Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. That would be J.K. Rowling.
A/N: This is a slash. You have been warned. Please no flames, but I would love reviews :-) Takes place after the War, but it ignores the epilogue. Slightly AU. Also, this is the first fanfic I've written for several years—so reviews would be lovely! :-)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE)
HARRY'S POV
Harry was laying in bed, trying to fall asleep but was wide awake. Since the War had ended, he had become the Savior of the Wizarding World and had almost no time for himself or his friends and family. He had so many appointments, interviews, court dates and the like to keep him busy for a lifetime, but everyone wanted to push it into a three month period. This would be one of the only times that he would have for a full night's rest in the next coming months.
And on top of that, he had enrolled into the school that was opened up specifically to those who's seventh year at Hogwarts was severely lacking in proper education because of the war. The next several years behind Harry would also go to the school to help make up for the lost year of education.
However, none of this was what was causing Harry to lie awake in his new apartment that he was currently renting with Ron and Hermione. A certain blond, gray-eyed wizard was once again taking over Harry's mind.
Harry had started to develop feelings for Draco Malfoy in his fourth year at Hogwarts. Harry had become protective from a distance and hated every time that he had fought with his Draco, but Harry had known that Draco would, and will, never except him in that way. Draco was with that Pansy Parkinson, the ungrateful bitch. She constantly whined and complained and Harry knew for a fact that there was at least three separate occasions where Pansy had cheated on Draco and she had hurt him very much. Didn't she realize who she was with? How could she not be the happiest girl in the world? How could she just cheat on him?
Harry wished there was some way for him to switch places with her, having Draco as his own, making him happy in every way possible. And definitely, never ever ever hurt him. He could never do what Pansy did. He wished that the two of them could be lovers, but if not, than just friends was better to what they had now.
They weren't enemies anymore. They never really were. Harry hadn't known what he was doing when he denied Draco's offer of friendship. He didn't know anything about the magical world at that point and was just overwhelmed. But the damage was done. He had said no to a Malfoy and there was no turning back. So Harry just watched him from a distance, knowing how hurt Draco was and how he dealt with it (the name calling and fighting), and eventually it just became a habit. And Harry could even understand the situation that Draco was in with Voldemort. He couldn't have blamed Draco for that. Draco was just trying to protect his family and Harry was sure that if he had to make the choice, he would've made the exact same one. And since the War, Harry and Draco had never fought but they hadn't had the chance to talk much either. If only they could start over and come to an understanding and maybe even become friends... Harry smiled sadly, but suddenly sat up. "That's it. I'll owl Draco and see if he is willing to overcome our past and put it truly behind us. If he doesn't respond, than I've done my part. And while it will hurt, I'll know where I stand to him and I won't be left wondering later in life, regretting that I didn't ask him."
Harry got out of bed, and sat down at his desk. He picked up his quill and got out a clean sheet of parchment. He started writing, every so often crossing something out or quickly grabbing his wand and erasing what he had written. Eventually, he had a letter:
Dear Malfoy,
I know that I am the last person in the world you expected an owl from but I have some things that I would like to say. Since the War is over, I would like to just forget the past and I would like it if we could meet up somewhere and just talk. How about we meet at the Leaky Caldron at 7pm next Tuesday?
Hope to see you there,
Harry Potter
Harry thought that the letter sounded like a 5 year old wrote it but it was the best he could come up with. "I'll send it in the morning after I get up. Maybe I can finally get some sleep. I really need it as I have a big day tomorrow. Three interviews and my night classes start tomorrow. Maybe I'll see Draco there." And with that, Harry laid on his bed and fell straight to sleep.
DRACO'S POV
Draco squinted at the sunlight pouring into him room. He must have forgotten to close the blinds last night. And why was that owl hooting...wait, why was there a owl in his room anyway? He opened his eyes fully and he noticed that his window was open and a snowy white owl that looked vaguely familiar was flying around his room, hooting softly, trying to wake him as gently as possible.
Draco got out of bed and the owl settled on his desk, holding it's leg out so that Draco could untie the letter bound there. The owl hooted gratefully. Draco sat down at his desk and read the letter.
"Well Harry was right. He was the last person I expected to hear from, but I hoped that I would. I've wanted to get to know him since 1st year, just I had to act like a Malfoy and never tried to befriend him again. How I longed to be his friend though. I knew he wasn't the attention seeker that I have always accused him of being. This is the perfect way to start over, and maybe something more than friendship will come out of it, but I mustn't hold my breath."
Draco sent a quick letter of confirmation to Harry to meet him at the pub that was also the entrance to Diagon Alley. Draco smiled as the much more familiar snowy owl soared out the window, and Draco started to get ready for the day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (END OF CH. 1)