A/N: This is for Sara. A new challenge.
Based on characters created by J. K. Rowling
A Moment of Truth
There are times in people's lives when the moment of truth becomes the reality. Whatever a person thought before this moment was not real; the moments after are the real truths; friends fade away and enemies become friends. And so it was with Harry Potter.
Throughout his time at Hogwarts through his final destiny, Harry believed his one enemy, other than Voldemort, of course, was Draco Malfoy. Draco was everything Harry was not; pureblood, confident, rich and pampered.
But on that day, Harry saw Draco as he never expected to see him ; utter hopelessness. He showed his true side, just a boy who hurt as much as Harry did. With all his bravado and confidence, he showed vulnerability.
Why Voldemort chose Malfoy to kill Dumbledore, Harry never understood. He didn't know that Voldemort was punishing Lucius and he expected Draco to die. What a coward Voldemort was! He didn't have the strength to destroy Draco himself, so he was left at the mercy of his enemies.
Harry found him alone in a quiet place, huddled in a corner, waiting for the end. He had done part of his duty; he found a way for the death eaters to enter Hogwarts; and now he was waiting to complete his mission, but he had weakened. He wasn't like Voldemort, he couldn't just murder. Draco still had his soul. He wanted it all to go away. He wanted peace.
Harry realized that Draco was not the person he thought he was; his reality changed in the beat of a heart. He kneeled beside him in that dark room and touched his hair, smoothing it back. He placed his hand under Draco's chin and lifted his face, forcing him to look him in the eyes. This wasn't the arrogant face of a rich spoiled Slytherin; it was a frightened boy. Harry didn't want to destroy him; he wanted nothing more than to comfort him. Something stirred inside side that he never expected to experience. Was it sympathy? Or was it something more?
Without another word, without another thought, Harry released Draco's chin, and with his thumb, he wiped away his tears. He smiled at him, leaned over and kissed his hair. Just as silently, he stood up and walked away.
Draco sat in the dark, hugging his knees, understanding that everything he had known or thought he knew about Harry was not real. At that moment of truth, there was a new reality.