saying that so I would feel better and they really did think it was my fault. You explained when no one else did, thank you." Harry looked into Draco's subdued silver eyes and couldn't help but be drawn in. Draco smiled softly and felt his eyes drop to Harry's lips as the other leaned closer. This desire had been on Draco's mind throughout the year, but now it was so much stronger. Before he could help himself, Draco leaned in and placed his lips upon Harry's. Harry was shocked and his body stiffened in surprise; he had dreamt of the moment he would kiss Draco, but almost as soon as the kiss started, it ended.
"I'm sorry I …"Draco was cut short when Harry clutched him closer, hiding his face against Draco's chest.
"Draco I… love you… I always have." Draco blushed at the whispered confession and drew Harry's head back to look into his eyes once again.
"I love you too Harry." And with that declaration, Draco pulled Harry in for another kiss which was eagerly returned. When they at least pulled apart to breathe, they shared a smile and Draco realized that Harry had the most amazing smile and Draco promised himself that he would never let Harry lose his smile again.
Serenity: Sorry that's all I got. I'm so mean.
