Watching
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to JKR and Warner Bros. No profit is being made. I am just a poor college student.
Note: This is my first REAL fanfic. Normally I am just a lurker, trolling websites for stories. But this popped in my head during a boring Exhibition II lecture, and I ran with it. It has not been officially Beta'd. I welcome any constructive criticism. Thank you.
He had watched him all evening long.
Watched him move amongst the crowds, smiling but not really.
Watched him greet and be greeted.
Watched him nurse the same drink all night.
Watched him dance, always in a crowd, never with just one person.
Watched him deftly avoid the Minister of Magic all night.
Watched him laugh, but only when others did.
Watched him look desperately around the room, eyes empty.
He just watched.
He had no intention of approaching him.
He had never thought it could be reciprocated.
Never thought his school-time foe would see him as anything else.
Never thought he would ever approach him.
But he was tired.
Tired of seeing others flocking around him, or looking at him with fear in their eyes.
Tired of seeing him exist, but not live.
Tired of just watching.
He watched the other man's eyes widen as he approached.
He held his hand out.
"Dance?"
Watched a real smile light up his face.
Watched and knew.
Maybe he didn't need to just watch anymore.