Ok, so this is my first fic, and basically my first attempt at ever writing an actual story so please let me know how I did. I would really appreciate any constructive criticism you can offer so I can improve the story and my writing.
This chapter is basically an introduction to the story that explains where Harry is at the moment and what has happened in the past 19 years.
Nineteen years later and Harry Potter is miserable and he has no idea why. He has the dream life; he married his high school sweetheart, had three kids, snagged his dream job, not to mention he no longer had to worry about Voldemort trying to kill him or the ones he loved. He should be happy, right? Unfortunately for Harry, that isn't the case.
In the beginning, that's exactly what he was – happy, more than happy. He had just defeated the Dark Lord and saved the entire wizarding world, hell, probably the entire muggle world as well. He and Ginny were finally able to be together without Harry having to worry about her being in danger, and the entire wizarding world was at peace. He no longer had to worry about hearing that one of his friends had been killed or that Voldemort had finally decided to end what he had begun the night he killed Lily and James. They were safe, so for a while he lived off the high of being free.
But eventually, after about two years, that feeling of accomplishment and contentment began to fade so Harry had to find a new way to fill that void. He began throwing himself into his work, spending as much time as possible fulfilling his assignments. Being an Auror took so much time and energy that he hardly had a moment of down time to worry the weird feelings he'd been experiencing as of late. He soon became the top Auror in the entire Ministry and he took pride in his work. He loved that he could continue to protecting people from evil as he had during the war. It made him so happy to know that what he was doing was helping countless people live joyful lives. However, even that sense of accomplishment that he found at work could not keep his depression at bay, and even though he was a master at hiding his true feelings, Ginny was beginning to notice.
It was at this time that Harry realized he needed to make a change, take a step forward. So he did the only logical thing he could think of, he asked Ginny to marry him. She of course accepted immediately and that was that, a few months later they were Mr. and Mrs. Potter, and Harry was content for another year or so. Then Ginny came to him with the news that she was pregnant and Harry was thrilled. "Yes," Harry thought, "this is exactly what I need." For Harry had begun to the ache of longing and that feeling of missing something important. Surely a baby would be the answer for that.
Little James Sirius Potter brought much joy to Harry; he hadn't felt happier in a very long time, that is until Ginny told him she was pregnant yet again. Now Albus Severus Potter was in the picture and Harry was ecstatic. Two years later in comes Lily Luna Potter who quickly became daddy's little girl. Harry was so in love with his children that he never once felt that feeling of being incomplete. He thought for sure that all he had been missing in his life was his children.
However, children grow up, and six years later Harry finds himself watching his wonderful children grow more independent each day and that feeling of longing and emptiness begins to creep back into his being. "Maybe if Ginny and I have another child this feeling will go away," Harry thinks. But Ginny tells him he's out of his mind and that they have enough to deal with at the moment. Down trodden, Harry resorts to drowning himself in his work. With his kids taking up so much of his time for the past nine years, Harry hadn't been as focused on his work. He had been taking fewer cases in order to spend time with his children because he knew what it was like to grow up without a father and he didn't want his children to grow up like that. But now his children were older and no longer needed his constant attention. James was ten and would be starting Hogwarts next year, Albus was nine, and his darling little Lily was turning seven soon, they didn't need him around as much. Work seemed to be his best option, but soon he realized that not even his amazing job could fill the void.
As James went off to Hogwarts, Harry's depression flew to an all-time high. He was inattentive, irritable, hardly ate, and stayed out till all hours of the night; Ginny was worried sick. But whenever Ginny would ask Harry about it he would snap at her and lock himself away in his study. Their marriage was growing strained and they struggled to keep up the "happy family" façade for their children. Ginny tried her best to reach Harry, but he just couldn't figure out what was wrong.
Now it is September 1, 2017, and the Potter boys are heading to Platform 9 ¾. As they enter, they begin the search for their cousins. Harry is of course off in his own little world but he vaguely hears James giving Albus a hard time about being sorted. "James, give it a rest," he hears Ginny scold their son. After a few minutes of searching, they finally find the group they are looking for and head off to join the Weasley/Granger clan. They instantly begin chatting amicably about their summers and other random subjects, while Harry drifts in and out of the conversation. At one point Harry feels a nudge in his side and turns to see Ron look at him and then nodding to a person off in the distance whispering, "Look who it is," in is ear. As Harry turns to see who Ron is speaking of, the figure looks up and their eyes lock. "So that's little Scorpius," Ron says, but Harry isn't listening anymore, because suddenly Harry's stomach is in knots, his heart begins to race, and his palms begin to sweat. He doesn't really understand why he is reacting as such because the man he is locking gazes with is only Draco Malfoy, his old school nemesis, but that knowledge doesn't keep time from stopping as he continues to stare into those cool, gray eyes. Maybe it was the fact that Draco's whole look had changed that caught Harry off guard. Gone was the cold, calculating look in his eyes and his trademark scowl. His eyes were now slightly widened with shock and intrigue and his mouth was curved in a small, confused smile as he gazed into Harry's eyes. Harry couldn't help but find himself thinking that Draco looked amazing in that moment and that thought scared him out of his reverie. He quickly tried to pull himself together, scolding himself for thinking of Malfoy in any way other than polite society would expect. Why would he be thinking Malfoy looked amazing anyway? He was not in any way, shape, or form gay…. Was he?
Across the platform Draco Malfoy stood just as confused about the exchange as Potter was. What just happened? Why did he find himself so enthralled by Potter's eyes? He'd looked into those eyes countless times during their years of school but had never once felt that electric shock that had just passed through him when he locked eyes with Harry. Why was now different? Why did he suddenly feel so excited and like he had finally found the place he belonged as he and Harry stood staring into each other's eyes? Draco didn't know, but he knew he needed to find out.
So that's the first chapter, let me know how I did in a review or a pm or whatever. :) I'll try to update soon.