Just... Talking
Another drabble. Although a little sadder...
Draco Malfoy sat down on the cold, dewy, grass covered ground, holding a single, snow white calla lily. Running his hand over the cool, hard, familiar marble, he breathed in and out deeply, slowly, calmly.
"Hey," he whispered softly. "I haven't seen you in so long." He sounded like a little boy just talking to a friend he hadn't seen all summer upon returning to Hogwarts. So nonchalant, so relaxed.
"Astoria's been a bit of a bitch recently, refusing to let me leave the house. I'm glad Scorpius doesn't take after her. I'm so close to filing a divorce, you know? If it were you, I know I wouldn't ever have to." He sighed. "I know you would love me and our child, or hell, children! unconditionally. Astoria's not like that. She just cares about her stupid spot in Witch Weekly Magazine, the latest fashion trends, shopping, and money. I don't think she gives a damn about me and Scorp.
"Scorp and I saw Weasley, his new wife, and your kids recently when I dropped him off at the Hogwarts station. I know you two got divorced eventually, but I wish you'd chosen me from the beginning. I could've spared you all the hurt that you never deserved from that Weasel.
"Anyway, I noticed something. I think Scorp might actually fancy Rose a little. It's quite ironic, really. But... Your family, they all look great, and they're coping well. Probably— no, definitely better than me.
"It's just... I'm a mess, Granger! I vowed to myself when I was younger that I'd never, ever cry. But when I heard that you died saving your son Hugo from a wild Mandrake..." He paused, blinking back rebellious tears.
"After every bloody thing life has ever thrown at me..." He paused, his voice cracking as tears blurred his vision. "Your death, Granger. It broke me."
Draco blinked hard, but one tear escaped, running from the corner of his eye, down to his chin. It fell off his face, and Draco saw as it hit the ground below him, mixing into the dew. He heard footsteps behind him.
"Malfoy, what are you doing?"
He blinked the last of his tears away and turned around to see Harry Potter holding a bouquet of wild daisies, looking confused, but also a bit concerned for the blonde.
Draco brushed himself off and turned back to Harry. "Just... Talking," Draco replied vaguely before moving out to leave, brushing past Harry.
But the Chosen One stopped him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I miss her too, Malfoy. If you really love her, you should find someone better for you than Astoria. Hermione would want you to be happy, especially if she knew that little secret of yours."
Draco sent him a mere ghost of a smile. "There's only one problem with all the girls I can possibly find, though," he said. Harry raised an eyebrow. "They're not her."
There was a comfortable few minutes of silence. Then Harry opened his mouth to speak. Draco just held up his hand and stopped him.
He knelt down and gently placed the lily atop Hermione Granger's grave before standing up and walking away silently.
When he left, Harry laid the bouquet of daisies next to the snow white lily. "Just talking, huh?" he mused to himself with an amused yet mirthless chuckle. "Well, I'm glad I'm not one of the only few people that actually care." He stared at the pure white flower that stood out from the dark ground.
"Good bye, Hermione. I hope for his sake, you forgive Malfoy all the way up in heaven."