Author's Note: I do not own the Harry Potter characters. If I did, the HP haters would have even more stuff to slander.

It just felt right to keep the characters fairly anonymous. Of course, saying the pairing in the summary rather made it unnecessary, but I decided to leave it as is. That's why the letter just starts off, without any "Dear Such-and-Such" or anything.

The Letter

One day, you'll miss me. You'll look up to talk to me, and realize I'm not there. Perhaps you'll go to curl up to me in bed to warm your feet, and notice that the other side of the bed is cold. One day, you'll realize I'm gone.

Truthfully, you've been gone for months. Physically, you've been here. Mentally, you've been far away, escaping once again. I know where your thoughts have led you. I'm only blind when I want to be. I know you've been thinking of him. I can't be enough for you. In a way, I understand that. The degrading voice we all have whispers to me, how could I have ever thought I could satisfy you?

The first months were bliss. I felt so safe in your arms, so protected, and even loved. Those sensations were new to me, the boy who still felt that he was in a cupboard, sometimes. I think they blinded me from seeing your decreasing want to be with me. I was so happy to believe someone wanted me for me, and I didn't want to see that love turned fully to someone else. I believed I was allowed to be happy.

How long will it take for you to notice my absence? Will you make up idle excuses as to why I am not already asleep when you come into bed? Will you suddenly awake one day to realize that I have left you the opportunity to pursue your dreams? Will you care when you notice my trunk is gone from the closet?

I have to hope that you will take a few seconds to miss me. If I don't believe that I would sink too far into despair. I will carry on. I always do. Will you wake up, some day years in the future, and wish I had stayed?

But why would you? That would be as incomprehensible as Neville being able to brew a potion in your presence would be. Clearly, I will be forgotten.

Except, you will have reminders of me. Perhaps a Professor will mention me. Perhaps I will get into The Daily Prophet more than I wish to. What will you feel when you open the paper and see my face? Will you spare a second to think back on the time we spent together? Will your only thought be of how glad you are I left?

It's funny. They all tell me that this break-up isn't my fault. They try to placate me with compliments to myself, and slanders to the name of your ancestors. But it is my fault. I was the one who suggested he join us. You were the one who said it was only once. When it became more, I went along. I thought it was possible the three of us could work. I was fully prepared to love you both, if only you could each hold some affection for me. I fought the people who said our association was perverted, disgusting. I was happy.

But then your mind starting wandering when it was just the two of us. I'd see you, looking at the fire, as though you were wishing the other man would come through the fire and join us. And I realized I wasn't needed. You two were happy. It was selfish of me to stay and infringe on that. I want you both to be happy. I want each of you to live, and love, and prosper. I want you both to be happy, and live to a ripe old age, and die in your sleep. I don't want you to have to think about insulting me when you want to spend time with him.

Most of all, I want you to think back sometimes. I want you to remember the person who brought you two together. I want you to be grateful when you see me in the paper, alone, with no one accompanying me to whatever latest Ministry event I have been black-mailed into going to. I want you two to not have to feel as though your relationship is forbidden. I want you to be free. I want to see your engagement announcement in the Daily Prophet. I want to see pictures of your wedding, both of you happy and so deeply in love. I want to know I did the thing that allowed the two people I love most in this world to be happy.

I've written a letter to Draco as well, Severus. I felt it wrong to leave without giving you some notice. Sort of betrays the point of wondering whether you'll notice I'm gone though, doesn't it?

Invite Draco to live with you, Severus. The house is too large for only one person. Besides, now there will be room for his stuff.

All my love,

Harry.

Harry placed both letters on the bedside table. He grabbed an unlaundered shirt of Severus', and one of Draco's.

He closed the bedroom door quietly behind him when he left.

Fin.

AN: This may turn out to be more than just a one-shot.